Photo Courtesy of Demetrius Freeman/Mayoral Photography Office
Mayor de Blasio and City Council Speaker Mark-Viverito recently announced the formation of a new 20-member Youth Employment Task Force.
By Forum Staff
Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito last week announced the formation of the Youth Employment Task Force to, as they characterized the responsibility of the new body, inform future investments and assess the best areas for growth and improvement in youth workforce programming.
The development of the task force, which held its first meeting last Friday, comes after this year’s increase in funding for youth workforce initiatives and a record-breaking year for the Summer Youth Employment program. This season, 60,000 young people participated in the SYEP – the nation’s largest summer youth jobs initiative – and the City and Council supported the program with a record $72.4 million in funding.
Chaired by Richard Buery, deputy mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives, and City Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras-Copeland (D-East Elmhurst), the panel boasts senior administration officials and City Council members, as well as stakeholders from philanthropy, business, academia, advocacy, and youth development.
“Beginning work experience as a youth is an invaluable asset when considering how to come out ahead during later searches for full-time employment,” Mark-Viverito said. “The City Council is proud to have funded more than $85 million toward the Summer Youth Employment Program and Work, Learn, Grow in its FY 2017 budget, ensuring that thousands of young people around New York City will continue to gain valuable work experience. The oversight of the Youth Employment Taskforce is the next step in evolving our youth employment programs to best serve the youth of the five boroughs, and I look forward to the results that will come from the leadership of Mayor de Blasio, Deputy Mayor Richard Buery, Council Finance Chair Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, and those of us at the Council who have ensured that NYC youth remain a top priority.”
According to the administration, the task force will convene four times before the end of the year with the goal of developing recommendations for the city’s youth workforce programs and assess areas of potential investment and growth. Specifically, the task force is charged with:
- Defining the role of the Summer Youth Employment Program and Work Learn Grow in preparing NYC youth for success in school and career.
- Developing recommendations for improving both the Summer Youth Employment Program and Work Learn Grow program models.
- Highlighting the system-building efforts necessary to implement these changes and sustain successful programs.
“The Council made youth development a priority during this year’s budget process, and we are proud of the significant investments the City is making in summer internship and job training programs. Yet we must strive for more – which is why I am pleased to Chair this task force,” said Ferreras-Copeland. “I look forward to working with the diverse members to develop recommendations which will expand and strengthen programs like SYEP. In New York City, all young people should have the opportunity to gain real workplace experience.”
Started in 1963, SYEP provides city youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with up to six weeks of entry-level experience at worksites in all five boroughs. SYEP offers workshops on job readiness, career exploration and financial literacy, and opportunities to continue education and social growth. Specialized programming for disabled, foster care, runaway/homeless and court-involved young people is also available. Participants are selected by lottery for the program.
