Calling on the Administration to commit to increasing funding for FY20 to grow the number of youth employed during the summer months.

WHEREAS, Summer jobs provide young people with quality mentoring and professional training during a critical time in their lives. Research shows that when young people are gainfully employed for the summer, they are much less likely to engage in misconduct or have contact with the criminal justice system; and

WHEREAS, The City’s youth unemployment rate is 16 percent, more than three times the national average. Unemployment rates for youth of color in the City of Philadelphia are consistently higher than this average; and

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia provides funding for the purposes of youth summer employment to several agencies operating throughout the City, including the Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN), Urban Affair Coalition (UAC) and Public Citizens for Children & Youth (PCCY). With this funding, these agencies are able to pay 8th to 12th grade students to engage in a range of work-based learning activities and traditional summer employment activities; and

WHEREAS, Around 18,000 youth apply for summer jobs in Philadelphia. However, the current funding being provided by the City only allows for the employment of 10,000 youth; and

WHEREAS, It should be a priority of the Administration to grow this capacity to meet the demands of our youth. Additionally, it should be a priority to enable these organizations to intentionally offer employment programs to youth annually from summer of 8th grade through the summer of 12th grade, with developmentally appropriate opportunities, so youth can acquire, enhance and build upon workplace skills annually; and

WHEREAS, Increased funding for summer youth employment ensures that Philadelphia can serve the maximum number of young residents with a positive summer employment experience, and should be reflected as a real priority of the administration; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby calls on the Administration to commit to increasing funding for FY20 to grow the number of youth employed during the summer months.

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