SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — This week, Mayor Edwin M. Lee and the United Way of the Bay Area – along with City Departments and private sector employers – announced the launch of Summer Jobs+ 2013, challenging employers this summer to create 6,000 jobs and paid internships for San Francisco youth. Mayor Lee’s Summer Jobs+ 2013 will connect San Francisco employers with low-income and disconnected San Francisco youth.
“Last year, San Francisco worked together to answer President Obama’s call to provide meaningful work experience and a paycheck to San Francisco youth,” said Mayor Lee. “We not only answered that call, but exceeded our own aggressive goals of 5,000 jobs, by placing more than 5,200 young adults in jobs and paid internships for the summer and beyond,” said Mayor Lee. “We are setting an even more ambitious goal for 2013 to create meaningful employment opportunities for our young people so we set them up for success now and in the future. I am again calling upon employers across San Francisco to join us in supporting the future of our young people.”
Last year, President Barack Obama issued a challenge to businesses, non-profits, and government: Work together to provide pathways to employment for low-income and disconnected youth. Last year through San Francisco Summer Jobs+, 5,200 young people participated in new job opportunities—over 1,700 of them worked in the private sector at 86 companies and organizations throughout the city including Starbucks, Advent and Uniqlo. Thirty nine percent (663 jobs) of these private sector summer jobs turned into permanent positions for San Francisco youth.
United Way of the Bay Area is leading San Francisco’s effort in support of Mayor Lee’s Summer Jobs+ Program along with Department of Children Youth and their Families (DCYF), Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) and the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).
“We’re proud to again be partnering with Mayor Lee and employers throughout San Francisco on Summer Jobs+ 2013,” said United Way Bay Area Chief Executive Officer Anne Wilson. “No Mayor or city in America is doing more to get our young people into good jobs and internships for the summer; a critical steppingstone that will help set them on the path to success.”
Employers that have already committed to hiring Summer Jobs+ participants in 2013 include salesforce.com, Starbucks, Advent, Bank of America, Nektar, Twilio, Jawbone, members of SFMade and many more.
“As a company deeply committed to supporting the communities we serve, Starbucks was proud to be a part of the 2012 Mayor’s Summer Job+ program,” said Starbucks Northern California Regional Vice President David Chu. “Not only were we able to attract talented young people from diverse backgrounds, but their commitment to learning was inspirational. These participants represent the future of San Francisco and the next generation of leaders at Starbucks. We are looking forward to kicking off the Mayor’s 2013 Summer Job+ program.”
“It hasn’t always been easy for me – I’m independent, fighting to get a good education and make it here in San Francisco, the city of opportunity,” said LaRon Ryan, a 21 year old participant in Summer Jobs+ 2012 who worked at Jawbone, a San Francisco technology company. “Over the years I’ve learned how to advocate for myself and take initiative. You know, that’s how I got my tech internship at Jawbone through the San Francisco Summer Jobs+ program. It pretty much changed my life.”
This year Bank of America and PG&E are again contributing $100,000 each in financial support for Summer Jobs+ 2013.
“Bank of America is delighted to be a partner of Summer Jobs 2013 as part of our national mission to support workforce development initiatives, providing youth and adults with the experience, skills and inspiration they need to achieve employment and fulfilling careers,” said Bank of America San Francisco Market President Martin Richards.
“PG&E believes San Francisco’s Summer Jobs+ program builds valuable job skills in young people, which not only offers promise for their future but contributes to the economic vitality of our state,” said PG&E Corporation Chairman, CEO and President Tony Earley. “We’re excited to extend our support for a second year as a way of giving back to the communities we serve.”
Employers or youth interested in participating or learning more about San Francisco Summer Jobs+, go to www.matchbridge.org/summer or www.hiresfyouth.org or call 3-1-1 or 2-1-1.
