New youth jobs program hailed
By Robert
Rogers
Mayor Gayle McLaughlin and a handful of city leaders praised
about 20 local youths in front of City Hall on April 9.
It was a small, understated presentation, but for many of
the young people on hand it was a big part of their lives.
The ceremony was for the Richmond Youth Corps, a new city
jobs program that provides part-time work for Richmond residents
ages 17-24.
One youth gushed that he’d “never met a mayor before.”
“I just want to thank everybody for this opportunity, it has
helped me out a lot to get this experience,” said Peter Gray,
who works in the Parks Department, while beaming behind a podium.
Since its launch last year with funds from the Mayor’s Office
and public and private grants, more than 40 people have either
completed or are enrolled in a 5-month paid internship program.
Another 40-50 workers are expected to be hired during the
next cycle this Fall.
Local youths work in public and private settings, including
the City Attorney’s office and KCRT, the local television station,
generally for about 10 hours per week at $10 per hour.
“We need this program to expand and grow. Our young people
are craving greater direction and support from us,” McLaughlin
said. “These young people need to know they are part of something
really big here in Richmond.”
The jobs program joins a consortium of other city-backed programs
in the city, including the Richmond Build program, the Youth
Build program and Solar Richmond.
DeAndre Young, 18, said the program opened his eyes to a world
beyond his neighborhood. He has worked with painters and carpenters
at a local carpentry shop, and during this time has developed
greater ambitions.
“With the carpenters, I went to a fire station, and we fixed
the carpet for them,” Young said. “I saw what they do day to
day, and I love it, it would be great to be a part of that.”
McLaughlin said she hopes to continue to expand on the concept.
“My whole emphasis has been that we need to offer year-round
jobs for our youth,” she said.
The economic downturn has hit teens and young workers particularly
hard. According to a study released in January by the Center
for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University, less than
27 percent of working-age teenagers held jobs at the end of
last year. That number is down from the 45 percent who held
jobs in 2000.
According to the city, Richmond’s unemployment rate was 15.1
percent in February 2009 — nearly 70 percent greater than the
U.S. rate of 8.9 percent for the same period, and up from 10.2
percent in 2008. |
