9 Organizations Helping Young People Get Summer Jobs

Summer youth employment has declined in the past decade.

Keeping Youth Jobs Alive - Summer jobs aren’t as easy to come by for teens as they used to be. In 2000, the average summer employment rate was nearly 52 percent, dropping to 30 percent in 2012. And 43.6 percent of African-Americans who are 16-19 are unemployed as of June 2013. As these opportunities decline, young people miss out on rites of passage into the work world. Take a look nine organizations and initiatives that are urging youth jobs in the summer and year-round. – Natelege Whaley  (Photo: Raleigh News & Observer/MCT /Landov)

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Keeping Youth Jobs Alive - Summer jobs aren’t as easy to come by for teens as they used to be. In 2000, the average summer employment rate was nearly 52 percent, dropping to 30 percent in 2012. And 43.6 percent of African-Americans who are 16-19 are unemployed as of June 2013. As these opportunities decline, young people miss out on rites of passage into the work world. Take a look nine organizations and initiatives that are urging youth jobs in the summer and year-round. – Natelege Whaley  (Photo: Raleigh News & Observer/MCT /Landov)

YouthBuild U.S.A. - Since 1988, YouthBuild has established 247 programs in 33 states and Washington, D.C. Through the organization, low-income youth ages (16 to 24) work full-time for six to 24 months to help build affordable housing in their communities while they work toward their high school diplomas or GEDs. In 2010, 54 percent of the program’s enrollment was African-American. (Photo: Youth Build U.S.A.)

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YouthBuild U.S.A. - Since 1988, YouthBuild has established 247 programs in 33 states and Washington, D.C. Through the organization, low-income youth ages (16 to 24) work full-time for six to 24 months to help build affordable housing in their communities while they work toward their high school diplomas or GEDs. In 2010, 54 percent of the program’s enrollment was African-American. (Photo: Youth Build U.S.A.)

White House’s YouthJobs+ Initiative - In President Obama’s 2014 budget, the president has proposed setting aside $2,500,000 to help provide hundreds of thousands of low-income youth with jobs in the summer and year-round in his Pathways Back to Work Fund. This year he also introduced YouthJobs+ to “bring together elected officials, local businesses, non-profit organizations and faith institutions to create employment opportunities for young Americans.”(Photo: Courtesy of White House)

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White House’s YouthJobs+ Initiative - In President Obama’s 2014 budget, the president has proposed setting aside $2,500,000 to help provide hundreds of thousands of low-income youth with jobs in the summer and year-round in his Pathways Back to Work Fund. This year he also introduced YouthJobs+ to “bring together elected officials, local businesses, non-profit organizations and faith institutions to create employment opportunities for young Americans.”(Photo: Courtesy of White House)

Department of Labor’s Summer Jobs Bank - In 2012, President Obama and the U.S. Department of Labor launched the SummerJobs+ Bank to connect low-income and disconnected youth to employment opportunities from businesses, non-profits and the government. (Photo: U.S. Department of Labor)

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Department of Labor’s Summer Jobs Bank - In 2012, President Obama and the U.S. Department of Labor launched the SummerJobs+ Bank to connect low-income and disconnected youth to employment opportunities from businesses, non-profits and the government. (Photo: U.S. Department of Labor)

Detroit Company Funds 600 Summer Youth Jobs - The DTE Energy Foundation funded Detroit’s Youth Employment Initiative this summer. The company committed $1 million and partnered with community partners to provide 500 opportunities that will give teens and young adults six-week summer positions and year-round part-time work.(Photo: Erik S. Lesser/Landov)

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Detroit Company Funds 600 Summer Youth Jobs - The DTE Energy Foundation funded Detroit’s Youth Employment Initiative this summer. The company committed $1 million and partnered with community partners to provide 500 opportunities that will give teens and young adults six-week summer positions and year-round part-time work.(Photo: Erik S. Lesser/Landov)

Photo By Photo: Erik S. Lesser/Landov

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One Summer Chicago Helps At-Risk Teens - One Summer Chicago gave 18,000 summer jobs to youth this summer. This year, they introduced a new program called One Summer Chicago Plus that seeks to help young men who have been involved with the justice system. Besides working 25 hours a week for six weeks, participants also receive mentoring and social and emotional skills development. (Photo: Courtesy of Onesummerchicago.org)

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One Summer Chicago Helps At-Risk Teens - One Summer Chicago gave 18,000 summer jobs to youth this summer. This year, they introduced a new program called One Summer Chicago Plus that seeks to help young men who have been involved with the justice system. Besides working 25 hours a week for six weeks, participants also receive mentoring and social and emotional skills development. (Photo: Courtesy of Onesummerchicago.org)

St. Louis Youth Jobs Targets High Crime Areas - The city of St. Louis introduced a new Youth Jobs program this summer that specifically sought out youth aged 16-23 who live in zip codes with relatively high crime rates. The group’s organizers went door to door in these neighborhoods and asked if businesses would be willing to hire a summer worker. (Photo: Courtesy of St. Louis Youth Jobs)

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St. Louis Youth Jobs Targets High Crime Areas - The city of St. Louis introduced a new Youth Jobs program this summer that specifically sought out youth aged 16-23 who live in zip codes with relatively high crime rates. The group’s organizers went door to door in these neighborhoods and asked if businesses would be willing to hire a summer worker. (Photo: Courtesy of St. Louis Youth Jobs)

Photo By Photo: Courtesy of St. Louis Youth Jobs

Youth Jobs! Coalition Organizes for Federal Funding - Based in Massachusetts, the Youth Jobs Coalition consists of 40 youth and community groups from across the state who work together to create more employment opportunities for teens. Currently, 18 percent of Black high school students in Massachusetts are employed, according to the coalition’s report. This year, the organization’s rallying and efforts helped to secure $10 million from the government for summer youth jobs — $1 million more than last year. This funded 500 new opportunities. (Photo: Courtesy of Youth Jobs! Coalition via Facebook)

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Youth Jobs! Coalition Organizes for Federal Funding - Based in Massachusetts, the Youth Jobs Coalition consists of 40 youth and community groups from across the state who work together to create more employment opportunities for teens. Currently, 18 percent of Black high school students in Massachusetts are employed, according to the coalition’s report. This year, the organization’s rallying and efforts helped to secure $10 million from the government for summer youth jobs — $1 million more than last year. This funded 500 new opportunities. (Photo: Courtesy of Youth Jobs! Coalition via Facebook)

City-Funded Youth Employment Programs - Throughout the country, cities with the highest population of African-Americans have historically provided summer youth employment programs, including New York City, which has the largest summer jobs program for young people, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. (Photo: Courtesy of NYC.gov)

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City-Funded Youth Employment Programs - Throughout the country, cities with the highest population of African-Americans have historically provided summer youth employment programs, including New York City, which has the largest summer jobs program for young people, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. (Photo: Courtesy of NYC.gov)

Junior Achievement Helps Youth Workers Use Money Wisely - If teens are making money, they also need to know how to manage it. Junior Achievement provides students from K-12 with the knowledge to make smart academic and economic choices. The organization provides work readiness, financially literacy and entrepreneurship programs. JA reaches 4.2 million students per year in the U.S.(Photo: Courtesy of Junior Achievement)

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Junior Achievement Helps Youth Workers Use Money Wisely - If teens are making money, they also need to know how to manage it. Junior Achievement provides students from K-12 with the knowledge to make smart academic and economic choices. The organization provides work readiness, financially literacy and entrepreneurship programs. JA reaches 4.2 million students per year in the U.S.(Photo: Courtesy of Junior Achievement)