There have been deep cuts to youth jobs since 2001. What positive steps have elected officials taken so far to support youth jobs, and how can they go even further?
The Next Step
- Commit $5 million to the FY07 City Operating budget for youth summer and year-round jobs!
- Community members: Support this by calling your city councilors today! (You can also view the online petition.)
Positive Steps So Far
- Hearings and Community Forums on Youth Violence. The City Council has held City Council hearings and community forums on youth violence where youth, youth workers, and community members have spoken clearly for the need for increased youth jobs funding. In addition, City Councilors have worked with youth workers and youth to understand the City Budget more clearly.
- Summer Jobs Task Force. Mayor Menino has instituted a Summer Jobs Task Force where youth workers, job agencies, and City officials can work together to strategize how to increase public and private funding for summer jobs.
- Cultivating Private Partnerships. Mayor Menino has asked private businesses to commit to hiring youth.
- Winter Jobs. Mayor Menino and the Boston Youth Fund funded winter jobs in 2005-2006, and Mayor Menino has committed $250,000 for the next year for hiring high risk youth.
- State Youth Jobs Line Item. The State created a line item for youth jobs which has increased from $3 million in 2005, to $4 million in 2006. About half these funds will go to Boston.
All of these steps are positive but to truly support young people, we need to reverse the cuts to City funding for youth jobs over the past five years. There is a great opportunity this year to fund youth summer and year-round jobs with $5 million!
