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Record 30K Teens Helping Beautify City Through One Summer Chicago

By Andrea V. Watson | June 27, 2016 12:44pm | Updated on June 27, 2016 2:50pm
 One Summer Chicago participant Arkalius Howard meets Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
One Summer Chicago participant Arkalius Howard meets Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
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DNAinfo/Andrea V. Watson

AUBURN GRESHAM — Mayor Rahm Emanuel kicked off the One Summer Chicago program Monday by joining 40 teens have been hired for the summer to spruce up and paint old viaducts.

"Chicago will be a better city when we're investing in our kids," Emanuel said, who was joined by his wife, Amy Rule.

She helped secure new employment partners this year. Partners include the Chicago Cubs, Hyatt and Navy Pier — which have collectively added an additional 100 opportunities this year for teens and young adults.

The youths jobs program is the city's largest jobs program and provides jobs and internships to teens and young adults between the ages of 14 and 24. One Summer Chicago opportunities are available in many industry areas, such as urban agriculture, outdoor forestry projects, bike repair and office and clerical work.

 One Summer Chicago participant Stephon Donelson, 17, helps paint a viaduct on the 8900 block of South Morgan Monday.
One Summer Chicago participant Stephon Donelson, 17, helps paint a viaduct on the 8900 block of South Morgan Monday.
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DNAinfo/Andrea V. Watson

The group Monday painted a viaduct on the 8900 block of South Morgan. It is one of several to be revitalized this summer in partnership with the departments of Family and Support Services, Streets and Sanitation and Transportation.

Emanuel's Infrastructure program began last year. It gives teens and young adults who live in the community the opportunity to work on larger projects that help beautify the neighborhood.

“The summer is when our children need us most, which is why we continue investing in our youth and in our children’s futures under the One Summer Chicago program,” Emanuel said. “Every year we are proud to grow this program, which provides youth an opportunity to learn new skills, give back to their communities, and make better choices tomorrow.”

This year 1,600 young people will work with the city's agencies to improve 400 viaducts. Another 600 will work to revitalize boulevards and lots. Since last year, the number of participants have doubled, Emanuel said, from 14,000 to a "record high" 30,000. This year, the city received a record number of applications, 82,000.

Teens from the Auburn Gresham community said it is difficult to secure jobs while still in school.

"It’s very challenging because for me I’m still in school so they’re looking for somebody who can fulfill the hours that they need work and I can't," said 17-year-old Arkalius Howard.

The Simeon High School student said he appreciates the jobs program because he's able to learn new skills while getting paid.

Working in small groups while painting has taught him better communication skills, he said.

Another student, Brendell Hunter of Auburn Gresham, said he had trouble finding work before his teacher told him about One Summer Chicago.

"It’s real difficult because as a teen around here, it’s real hard to get a job," said the 18-year-old. "You have to know someone who can get you in there because I’ve been looking for lots of jobs."

This is Hunter's first summer with the program and he said this experience will help him in the future and will also look good on a resume. He plans on learning a trade after high school because he likes working with his hands, he said.

Paul Robeson senior Cearra Turner is participating in her second summer. The 17-year-old Auburn Gresham resident painted and picked up trash last year. She said the program is good for all teens.

"I think it’s a good way to keep kids out of trouble and we're also beautifying the neighborhood as well so it’s like a two in one, so it’s real good," she said.

An end of year report for 2015 showed that the summer job program had participants engaged in more than 2.5 million hours of real-world work experiences and earned nearly $7 million dollars in wages.

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