Boston, MA – Forty-Five low-income Boston youth, including thirty-five BHA public housing and Section 8 program youth will celebrate the kickoff of their participation in a customer service training and summer internship opportunity.  BHA is teaming up with the Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) and GAP Inc. to offer youth the chance to participate in This Way Ahead’s (TWA) job readiness training. TWA is a partnership between GAP Inc. and CHA that includes a rigorous 8-week customer service and work readiness program for students between ages 15 and 21.

TWA is a rigorous, 10-month customer service and work readiness training program. Participants engage in 16 interactive workshops, over the span of 8 weeks, which are designed to help gain the skills and confidence necessary for delivering excellent customer service.
The workshops, led by CHA staff and managers from the GAP, Old Navy, and Banana Republic stores, create a culture of accountability and professionalism that mirrors the high standards of the retail and customer service environment. Upon completion of the 8-week workshop training, participants compete for paid summer internships at GAP, Old Navy, and Banana Republic stores, along with other local customer-service oriented businesses.

About Boston Housing Authority:  The BHA provides affordable housing to more than 58,000 residents throughout Boston and surrounding communities through a combination of public housing and voucher programs.  Our mission is to provide stable, quality affordable housing for low and moderate income persons; to deliver these services with integrity and mutual accountability; and to create living environments which serve as catalysts for the transformation from dependency to economic self-sufficiency.
 
About Cambridge Housing Authority: CHA is a national leader in the development, management and administration of subsidized affordable housing for low-income elderly, family and disabled households. Our mission is to develop and manage safe, good-quality, affordable housing for low-income individuals and families in a manner that promotes citizenship, community, and self-reliance. CHA provides housing assistance to more than 5,000 low-income households in one of the highest-cost rental markets in the country. 
 
About GAP Inc: Gap Inc. is a leading global retailer offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, Athleta, and Intermix brands. Fiscal year 2014 net sales were $16.4 billion. Gap Inc. products are available for purchase in more than 90 countries worldwide through about 3,300 company-operated stores, over 400 franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.