Posted: Thursday, June 27, 2007
Wilmington Mayor James M. Baker and Parks and Recreation Director Romain Alexander today announced the start of the City’s Annual Summer Youth Employment Program that runs for six weeks, beginning this week through August 3. Some of the young people are reporting for work this week and others will begin next week.
The Mayor and City Council added an additional $250,000 to this year’s program to enable the Department of Parks and Recreation to hire approximately 650 youths instead of the roughly 450 teen-agers who have traditionally been hired in recent years. In addition, the Wilmington HOPE Commission, with the support of various corporate entities, provided funding to hire another 200 youths, bringing the total employment for the summer of 2007 to 850 young people.
.“Wilmington’s Summer Youth Employment Program is not just about work; it is about teaching our young people the importance of being responsible citizens with marketable career and personal skills,” said Mayor Baker. “These young people learn a variety of job-related skills, from something as simple as how to adhere to a rigid schedule to more complex tasks, such as interacting with the public. The program builds self-esteem and provides a foundation for future success.”
The Mayor said the City is especially pleased with the new partnership with Junior Achievement of Delaware to offer summer youth workers information and education about finances and economics at the same time that they are learning other practical job-related skills from their employment.
“We are excited to join with the city and provide a valuable new component to the program,” said Junior Achievement’s President, Frank McIntosh. “Teaching students with ‘hands-on’ methods about workplace skills, attitudes and personal finances are core elements of JA programs. We are very appreciative for the support given to us by the Longwood Foundation and Bank of America to make our portion of the program possible.”
Young people between the ages of 14 and 18 are eligible for summer youth jobs. Hundreds of City teens applied for the positions over the past few months. Those selected for a job were chosen through a lottery that was broadcast a few months ago on the City’s television station, WITN Channel 22. The summer jobs program attempts to match applicants by their interests to a variety of positions throughout the city including office/clerical workers, playground monitors, day care assistants, and lifeguards.
The Summer Youth Employment Program is funded by the City of Wilmington and the State of Delaware. The City of Wilmington had originally earmarked $250,000 for youth employment salaries and staff needs for 2007, but has raised that amount to $500,000. The City also received approximately $195,000 from the State of Delaware to help support the program this year.
Junior Achievement’s participation in the Wilmington Summer Youth Program is being made possible by a $47,500 grant the organization received from the Longwood Foundation; an additional $20,000 is earmarked through Bank of America.
Junior Achievement of Delaware, Inc. is a non-profit organization that has been educating and inspiring young people to value the free enterprise system, understand business, and become workforce ready since 1956. JA Worldwide began operations in 1919 and currently serves over 7 million students annually throughout the United States and in 102 countries around the world. As part of Junior Achievement’s partnership with the City of Wilmington’s Summer Youth Program, every youth enrolled in the program will be required to complete a six-week curriculum focusing on employment readiness, financial awareness, and business etiquette. |
