Program Participant Spotlight: Jamir & Johnathon, Prospect Plaza Community Center

Meet Jamir and Johnathon, participants in programs at BCS’ Prospect Plaza Community Center in Brownsville. Both teens are involved in Youth Stand United (YSU), a program for young adults to gain employment and educational support. Johnathon also participates in the Small Business Development program at the center. Read on to learn more…

[Interviews from 10/26/2023]

What’s your name and how old are you?
My name is Jamir and I’m sixteen.

How long have you been in the program?
I’ve been in the program since spring 2023, so I’m fairly new. But, I was here for the whole summer for SYEP [Summer Youth Employment Program].

What is a typical day here?
Over the summer I was working, but it was a very nice experience. I was assisting the office, cleaning up, organizing events for the people to come in for the workshops that we do here. But on a regular school day, I’ll usually just come here, it’s a place I can talk to the workers. We can talk about school, job opportunities, workshops. It’s just a place away from school where you can get mentorship and do homework.

What was your favorite part of SYEP?
My favorite part was learning about how to work certain websites. I learned how to use Photoshop and make event posters. I also enjoyed getting to socialize with people on a professional level, being able to give people phone calls, and reach out to people.

What’s your favorite part of YSU?
I’d say my favorite part is meeting new people my age and who are going to college, we can all learn something from each other.

Are you looking to go to college?
Yes, I’m definitely looking to go to college. And I know I can come here and they will help me with the college process. It’s like a second home.

Do you have a staff member that sticks out to you?
All of them. They’re all very cool, they’re all like family.

Anything else?
I definitely recommend it to any kids who are just looking for extra help outside of school, who are not comfortable with everything in their school. Maybe you’re new to your school. Even on the first day it was welcoming arms from the beginning. Even when I first came here, they offered me snacks and just made me feel comfortable from day one. So if you’re out there and you need extra help outside of school, it’s definitely a place you can come.

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What’s your name and how old are you?
My name is Johnathon and I’m seventeen.

What programs are you in?
I’m in Small Business Development and Youth Stand United.

What’s your business?
I DJ with some of my friends. I do events so I thought, why not make a business and make money from it? We host and throw events for people, I bring out my equipment, we also do equipment rentals. We’re also looking for a space to do workshops to teach people how to DJ.

How does the program help you with your business?
It helps a lot. It’s covering fees that I’m not currently in a place to pay for myself. I wouldn’t have known how to go about making an LLC if it wasn’t for Martina [the program director]. I’ve learned how to set up and manage a business.

How long have you been a part of YSU?
Almost 2 years.

Why did you join?
Well, Symphoni is a family friend. I was looking for a job and she told me about WPP [Work Progress Program], where I can do internships and get paid for it and they would find me a placement for a job.

What have you done in these internships?
They’ve placed me in other small businesses. The first two times I was placed in a print shop called 212, where they taught me how to make a shirt, sell a shirt, and just sales in general.

What’s your favorite part of YSU?
The events. I like being around new people, meeting people, and networking.

Anything else?
It’s definitely helpful if you’re about my age and want to start something on your own, something to call your own, it’s definitely very helpful for that. Everyone here we’re like family, they treat me great.