Our Civic Center EATS food truck series is the cornerstone of summer in Civic Center Park— and not many people know the crucial role our Youth WORKS program plays in the production of this delicious weekly food truck event. Made possible by Bank of America, our Youth WORKS program partners with Youth Employment Academy and Youth on Record to hire young individuals to produce EATS.
The small but mighty team that comes from Youth Employment Academy helps with EATS set-up and take-down as well as general hospitality needs. With mentoring from Aramark, our youth learn the basics of event management and gain skills that will lead to other employment opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to. Dani Martinez is working in the spring season of EATS and with her deep love of cooking she’s excited to have a job that’s building the right skills and mindset to later find a dream career. “My goal at EATS is to expand my knowledge, meet new people, and learn about the food truck business because I’ve recently discovered that it’s a possible career path,” Martinez says.
Our Youth WORKS program provides additional on-the-job learning opportunities like mini lessons on different aspects of hospitality and job preparation (like how to successfully interview). Bank of America provides resources for our participants to gain some financial literacy as well. Of how she feels her Youth WORKS experience is going so far, Martinez says, “I am completing my goals by talking with new people every Wednesday and Thursday, I’ve already made some friends too.”
Youth on Record is a powerhouse nonprofit that brings entertainment to Civic Center Park’s outdoor lunch hour. Youth WORKS participants learn the ins-and-outs of event entertainment, gaining skills in booking talent as well as honing their music performance abilities. Babah Fly, the Y.O.R mentor, explains the program as a youth booking agency that builds musicianship through a variety of gigs that give kids the experience of open space performance and learning how to roll with it. “Youth WORKS at EATS gives them a chance to come out into the community at a smaller scale, which helps them move onto bigger venues.”
EATS has been a staple activation for Civic Center Conservancy for a decade, and its impact on the community continues to expand. Incorporating our Youth WORKS workforce development program into EATS provides young individuals opportunities to grow professionally and emerging musicians a chance to showcase their talent in Denver’s iconic public space.
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