HOLYOKE – Meaning and money was top of mind for the 250 or so young people who came to network with regional businesses at the Waterfront Event Venue last week.

“Low key, I just wanna get my money up” said Ryan Perez.  This wasn’t the first career fair for the almost 16-year-old.

Last year, after attending the annual YouthWorks Pathway to Success Career Fair, he landed a spot with Holyoke Media where, he explained, he picked up skills in graphic design and photo editing while making $2,000. 

This year, back for another fair intended for those aged 14 to 25 and organized by the MassHire Holyoke Youth Department, he said, “I’m into media so I’m going to be checking out that table,” as he walked over New England Public Media’s booth.

Nayla Pagan brought her son, Edwin Estrada, a freshman in high school, who was there trying to get ahead.  “I’m in high school, looking for a plan, and I need money,” he shared as he bounced between the more than a dozen booths at the venue.

Siblings Wilford and Reilyane Rodriguez were there exploring a career in the military, and brought along their friend Azlyn Greaney.  “It’s something I’ve thought about for a while,” said Wilford, before they got in line to speak with representatives from the U.S. Army.

Jadeisha Ortiz, 19, was there with her friends who said they were “just looking.”  But Ortiz feels inclined toward working with children, she said, and she enjoyed speaking with those at the booth set up by On N On Community Child Care. 

As young people walked up to the career fair, they were welcomed by a food truck, popcorn machine and cotton candy.

These networking opportunities are organized by MassHire, and are funded by state grants issued to the program. “We try and keep it consistent,” said Derek Baez, director of youth programs and outreach for MassHire Holyoke . 

YouthWorks prepares young people for job hunts and interviews, assists with developing a resume, and offers a variety of programming, including a summer program.

“It’s about just being able to have those experiences where youth come in and they go, ‘Yeah, I got hired, I’m getting paid for this,’” he said.

In order for young people to make these connections, “We work diligently with the partners in our community,” Baez said. “We can reach out to probably 150 businesses, ranging from Holyoke to Westfield, to Russell to Southwick.  Our programs cover a huge scope of western Mass, up in the hilltowns and close by Franklin.”

Aside from the economic opportunities the youth outreach brings, said Baez, he also emphasized the community component of networking with young people.

“The youth are continuously still coming to see us and still have our phone number and still reach out to us.  And you know we’re in their schools, we’re like ‘hey what’s up.’  I even had a youth right now who didn’t think I’d remember his name … It’s a piece that all of us are trying to connect with youth and serve as a mentor.”

He also said this programming is especially critical in Holyoke, where educational results have proven to be consistently low and economic opportunities may be difficult to come by.

“It’s able to give them an opportunity.  I feel like a lot don’t have an opportunity, hence why these programs are very important.  Hence why we have Westover Job CORPS – even the Army. We try to make this a one-stop shop. That way everybody feels benefited,” he said.

As someone who personally benefited from YouthWorks, Izmarizaray Reyes of Westfield said the program allowed her to find her career, which is now working with MassHire.

Through YouthWorks, she said, “I learned how to build my resume, and I gained work experience working with children, since I worked under the Children’s Museum of Westfield.”

In addition, she said, benefits included learning how to develop a sense of professionalism, and how to interact in an “adult world.”

Now she works alongside the youth with MassHire. “It gives me a lot of joy to help out kids where I was in that position as well,” she said.

Samuel Gelinas can be reached at sgelinas@gazettenet.com.