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    More Than Words
    • 242 E. Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02118
    • 781-788-0035
    • Work Readiness Training
    More Than Words – Core Social Enterprise Program
    Program activities:

    MTW supports its youth in the personal and professional development they need to set goals, find stability, persist in entry level jobs after MTW, earn credentials, and access the pathway or middle-skill careers that are the first rung on the ladder of opportunity. Our approach consists of the following components:

    – Readiness: Prepares youth for persistence and success in the core model and beyond. Youth now attend 4-8 weeks of paid Readiness shifts where they complete comprehensive readiness assessments, get support for urgent needs, and begin work and planning on long-term areas of support.

    – Business Job: Youth earn a job working 15-30 hours/week managing every aspect of multiple business lines that generate more than $3.5M annually, including online and retail bookselling, event rentals, and clothing and accessories resale. They go out on trucks to source 4 million used books and 120k lbs of donated textiles per year, list them in a rotating inventory, and fulfill daily orders. Our young people develop hard job skills, including customer service and inventory management, as well as critical professional skills such as showing up on time, giving and receiving feedback, hitting goals, taking on leadership, and working as a team.

    – You Job: Youth also hold a paid You Job – case management focused on ensuring they have life essentials in place to move on to meaningful jobs and education. Our young people engage in 1-to-1 meetings with Youth Development Managers, set and achieve personal SMART goals, and participate in a research-backed life skills curriculum. Youth achieve milestones such as obtaining an ID, opening a bank account, and finding housing.

    – Career Services Program: Once youth graduate they continue to receive support toward higher education, door-opening credentials, or growth-focused pathway employment for two years. Graduates participate in individualized case management support in areas including but not limited to career exploration, college applications, FAFSA completion, resume writing, and interviewing.

    For more information visit: https://shop.mtwyouth.org/pages/jobs-for-youth 

    Program is offered in: English
    Participant demographics:

    Youth ages 16-24, many of whom have current or prior experience with the Department of Children and Families, court-systems, homelessness, parenting, or other compounding barriers.

    Total hours: 23
    Program duration: 52 weeks
    Rolling Admission: Yes
    Number of cycles: 12
    Program start dates: Accepting applications on a rolling basis with new training rounds beginning 1-2 times per month.
    Sample schedule:
    HoursActivity TypeMonTueWedThuFriSatSun
    VariesHands-on job training (20 hrs)✓✓✓
    12:00-3:00p/4:00p-7:00pLife skills training, coaching, job search (3 hrs)✓
    Varies1:1 case management and/or job search✓
    Other Schedule Information: The above represents a potential sample schedule, but it varies for each youth. All youth work 2-4 job training shifts per week, with timing varying based on their morning or afternoon availability (e.g., working around commitments such as school). Youth spend 15-25 hours per week in job training. All youth also work a 3 hour paid shift on either Tuesday or Thursday for life skills training and youth development, which includes job search components. Youth also attend at least a weekly 1-1 case management meetings with their Youth Development Managers and Career Services Managers.
    Is the program offered remotely? No
    Is public transportation available? Yes

    Location information:

    242 E. Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02118The site is accessible by the MBTA Red and Orange lines, as well as numerous bus routes.
    56 Felton Street, Waltham, MA 02453The site is accessible by the Commuter Rail - Fitchberg line and numerous bus routes.
    Program requirements: CORI check
    Program is CORI friendly? Yes
    Other outcomes: Employment/Promotion, Industry skills gain

    Participant Supports:

    Participant Support CategoryAll participantsAs needed
    DTA SNAP Child Care Referral✓
    DTA SNAP Transportation Support ✓
    Test/License Fees✓
    Books/Supplies✓
    Housing, Court, Emergency $✓
    Are there any out of pocket expenses for the participant? No
    Do participants receive any pay? Wage
    Other, please explain: Youth are paid for every hour on training and youth development; starts at minimum wage and raises are earned with promotions

    Contact Information

    Program Liaison: Naomi Parker, Chief Advancement Officer
    Telephone: 781-314-9329
    Email: nparker@mtwyouth.org
    Program code: MTW-WX-CSE-W or B
    ABAWD Qualifying? Yes