Grays Harbor Youth Works Welcomes New Executive Director

Since 2018, Cheryl R. Brown has been involved with Grays Harbor Youth Works. As a program coordinator, interim executive director and, from 2020 on, officially as executive director. Currently battling cancer, Brown is stepping back to assist another nonprofit organization and to focus on her treatment. Jessica Eddington, who has served as program assistant for the past four years, is stepping into the executive director position. It’s a time of transition and hope for all.

“Serving as executive director of Grays Harbor Youth Works for the past five years has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my life,” shares Brown. “Watching our youth grow in confidence, skill, and purpose through internship opportunities and career experiences has been a daily reminder of the potential that lives within this community. While it’s time for me to step down, I carry with me deep gratitude for the relationships built, lessons learned, and the unwavering hope I have for the future of Grays Harbor’s youth.”

Get to Know Jessica Eddington, Executive Director of Grays Harbor Youth Works

Eddington’s oldest son drew her to Grays Harbor Youth Works. While signing him up, she learned about all the work they do to help local youth towards a career they will thrive in. She decided she wanted to become a part it. “I have a passion for youth,” she says.

Her career highlights that passion. Previously, she was an educator in Mukilteo at The Multiple Intelligences Academy. She served as a board member for the Professional Education Standards Board (PESB) Paraeducator Board and as a regional director for the Washington State PTA.

For the past four years, she served alongside Brown as program assistant. Brown says Eddington contributed many things to Grays Harbor Youth Works including online applications and forms; cool marketing videos; website upgrades; Facebook engagement; created Digital Marketing Internships and Career Preparedness Resume classes; upgraded classroom presentations and more. “I was told I would have to do data entry with the intern hours and applications,” shares Eddington when asked about changes she made as a program assistant. “I learned how to program our CRM and Adobe formats to have the students do it. Saves us so much time!”

All her hard work was driven by her passion to help others. “As program assistant, my goal was always to advocate for and lift as many students as possible, any way that I could, as well as assist my boss and mentor, Cheryl,” she adds.

Career Planning for Grays Harbor Youth

Now, as executive director, Eddington has plans to build on those goals she had as program assistant. “Getting around the students – hear what they have to say,” she says are some of her main goals. “Staying on top of hiring and job market trends and youth employment law. Also, keeping up the network and community that the executive directors of GHYW past have done such a remarkable job of creating.”

Grays Harbor Youth Works provides “career connected learning opportunities to build prosperous and rewarding futures” for teens in Grays Harbor County. High School students ages 15 to 19 can apply for a $200 scholarship for an internship in whatever field they choose, business or nonprofit. Internships are 20% job shadowing and 80% hands-on experience.

“This is the time when they’re making decisions that will shape their entire lives,” says Eddington. “Grays Harbor Youth Works is not here to push college or a certain business, we are here for the youth. We want them to really see the possibilities that are right here in the Harbor. It can be a challenge to look at building a rewarding career locally. GHYW changes that by showing them the opportunities that exist and giving them the skills, confidence and connections to achieve them.”

Their programming fills a hole that cannot easily be duplicated. “We see the benefit of our internships and other programs that we offer,” explains Eddington. “Schools do not have the staffing to personally see to the individual needs of students. Companies do not want the liability. We are a community-based organization that engages the students (of all abilities, and backgrounds) covers the liability for mentors/business owners. And the leaders that we pair students with, they get to train their future workforce. The student finds out if they need further schooling or credentials, and they begin to build their own professional network.” 

Between their internships and individual classroom visits, Grays Harbor Youth Works touches hundreds of lives each year. 35% of internships end with a part-time job offer for the youth. Current programs include Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, Culinary, Business Administration, Environmental Health Services, IT, Property Maintenance, and Education.

You can help Grays Harbor Youth Works by volunteering, offering to take interns and donating. “We are at a place where we really must focus on finding sustainable funding resources,” explains Eddington. “We need help to keep the program going. We are working on some things, but Grays Harbor is the most generous community that I have ever lived in, so I figure they can’t help if they don’t know.” Donations can be made on the Grays Harbor Youth Works website.