Mayor Brandon Johnson Announces Expansion Of One Summer Chicago Program For Second Consecutive Summer
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CHICAGO ~ Chicago Mayor Announces Expansion of One Summer Chicago Program, Providing Over 27,000 Jobs for Youth

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) have announced the expansion of the One Summer Chicago (OSC) program, providing over 27,000 jobs for youth this summer. This expansion is made possible through partnerships with the business community, City departments, sister agencies, philanthropic partners, and labor unions.

According to Mayor Johnson, this commitment to youth jobs goes beyond just providing a paycheck. "It's about giving them a purpose," he stated. The program not only helps young people earn money but also allows them to develop their skills and build meaningful careers in the city.

Last year, Mayor Johnson successfully expanded the program by 4,000 jobs, representing a 20% increase from the previous summer. This year's expansion is made possible by an additional $11 million allocated in Mayor Johnson's FY2024 budget. In total, 27,140 young people are employed through OSC this summer.

DFSS Commissioner Brandie Knazze emphasized the importance of summer jobs in shaping a young person's trajectory and allowing them to gain perspective on how they can contribute to their communities. "The opportunity for young people to explore various careers while getting paid is putting more young people on a path of lifelong learning while building our future workforce," she said.

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Mayor Johnson announced these numbers during a site visit to Dyett High School, one of the partner organizations in the OSC program. Other sister agencies that partner with the City to employ young people include Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), Chicago Park District, After School Matters, Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), City Colleges of Chicago, and Aldermanic Offices.

One exciting aspect of this year's expansion is the "Peacekeepers" pilot program, a partnership with the community-based organization GoodKidsMadCity, along with the Alternative Schools Network and Wards 3, 4, 5, and 20. This program trains young people to de-escalate conflicts in their communities through communication skills, conflict resolution, event planning, deep canvassing, and relationship building.

During the announcement event, Mayor Johnson participated in a peace circle with young people from the program and spoke with them about their experiences. "We want to heal our communities and provide other youth like us with the opportunities to push peace and make our communities safer," said Reece Johnson, a youth leader with GoodKidsMadCity.

Youth employment has been proven to reduce community violence and combat poverty. As part of Mayor Johnson's People's Plan for Community Safety, the administration is making significant investments in data-driven strategies to prevent violence. Earlier this week, Mayor Johnson launched the ARPA-funded 'Cycle Breakers' campaign to disrupt cycles of violence by providing young people with mentorship, mental health support, and resources through partnerships with over 50 community-based organizations.

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The One Summer Chicago program is made up of three components: Chicagobility, Chicago Youth Service Corps (CSYC), and the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). More than half of the participants identify with one or more of these programs' target population groups. Chicagobility provides career exploration opportunities for 14-15-year-olds who receive a stipend of $450 for project-based activities over six weeks. CYSC is a year-long civic leadership program for 16-24-year-olds that focuses on leadership development and life skills while tackling issues such as community development, mental health, and food insecurity. Participants earn $15.80 per hour for up to 460 hours a year. SYEP is a six-week program for 16-24-year-olds that provides job placement and specialized training at local businesses, government agencies, and community organizations.

More information on One Summer Chicago (Chicagobility and Summer Youth Employment Program) is available at OneSummerChicago.org. With this expansion, Mayor Johnson and the Chicago DFSS are committed to investing in the city's young people and providing them with opportunities to succeed.

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