Mayor Walsh Announces Additional Funding for Summer Jobs

BOSTON— Monday, June 22, 2015 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced an additional $270,000 in funding to create 200 additional jobs for youth this summer. The Mayor made the announcement while attending the 83rd U.S. Conference of Mayors in San Francisco, Calif. 

"Summer jobs provide more than just a source of income for our young people," said Mayor Walsh. "These jobs provide valuable work experience, mentorship opportunities, self- confidence and most importantly, an opportunity to see a new and better future. I thank our partners on the City Council for their continued support. "

“I want to commend the administration and my colleagues on the City Council for their tireless advocacy for summer opportunities for youth across the city," said City Council Ways and Means Committee Chairman Mark Ciommo.

 Mayor Walsh has made youth summer employment a priority, challenging businesses to partner with the City to increase employment opportunities for Boston's young people. Under his leadership, Boston currently places more than 10,000 young people annually in meaningful summer jobs. 

For more than 20 years, the Boston Youth Fund, and now the Department of Youth Engagement and Employment (DYEE), has provided employment opportunities for Boston youth in a vast array of positions at non-profit organizations throughout the city. Many of the young people employed are instrumental in assisting non-profit organizations with outreach efforts, childcare, educational awareness and more.

With this new support, the City’s overall commitment to DYEE youth jobs will grow by nearly 22 percent in fiscal year 2016. The Walsh Administration expects to be able to absorb the additional costs through continued strict expenditure management throughout the fiscal year.

Earlier this month, Mayor Walsh kicked off the eighth year of John Hancock's MLK Summer Jobs Program, a major partner of the Mayor's Summer Jobs Program and component of the City’s efforts to employ Boston youth. John Hancock’s MLK Summer Jobs Program employs more than 600 Boston teens annually. In conjunction with the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program, John Hancock works in close partnership with The Boston Globe, Boston University and Partners HealthCare to offer the unique MLK Summer Scholars program.

Summer jobs have been key to combating youth violence as well, alongside other major initiatives launched by the Mayor. This month, Mayor Walsh announced a public/private partnership led by the Mayor’s Public Safety Initiative with John Hancock and Boys & Girls Club of Boston's Youth Connect program that is aimed at stemming youth violence by providing clinical case management and positive youth development opportunities for high-risk youth. The program, which will be funded by John Hancock, will serve approximately 50 at-risk males and females ranging from 11-14-years-old per year.

The focus of the program will be to reduce risky behaviors to increase positive decision-making skills, while creating opportunities to increase self-awareness and confidence through the acquisition of leadership and work-readiness skills.  

Mayor Walsh is also calling on more private sector companies to hire and support youth employment. For companies interested in participating in the Mayor's Summer Jobs Program, please contact summerjobs@boston.gov.