Over the course of the 2016-17 school year, Downey Unified School District high school students have been ramping up for a once-in-a-lifetime experience through DUSD’s MADE program.  Students are connected to a worksite, where they are expected to perform and grow as young professionals.  Using grant funding, DUSD has created an environment where students spend the school year learning how to build a resume, perform in interviews, and use 21st century skills to succeed outside of school.  When all is said and done, these students are able to earn money and gain hands-on knowledge of what it’s like to have a real job.

This past week, the Bayha Group had the opportunity to visit a select group of students at their worksites.  In total, there are 19 workplaces and 35 students participating in this summer’s experience.  Worksites such as Friar Tux, Embassy Suites, and Gerinet have successfully created an environment where DUSD students are challenged, safe, and provided with unique opportunities that many students do not have before graduating high school.

Two students were placed at Gerinet, which is a local home hospice service, located in Downey, that serves Los Angeles and Orange County.  At Gerinet, two students are supervised by the Volunteer Manager, who walked us through the extensive training program used to teach their staff members.  These two students have also gained experience by partaking in this exercise and have seen what it is like to provide top quality care to patients.  This is not uncommon ­– worksites are expected to treat students as adults.  As a result, every student involved has an advantage in the workplace, relative to their peers.

The MADE Work Experience program will culminate at the end of this month.

Stay Tuned!