Business Council Of Westchester Hosts Job Training Program For Youth

From BCW: A group local high school students learned about various careers during a recent visit to the Galleria mall in White Plains as part of a Business Council of Westchester partnership with local businesses designed to help cultivate the workforce of the future.

Giving local high school students advice about choosing a career, John Thompson, Marketing and Business Development Manager at the Galleria mall in White Plains, told students to find jobs that reflect their skills.

“Don’t try to reinvent the wheel,’’ he said. “Look to your strengths. Chances are that the right career for you involves doing things you have been best at all of your lives.’’

The young people from White Plains, Mount Vernon and Nellie Thornton High Schools were at the mall on Feb. 21 to shadow professionals from the Galleria’s Property Management team to gain insight into what it is really like to run a mall that many of them frequent. Students observed staff from accounting, security and marketing.

Ebony White, BCW’s Director of Workforce and Employer Development, said job shadowing opportunity at the mall was part of a larger workforce development partnership involving the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board and six local youth serving organizations.

“The need for talent and a skilled workforce is an issue facing most businesses,’’ said White. “As the leading business organization in Westchester, the Business Council is committed to helping our members find and cultivate talent. Partnerships are key. We are thankful to the Galleria for their partnership and for being a Workforce Champion. We hope to work with other local businesses who are interested in providing career development opportunities for young people.”

Nia Garrison, 16, a junior at Mount Vernon High School, said that she learned a lot from the experience. Although she is interested in pursuing a career in sports management, she said that she now has other options to consider. “I really enjoyed the part about marketing,’’ she said. “It’s something that I could really see myself doing.’’

Image Courtesy Of BCW