Mayor Emanuel Announces City to Make 18000 Job Opportunities Available for City Youth
Over 190,000 Opportunities to Participate in Educational and Recreational Activities for Young Adults
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Department of Family and Support Services Commissioner Evelyn Diaz announced today that the City of Chicago will facilitate more than 18,000 job opportunities for young adults ages 16 to 24, a record not reached outside years with extra federal stimulus money. 190,000 educational and recreational activities are also available for Chicagoans ages 6 to 24. These investments in young Chicagoans will play an important role in providing a safe environment for youth throughout the City. The online registration and application period for summer jobs has ended, however many activities are still available at this time.
“This summer our children and young adults need to have the opportunity to build their careers and form the type of personal skills that will help them to move ahead in life,” said Mayor Emanuel. “We want Chicago’s youth to be engaged and safe this summer by taking advantage of this program. With 18,000 jobs and career development opportunities already available through the City of Chicago, we continue to encourage area businesses to join this effort so we can create additional work opportunities for youth.”
Job opportunities and educational and recreational activities will engage and protect Chicago youth as they continue learning over the summer months. This will enhance neighborhood safety by providing safe and productive options. The program hosts a broad range of opportunities ranging from attending Chicago Park District Camps, participating in the Boys and Girls Club, to learning with Rahm’s Readers.
“We have created a new website this year to connect our youth with local businesses seeking to hire entry level workers for the summer,” said Evelyn Diaz, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services. “The City of Chicago will provide 18,000 youth with jobs this summer and we encourage all area businesses to make more summer job openings known to young Chicagoans by posting them on Workforce.io at www.workforce.io”.
The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) leads this partnership with participating agencies including the Chicago Department of Transportation, Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Housing Authority, After School Matters, Chicago Public Libraries, City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Chicago Police Department, Mayor’s Office of People with Disabilities, and the Cook County Forest Preserve.
Private sector participants include the Chicago Community Trust, Bank of America, Boeing, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, McCormick Foundation, Walmart, the Rotary Club, Chicago Cares, Smart Chicago, the University of Chicago Crime Lab and the Urban Alliance.
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To learn more about the 190,000 educational and recreational opportunities available this summer, please see the following information:
Department of Family and Support Services - Summer opportunities that serve children and youth across the city of Chicago. Programs include Arts & Culture, Sports, Fitness, Health & Nutrition, Computer, Science & Technology, Career Exploration in Green Industries, and Mentoring. For ages 6 to 18
For more information:
www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/fss
312.743.0300
No Kid Hungry - The Illinois No Kid Hungry campaign is a partnership between Share Our Strength, the nation’s leading child anti-hunger organization, the Commission to End Hunger and partner organizations throughout Illinois. The campaign aims to end childhood hunger by using proven strategies, including increasing access to federally-funded child nutrition programs including school breakfast and summer meal programs.
For more information:
City Colleges of Chicago - Programs that focus on education, academics, social and cultural enrichment activities for high school students and graduates. Also, for children and youth, classes in arts, music, dance, language, science, computer literacy, physical education and swim. For ages 5 to 21.
For more information:
312.553.2500
Chicago Park District - Recreation, sports, arts, teen summer sports leagues that include baseball, aquatics, and basketball. For ages 6 to 18
For more information:
312.742.7529
Cook County Forest Preserve - Educational and recreational programs based out of six centers throughout Cook County. Additionally, three outdoor water parks that provide activities children and youth. For ages 5 to 18
For more information:
800.870.3666
Chicago Public Library - Summer Reading Program is aimed at promoting reading for pleasure during non-school months, Rahm’s Readers, “You Are What You Read” will focus on healthy living and healthy lifestyles. For ages 3 to 14
For more information:
312.747.4300
Chicago Public Schools - CPS will offer summer programs and camps that offer bilingual support and enrichment to students, high school credit recovery for graduation and ESL credit recovery, summer sports camps, and service learning. For ages 5 to 21
For more information:
773.553.1000
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