Erie “Gets the Job Done”: Youth Engagement and Employment through YOU
Escrito por Skyler Larrimore | 26 julio 2010
On Friday, July 16th Mayor Daley held a press conference at the Erie Neighborhood House focusing on the importance of youth summer employment. He announced that the city will receive $11 million in economic stimulus money to provide more summer jobs for low-income youth.
Mayor Daley says the funding will support 2,300 job opportunities for people between the ages of 16 and 24. The young people that will be placed in the jobs will come from a waiting list of applicants who are eligible under the Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program. Jobs will be provided by City agencies, private businesses, and non-profit partners, including the Erie Neighborhood House.
At the conference, Daley noted that summer jobs provide youth with opportunities to “gain marketable skills” that will ease the “transition from school into the workforce.” The Mayor also spoke of summer employment as one of the city’s initiatives to reduce “unacceptable” violence in our communities by engaging our youth in productive learning experiences.
Erie House has long been a summer-time safe haven and a source of enriching opportunities for the primarily low-income, Latino families that we serve. As Mayor Daley said at Friday's press conference, "[Erie] gets the job done."
For the youth in Youth Options Unlimited (YOU), exciting summer programming started in early July. Here is a sampling of some of the activities that are keeping Erie youth, age 12-18, off the streets and "on the ball," paving the way for future success:
- Erie Cares Child Care Internship- YOU teens work with Erie’s nationally accredited child care program to learn about the child care profession, assisting Erie staff and preparing activities for elementary school children.
- Visionaries Multi-media Apprenticeship- Youth learn the fundamentals of filmmaking and multimedia software, resulting in the creation of short film narratives using industry standard equipment and computer technology.
- Workshops (on topics such as selective enrollment high schools, time management, leadership and resume writing);
- CHAT (Chicago Health Awareness Team)- a youth-led group that presents topics and organizes activities centered on health awareness;
- Gender-specific support groups called DIVAS and HEROES led by the YOU Social Worker for an open dialogue on issues such as depression, sexuality, health and stress;
- The Youth Council to develop YOU policy and plan fundraisers and field trips;
- Sports such as basketball and soccer;
- Latin Dance club
- Science Club- encourages youth to explore careers in scientific, engineering, technological, and mathematical fields, while increasing their awareness of scientific concepts and environmental issues.
- Semester of Service- Begins on Martin Luther King Day and ends on Global Youth Service Day. During this time the youth plan and carry-out various community service projects.
The success of YOU’s summer engagement initiatives made Erie a fitting setting for this recent press conference. YOU teens and program directors were situated prominently behind the Mayor during the conference, and Ivan Calderon (YOU participant, age 18) spoke eloquently about his valuable summer experiences working in childcare at Erie House.
View more photos from the July 16th press conference here.
