Funding goes to create Boston summer jobs

Posted on July 25, 2015

Funding in the amount of $270,000 is going to create Boston summer jobs.

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.

The funding will create 200 additional jobs for youth this summer.

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.

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.

“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.