For Immediate Release
June 12, 2006

Gov. Blagojevich announces 1,100 summer jobs

190 jobs from the Governor’s program will support Congressman Bobby Rush's Hope and Healing initiative


CHICAGO - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced a $1.9 million summer jobs program for young people from low-income families throughout Illinois. The new program will provide summer jobs for 1,100 high school and college students. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are coordinating the program. The Governor made the announcement alongside U.S. Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D-Chicago), whose Hope and Healing job program targeting young people in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood will benefit from 190 jobs through the Governor’s initiative.

“Summer jobs mean earning money. And it means learning how to work. In some ways, the jobs that really taught me how to work were the jobs I had as a boy and as a teenager – jobs like delivering pizzas and shining shoes. Programs like this mean a lot for communities like Englewood – communities that need our help,” said Gov. Blagojevich.

For high school and college kids, summer jobs can be a big part of preparing for future success. These jobs will teach kids to be responsible and will help keep them out of trouble,” said Gov. Blagojevich who made the announcement at the Boulevard Arts Center on Chicago’s South Side. “This new summer jobs program will help more than 1,000 kids in struggling areas across the state have a chance to develop new skills and earn some money. For Englewood, this means almost 200 kids working hard to improve their community and help turn it around.”

The Governor’s Summer Youth Works Project will provide summer employment for 1,100 youth, ages 16-22 from low-income families in Chicago, Rockford, Peoria and other economically disadvantaged communities.

For Chicago’s Englewood community, the Governor’s program means 190 jobs that will allow high school and college age students improve their neighborhood by working on community green spaces, building park benches, painting murals, mapping historical sites, or running a small business. These jobs will teach students responsibility and will help keep them out of trouble and prevent crimes like the shootings that killed Starkesia Reed and Seritha White, two Englewood girls killed within a week of each other earlier this year.

“Tragedy and pain brought us together to find short- and long-term solutions to saving young lives and how to turn this community around. The promise and hope of Englewood challenges us to continue this work so that it becomes a model community not just in Illinois but across the nation,” said Cong. Rush.

Of the total 1,100 high school and college students hired by Summer Youth Works Project, 200 college-aged students will work from June 19 through August 11. They will be paid $10 per hour and work 37 hours per week. The young men and women will serve as project coordinators with the DHS-funded service providers and will work on community development projects and oversee and mentor small groups of 2-3 high school students.

Additionally, 700 high school students employed will be employed by community organizations to do administrative work, marketing development and grassroots community outreach, making $7 per hour and working 20 hours per week.

Another 200 high school students will be employed by museums, and they will work on marketing and guest services.

All the students participating in the summer jobs programs were recruited by DHS and community-based youth programs, after meeting eligibility criteria based on family income.

The students will work at over 30 community agencies, DHS facilities and several TEAM Illinois sites in economically disadvantaged communities in Chicago, Rockford, Decatur, East St. Louis, Pembroke Township, East Aurora, Ford Heights, Markham, Maywood, Round Lake, Alexander County, Cairo, Venice and Freeport.

“Youth from disadvantaged communities have fewer employment opportunities than those from more affluent communities,” said IDHS Secretary Carol L. Adams, Ph.D. “The Summer Youth Works Project and its related activities will enhance the opportunities for young adults and help them build a vested interest in their community.”

IDHS and DNR are coordinating on the Museum Educational Demonstration program, which will provide summer jobs at museums throughout the state.

“The Museum Educational Demonstration program will provide meaningful work experiences for high school students at museums, park districts and other DNR sites with educational programs,” said DNR acting director Sam Flood. “The students will help with projects that will promote the museum’s mission while providing educational opportunities for the young people.”

To further enhance the educational component of the program, the students will spend one day a week learning about life skills from speakers selected by the local providers.
 

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