Vicksburg Summer Youth Work Program participants, from left, Cordarryl Gleese, Mario Grady and Rubin Mixon clean mortar from bricks off North Washington Street Wednesday. The bricks were removed from downtown Washington Street and be will be reused after the old mortar is taken off. More than 100 local high school students are participating in this year’s summer work program for the city. Program director Robert Hubbard said the students are getting an opportunity to see what the real world is like by picking up trash, painting, doing office work, cutting grass and cleaning bricks around the city for a paycheck. He said the program is beneficial to both the youth and the city. Hubbard said, “(The program) enables the city to reach out and do things they normally couldn’t do.” Cordarryl, a junior at Vicksburg High School, said, “It puts money in my pocket, and it’s a good workout.” Participants work 20 hours a week. The program runs from June 3 to July 31.(C. Todd Sherman The Vicksburg Post)