BUFFALO – Mayor Byron W. Brown in partnership with the Department of Community Services today celebrated the winners of his annual Mayor’s Summer Youth Internship Awards during a special ceremony held in the lobby of Buffalo City Hall, where he also awarded the Making Fishers of Men and Women Inc. Outreach Ministry with the 2023 Exemplary Worksite Award. Taylor Epps, a news anchor/reporter with 7 News, emceed today’s ceremony.
Mayor Brown stated, “Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Mayor’s Summer Youth Internship Awards! What a pleasure it is to honor our young people and the Making Fishers of Men and Women Inc. Outreach Ministry for the positive work they did throughout the summer months. My Administration remains committed to preparing city youth, of every background, to enter the workforce, and this year’s awardees are great role models to their peers, and to our community at large.”
Recipients of the Mayor’s Summer Youth Awards were nominated by their site supervisors who worked closely with them during Mayor Brown’s 6-week summer work experience program that provided employment and work-readiness training to City youth. In a continued effort to help shape the workforce of tomorrow, the Brown Administration has invested millions of dollars in this summer youth internship program since 2006, providing learn and earn opportunities to nearly 30,000 program participants.
Among the ceremony’s most memorable moments came when Madison Matthews, a Frederick Law Olmsted Sophomore, was presented with The Brian Harper Memorial Leadership Award. The leadership scholarship was presented to Madison by representatives of Harper’s family who felt she best embodied the same vision, strength, dependability, and flexibility that Harper had, both as a former intern in the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program, and throughout his life. The Buffalo Native died tragically in April of 2022.
Below is a detailed list of each of the six award categories, along with the name of the award recipient(s).
ABOVE & BEYOND AWARD
This award is presented to two students who best displayed a positive attitude and showed initiative, enthusiasm, and commitment, as well as a strong desire to assist others and complete assigned tasks.
- Grace Chiari/Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts
- Meghan Blake/City Honors
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
This award is presented to a compassionate and talented youth who strives to give back to his or her community, peers, and staff members, while encouraging others to get involved.
- Jaeden Phillips/Canisius High School
ENTHUSIASTIC LEARNER AWARD
This award is presented to a youth who displays an eagerness to learn and a willingness to work hard.
- Jalen Beasely/Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School
OUTSTANDING IMPROVEMENT AWARD
This award is presented to a youth who has shown determination, confidence, and perseverance in overcoming challenges, while striving to realize his or her full potential.
- Angela Pitts-Collins/ECC Middle Early College High School
EXEMPLARY WORKSITE AWARD
This award is presented to the worksite that provides outstanding employment opportunities to our interns, giving them a unique educational experience. This worksite is a partnering agency that is dedicated to further assisting and creating an even stronger local workforce by preparing our young people for the jobs of the future.
- Making Fishers of Men and Women Inc. Outreach Ministry
THE BRIAN HARPER MEMORIAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
This award is presented to a youth who embodies the vision, strength, dependability, and flexibility that Brian Harper, a former intern in the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program, exhibited throughout his life. The Buffalo Native, who died tragically in April of 2022, was a strong critical thinker who strived to improve our community, enriched the lives of others, and consistently maintained a positive “It Can Be Done” attitude.
- Madison Matthews/Frederick Law Olmsted School
