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Home > Services > Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program (MSYEP)
MSYEP youth at the park

Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program (MSYEP)

Human Service Programs

The goal of MSYEP is to serve as a young person's first job experience and exposure to the world of work. The program is open to Cambridge residents ages 14 through the summer after completing high school.

Teens are placed in public sector and non-profit jobs throughout Cambridge and in surrounding communities for six weeks during the summer. They work 20 hours a week and are paid minimum wage by the City. Nearly half of the youth are placed in Summer Work and Learning sites, which offer participants a valuable educational and employment experience using the community’s resources to expose youth to potential educational or career paths.

Youth have the opportunity to attend college tours, financial literacy trainings, and a variety of program-sponsored enrichment and social events during the summer.

If you have questions about MSYEP, please email youthemployment@cambridgema.gov

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the eligibility requirements for applying to MSYEP?

  • Applicants must be Cambridge residents
  • Applicants must be eligible to work in the US in order to get paid

What is the process for applying to MSYEP?

  • 1. Students will apply online through DHSP’s online registration system, Trax.
         *  Priority will be given to students eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch and those from lower-income families.
  • 2. All applications will go to a waitlist so that MSYEP staff can review applications. The waitlist does not mean that the activity is already filled to capacity.
  • 3. Students who have been accepted into the program will receive an email asking them to schedule an in-person appointment to complete their hiring paperwork.
  • 4. All students will need to provide the following hiring paperwork:
         *  Social Security card or Birth Certificate
         *  Either a valid passport or permanent resident card OR a school or medical record

Do MSYEP students need to attend all 6 weeks of the program?

Students can miss no more than one week of the program.

What kinds of work experiences are available through the MSYEP Program?

A variety of work experiences are available, including:
  • Working with senior citizens
  • Working with children in camps, daycares, or preschool programs
  • Peer leadership and support
  • Arts, theater, and music
  • Office / Library work
  • Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
  • Media / web production
  • Landscaping and outdoor maintenance
  • Physical fitness
  • Academic enrichment
Students indicate the kind of work they are interested in on their MSYEP application, but they are not guaranteed a placement in their area of interest.
Page was last modified on 9/25/2023 12:37 PM
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