Chicago Summer Jobs Help Prepare Youths
Posted on August 5, 2009
Two prominent entities are teaming up to offer more Chicago summer jobs.
The City Colleges of Chicago and the Chicago Department of Family & Support Services are working together to provide hundreds of youths with summer jobs this year. The jobs are being funded by $15 million the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act gave to DFSS, which then provided CCC with $945,000 to fund the program.
About 450 people between the ages of 19 and 24 have been provided with summer jobs, which range from positions at Washburne Culinary Institute‘s Sikia Restaurant to administrative positions at the district office and colleges. Overall, the program aims to place young people in areas where they already have an interest or prior experience and to allow summer workers to explore career programs available at CCC.
“CCC is offering valuable work experiences for young people to encourage academic advancement while providing a chance to serve the community,” Chancellor Wayne D. Watson said. “This is truly an example of federal stimulus funds at work to improve our community.”
Aside from office work, there also are opportunities for students to work on green-collar initiatives, such as neighborhood recycling programs and community outreach. Other positions include Web design intern, laboratory assistant, marketing and communications assistant, customer service representative, community advocate and peer tutor, among others.
In addition to the internships, students also must attend a weekly Career Success Seminar that teaches resume writing, conflict resolution and job search skills. Those workers selected as supervisors also are provided with additional leadership training seminars. All workers also are provided with a uniform and transportation to and from job sites.
This is the first year DFSS has offered the jobs to those up to age 24, as previously only those 14 to 21-years old were eligible. The positions pay from $9 to $12 per hour and workers were chosen based on the city’s residency and family income level.