CT Business News Journal: City Sets Sights on More Jobs for Kids

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CT Business News Journal: City Sets Sights on More Jobs for Kids

CT Business News Journal June 12, 2006

by Michael C. Bingham

New Haven - New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr. late last month announced that the city had met his goal to raise $1 million to provide summer jobs for teenagers - but that he was hopeful of raising still more.

As of May 25, according to the mayor's office, the city had received funding commitments of $1.04 million. According to mayoral spokesperson Catherine Sullivan-DeCarlo, a "phonathon" on May 31 and June 1 was successful in drumming up commitments for additional jobs from local companies.

"The summer forecast for kids is very good," DeStefano said. "Our Open Schools initiative will begin with three schools opening their doors to kids ages 12 to 18 starting June 26. We have met and are on track now to exceed our fundraising goals for Youth at Work. And we continue to attract strong interest in Mentor New Haven."

In his January inaugural address, DeStefano challenged the local business community to double the number of summer jobs available to teens this year, to 1,000 jobs. He also charged Schools Superintendent Reginald Mayo and Community Services Administrator Sheila Allen Bell with overseeing the effort.

The jobs push comes after what city officials call a "difficult" 2005 summer season, in which Youth at Work was able to employ only 470 youth between the ages of 14 and 18 for five weeks. "We had to turn 1,300 deserving students away because of a lack of appropriate funding support," DeStefano said. "Right now, we have enough funding secured to employ 900 kids, but I'd like to see that number pushed to in excess of 1,000."

For the first time in four years the General Assembly allocated funding to help pay for summer jobs for teens. New Haven will receive $331,000 of that funding. Other funding will come from EmpowerNew Haven, the Workforce Alliance, the Housing Authority, the Annie Casey Foundation, AT&T and contributions from organizations and individuals.

Youth at Work is a public-private partnership of the city, the Board of Education, Workforce Alliance, the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce and Empower New Haven.

A company or organization wishing to donate or pledge to hire teens for the summer can contact Stephanie Barnes, project coordinator of Youth at Work for the city, at 203-946-7582. Information about the program is available at www.youthatwork.biz.