YouthWorks Hosts Career Fair as Program Continues to Seek Support to Provide Summer Jobs to Baltimore City Teens
Nonprofit Kaiser Permanente Foundation Mid-Atlantic to present $10,000 but gap remains in providing enough jobs to meet the demand

What: YouthWorks Career Fair

When: Wednesday, May 7, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
            (presentation of Kaiser donation – 9:00 a.m.)

Where: M&T Bank Stadium
             1101 Russell Street
             Baltimore
           
Background:
The YouthWorks Career Fair is a feature of Mayor Sheila Dixon’s summer jobs program, which provides six-week employment opportunities for Baltimore City youth, ages 14 to 21. Mayor Dixon has identified YouthWorks as one of her administration’s top initiatives with the intention of increasing the number of participating youth to 6,500 in 2008. However, to date more teens have registered than the number of summer jobs currently identified. Federal funding that used to provide stand-alone funds for summer jobs no longer exists, causing a greater effort from local government, business, neighborhood groups, and individuals to support YouthWorks by making financial contributions and/or directly hiring youth and paying their wages.

It costs $1250 to support a youth in a six-week work experience. Despite the present shortfall, there is still time to show support for YouthWorks by making tax-deductible donations to:

            Baltimore City Foundation/YouthWorks
            c/o Mayor’s Office of Employment Development
            101 W. 24th Street
            Baltimore, MD 21218

Promoting the theme, Summer Jobs are Everyone’s Business, the YouthWorks campaign has solicited the support of employers, community organizations, foundations, the faith-based community, educators, and state and city agencies in order to provide the financial support or actual jobs so that youth can be employed this summer.
           
The Nonprofit Kaiser Permanente Foundation Mid-Atlantic recognizes the importance of summer jobs for teens and is donating $10,000 to YouthWorks during a brief ceremony at 9:00 a.m. at the fair.

The YouthWorks Career Fair gives more than 70 employers the chance to meet and interview a select group of more than 500 older youth (16-21) who have completed a one-week job readiness training. Private sector companies, such as UPS, ESPN Zone, Target, and the Renaissance Hotel will be present as well as the Baltimore City Health Department, the Maryland Department of Education, and Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, representing government agencies and nonprofit organizations.

The youth are well-prepared, multi-skilled, and dependable high school and college students who are eager to work. While the program benefits youth by allowing them to explore careers and better understand the value of education, it also enriches businesses by giving them access to a talented and energetic labor pool of motivated workers.

Employers who did not register to attend the Career Fair, but are interested in hiring YouthWorks participants, can still have their employment needs met in time for the summer jobs program – June 23, 2008 through August 1, 2008 – by contacting the YouthWorks office at 410-396-6722.