Step Up program continues to thrive at UNMC

If it’s summer at UNMC, it must be time to Step Up.

For the third year, UNMC is participating in the eight-week job program that places teens and young adults — ages 14-21 — in summer employment to allow them to get work experience that can lead to careers or college.

This year, there are 10 students participating, the largest group so far.

“We’re really pleased that the program continues to grow and the various departments see the value of providing opportunities for youth in our community to be exposed to job opportunities,” said Aileen Warren, assistant vice chancellor for human resources.

“I applaud the mayor, the Empowerment Network and other groups behind this effort.”

UNMC’s participation in the program is integral, Warren said, to its efforts “to continue to be a community leader, to continue to be involved in these types of initiatives that are so vital to Omaha as a community.

“This program makes a difference,” Warren said.

The number of areas that are accepting the summer workers have grown. This year, for the first time, students are working in Regional Pathology Services, business and finance, internal medicine-DEM, the photo ID office, and the surgery department’s Dusk To Dawn Youth Violence Prevention Program. Other work locations include the chancellor’s office, the human resources department and the otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (ENT) department.

“That says a lot, that new areas have raised their hand to say, ‘Hey, I want to be a part of this program,'” Warren said.

Program coordinator Evelyn Grixby said: “There’s definitely a buzz amongst the participating departments with regards to their summer participants working on campus, and I’ve already received inquiries from departments looking forward to participating next year.”

Dontay Jackson, 16, a student at Northwest High, is working in the human resources department and spending one day a week working in the chancellor’s office. A junior, he plans to attend Metropolitan Community College after graduation to train as an EMT.

“I help supervisors with any projects they ask me to do,” he said. “I like it a lot.”