Mayor Brown Congratulates STEP Program Students

BUFFALO – Mayor Byron W. Brown today visited students participating in this summer’s Grover Cleveland Summer Training and Educational Program (STEP) program to congratulate them on their efforts.

“These students have worked very hard throughout the summer to hone their employment skills and prepare themselves for future job opportunities,” said Mayor Brown. “I commend them for participating in this program and for demonstrating their commitment to this process that helps them for professional careers after school.”

Coordinated by Charles States and Wendy Richards, the Grover Cleveland STEP program, part of the Buffalo Summer Youth Employment and Training Program, provides youths with educational and job training support. The program participants, all Grover Cleveland High School students, attend classes in the mornings and work in community-based programs in the afternoon.

Some of the community-based programs include day care centers and social security offices.  The majority of students in the program work at the Buffalo Boys and Girls centers.

This summer students have also participated in a workshop with the Federal Reserve and M&T Bank that teaches skills in budgeting, maintaining a checking and savings account, and credit to promote financial literacy.

Grover Cleveland STEP has partnered with Buffalo State Health Center to provide health and wellness training for the teens. The health and wellness training focuses on issues such as healthy choices, physical education, and problems that affect the adolescent population. In addition, all Grover Cleveland STEP students participated in CPR and First Aide Certification.

The City of Buffalo’s Summer Youth Employment and Training Program, which funds the Career and Technical Program, kicked off its 2007 summer season on July 9th. Coordinated by Jeff Nixon, Youth Service Manager, the federally funded program aims to provide economically disadvantaged and at risk teens the opportunity to obtain career guidance and job readiness training. The program, the largest employer of young people in Western New York, also provides various participants with educational support and life skills training.