Leave a Comment
Job Opportunity: Teen Instructors
Our Teens Lead @ Work program is looking for teens who are interested is becoming instructors in our teen workplace safety and health workshops this coming summer.
The first step will be to attend training for instructors sometime before the end of this school year. You will be paid a stipend to attend, participate and learn in this six hour training. Those successfully completing the training will become part of a team of trainers that will lead teen workers in summer workshops. These workshops will help teen workers know their rights and learn how to control workplace hazards from slips and trips in a restaurant kitchen to sexual harassment and working around heavy machinery. You will be paid the Tompkins County living wage ($14.34/hr.) for this part time work. To hear more about this opportunity, contact Tom Joyce at midstatecosh@gmail.com or 275-9560.
What do our trainers say?
“I started becoming involved with the Teens Lead at Work program in April of 2015 after Carlos Gutierrez and I met during an art project myself and two other artists from California were working on to try to bring awareness to the public about migrant workers who are unfortunately not given the credit they deserve for the work they do. I was asked by Carlos to attend a workshop and training for trainers in Chicago in late April where we learned about outreach, various methods of educating workers, and understanding your rights in the workplace under OSHA to keep workers safe and healthy and protect them from discrimination, harassment, and injuries. This is when I was introduced to Tom Joyce, a coworker and friend of Carlos who works with younger adults and older teenagers to educate young workers who are working about their rights and understanding the different health hazards and risks involved while working. I personally became involved in this particular area in the summer of 2015. I first attended a workshop where I learned not only the basic rules and regulations under OSHA and Midstate COSH but also how to educate young workers using specific learning activities and resources to help them in case they find themselves in a situation which threatens their safety or health.
When I first became involved with the program, we were only able to visit one workplace, the Youth Farm Project, in Ithaca. This was a very good experience however since I not only helped with teaching the teenagers there but I learned from them as well. We were able to identify a few important and dangerous hazards as well including a staircase which did not have any hand rail to protect people from failing. The following year, Tom was able to reach out to several workplaces including the YES Program, GIAC Conservation Corps, Challenge Workforce, and the Youth Farm Project. We were able to train over 150 teenagers and young adults by the end of the year.
My experiences working alongside Tom as a trainer have been very rewarding and very beneficial as I also have learned some very important skills as well. My personal experiences have affected me not only as a young adult but as a communicator, a leader, and as a mentor. Although there are times when it can be frustrating and difficult trying to do outreach and get a hold of workplaces to do the trainings, overall the experience of working with young people and providing resources and important information to help them in their future work life is both rewarding and fulfilling.”
-Antonio Triana, Youth Trainer
“While I was attending New Roots Charter High School I had the opportunity to attend a workers right workshop taught by teens from another state. I found what I learned to be helpful and it surprised me that this information came to me so late. I expressed my interest in the program and before I knew it, I was the one standing in front teaching. Attending the original class helped me understand how to better assert myself with future jobs. Teaching to the younger generation made me feel as though I could help others assert themselves in future jobs and make sure this information did not come to them late as it came to me.”
-Ella Bard, Youth Trainer