1. 12/22/15, 3:26 PMInvesting in our youth: Summer jobs funding is critical for safer streets - The Boston Banner | HighBeam Research
Page 1 of 3https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2045102141.html/print
Investing in our youth: Summer jobs funding is
critical for safer streets
April 22, 2010 | Kakulu, Victor
If an idle mind is indeed die devil's workshop, what's to be said for the minds and
bodies of our teens and older youdi this summer without adequate funds for summer
job programs?
Summertime in Boston is supposed to conjure feelings of relaxation - a welcome
break to residents from the harsh toll of winter in die northeast. Yet, die rise in
violent deadis of youdis across the city has heightened die alarm of many residents for
die safety and welfare of Boston's young people.
Our teens have been voicing dieir concern for months. In February, more than 700
youths from Roxbury, Dorchester and other neighborhoods took to the streets and
marched through Boston Common to rally at die Statehouse in protest of the
announced state cuts in summer jobs funding.
A sentiment expressed by many of the young speakers was a growing fear of inner-
city violence erupting in the absence of summer job opportunities for youth. In recent
weeks, a flood of teens attended a jobs fair in Dorchester as well as a Boston City Hall
hearing on summer jobs organized by City Councilor Felix Arroyo Jr., to both apply
for summer work and appeal to leadership at the state and local level for support of
teen jobs programs.
Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) has championed an extensive
summer jobs program for the youth for over 43 years. In 2009, with the help of
Recovery Act economic stimulus funds, we were able to place 2,200 out of 5,000
youdi applicants, ages 14-24, at jobs in more than 250 community-based work sites,
including hospitals, colleges, clinics, libraries, child care programs, summer camps
and government agencies.
The Boston Banner
2. 12/22/15, 3:26 PMInvesting in our youth: Summer jobs funding is critical for safer streets - The Boston Banner | HighBeam Research
Page 2 of 3https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2045102141.html/print
In addition, the ABCD SummerWorks program kicked off last week at the Reggie
Lewis Track & Athletic Center in Roxbury. Close to 1 ,000 inner-city youdis from all
of Boston's neighborhoods were in attendance and filled out job applications.
Our current funds are able to support just 750 jobs for Boston's youth (about 10
percent of the expected 7,000 to 8,000 applications expected by our July 1 program
start date). If something doesn't happen at the government level, it is likely that
thousands will go without die benefit of a summer job.
In March, Congressional Black Caucus chairwoman Barbara Lee, D-Calif, stated diat
nationwide African American youth unemployment rates were estimated to be as high
as 42 percent.
A glimmer of hope was seen recently in the form of legislation filed by Congressman
David Obey, D-Wis., for $600 million for summer youdi programs. The Disaster
Relief and Summer Jobs Act of 2010 passed die House on March 24 and is now being
considered in the Senate. The bill would create 200,000 summer jobs.
Last year, over 40 percent of the 300,000 participants in nationwide summer job
programs created by economic stimulus funds were African American, and nearly
onequarter were Latino.
Many of the young people we serve - especially African Americans and Latinos in die
inner-city areas of Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan - are indeed themselves
household earners, oftentimes assisting either a single parent or grandparent
guardian in keeping a family afloat.
When you consider the burden placed on a family in the midst of nonexistent
opportunities for its young, the appeal of misguided alternatives to a child become
very understandable when the survival of a loved one is at stake.
By providing educational counseling, exposure to career opportunities and financial
education, ABCD SummerWorks enables young people to explore the world around
them as well as the potential within themselves.
We teach our young to do what is necessary for what is right - even in uncertain
times. The time has come for our leadership to do the same. Our youdi are both
watching and depending on it.
[Sidebar]
![12/22/15, 3:26 PMInvesting in our youth: Summer jobs funding is critical for safer streets - The Boston Banner | HighBeam Research
Page 2 of 3https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2045102141.html/print
In addition, the ABCD SummerWorks program kicked off last week at the Reggie
Lewis Track & Athletic Center in Roxbury. Close to 1 ,000 inner-city youdis from all
of Boston's neighborhoods were in attendance and filled out job applications.
Our current funds are able to support just 750 jobs for Boston's youth (about 10
percent of the expected 7,000 to 8,000 applications expected by our July 1 program
start date). If something doesn't happen at the government level, it is likely that
thousands will go without die benefit of a summer job.
In March, Congressional Black Caucus chairwoman Barbara Lee, D-Calif, stated diat
nationwide African American youth unemployment rates were estimated to be as high
as 42 percent.
A glimmer of hope was seen recently in the form of legislation filed by Congressman
David Obey, D-Wis., for $600 million for summer youdi programs. The Disaster
Relief and Summer Jobs Act of 2010 passed die House on March 24 and is now being
considered in the Senate. The bill would create 200,000 summer jobs.
Last year, over 40 percent of the 300,000 participants in nationwide summer job
programs created by economic stimulus funds were African American, and nearly
onequarter were Latino.
Many of the young people we serve - especially African Americans and Latinos in die
inner-city areas of Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan - are indeed themselves
household earners, oftentimes assisting either a single parent or grandparent
guardian in keeping a family afloat.
When you consider the burden placed on a family in the midst of nonexistent
opportunities for its young, the appeal of misguided alternatives to a child become
very understandable when the survival of a loved one is at stake.
By providing educational counseling, exposure to career opportunities and financial
education, ABCD SummerWorks enables young people to explore the world around
them as well as the potential within themselves.
We teach our young to do what is necessary for what is right - even in uncertain
times. The time has come for our leadership to do the same. Our youdi are both
watching and depending on it.
[Sidebar]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)