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Youth

We are Chelsea's largest hub for youth employment, engagement, and opportunity. Guiding and supporting our youth is crucial to bettering our community for years to come. By empowering youth with the tools, resources, and opportunities to succeed, we're not just nurturing individual potential but also fostering a stronger community.
Group of Chelsea Youth in front of a street clock
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Uplifting Our Youth

We help our youth reach their full potential. Our youth programs are designed to serve young people facing systemic and socioeconomic barriers by fostering connection, civic engagement, job readiness, leadership development, cultural pride, and career exploration. Learn more about our supportive community where youth can connect with peers and mentors. 

Job Training
Each year, the Youth Jobs program hires and trains over 200 youth aged 14-24, providing internship opportunities with community engagement programs or external employer partners, fostering professional growth and career exploration.
Youth Entrepreneurship
The Youth Entrepreneurship program offers hands-on experience in launching and managing businesses, where interns develop essential business skills and create real companies in various industries such as car-washing, clothing, jewelry, and graphic design.
Wrap Around Services 
Comprehensive wrap around services support youth stability and success, including mental health group sessions, one-on-one counseling, academic tutoring, mentoring, financial literacy training, arts and cultural programs, and assistance with housing, SNAP benefits, utilities, and food support.
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Freddy Mata Bueso

Freddy Mata-Bueso

Youth Development Programs Manager
Connect with Freddy Mata-Bueso
William Palacios

William Palacios

Youth Development Programs Manager
Connect with William Palacios

Job Training

At La Colaborativa, we empower youth through valuable opportunities, fostering growth and engagement within our community.

Each year, La Colaborativa’s Youth Jobs program hires and trains over 200 youth aged 14-24. Participants can intern at La Colaborativa in one of our community engagement programs or with an external employer partner. Local employers play a crucial role in supporting our program and community by hosting interns, providing professional mentorship, and helping young people explore potential careers. Youth jobs are available for either a summer session lasting six weeks or a school year session spanning 25 weeks. 

Youth shaking hands on steps

Explore Youth Jobs

Learn more about La Colaborativa’s Youth Job opportunities.
Connect with an Advisor

Wrap Around Services 

La Colaborativa provides wrap around services to youth enrolled in our programs to ensure their stability and success.

In addition to our Youth Programs, we support our children through weekly mental health group sessions, one-on-one mental health counseling sessions, free academic tutoring, academic/career/college mentoring, financial literacy training, arts and cultural programs, resource navigation, housing, SNAP benefits, utility support, and food support.

Youth Entrepreneurship

La Colaborativa’s Youth Entrepreneurship program equips youth with firsthand experience in launching businesses, fostering essential skills, and experience.

The Entrepreneurship Internship offers hands-on experience in starting, running, and scaling a company. Interns develop core business skills and create real businesses in Chelsea and beyond. Past interns have launched car-washing, clothing, jewelry, and graphic design companies.

"I am grateful to La Colaborativa for helping me achieve my goals. With their support, I was able to open my own daycare. Owning the daycare brings me immense joy and through their support, I feel prepared for any challenge. I want to thank La Colaborativa's Early Education and Childcare program. Opening my daycare has been a dream come true, and I hope to inspire other women to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams."

Norma Escobar

"I needed a new job and wanted more opportunities, and I realized how important it was to learn English. La Colaborativa’s ESOL courses were very helpful as I started from zero, which has helped open many doors for me. When I came to La Colaborativa, I had just lost my job, and with their guidance, I quickly got a job in just one week at a Dental Clinic!"

Ana Ruth Lobo Zavala

"I was going through some hard times and needed some help… Everyone at La Colaborativa treated me with such respect. I came in needing help, needed a job, and within a matter of minutes, La Colaborativa gave me options and helped open doors."

Eddie Artica
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