By Kathy Chouteau
The City of Richmond’s YouthWORKS’ Summer Youth Employment Program is on the lookout for local businesses interested in becoming worksite employers. Youth participants in the program range from 16 to 21 years old and work onsite at companies throughout the summer months completing a variety of professional tasks.
Applications can be completed here. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 17 at 5 p.m. The program will conduct its first review of worksite requests Wednesday, April 1.
“Through this experience, you will provide guidance and training for youth in Richmond and allow them to develop positive work habits, attitudes and valuable job skills necessary to enter the workforce prepared and qualified to be productive employees,” Richmond Mayor Tom Butt stated on his Facebook page regarding the program.
Providing opportunities to local youth as a workplace employer offers many benefits to participating companies. Benefits to companies span the gamut from getting short term projects completed, to training Richmond youth in your field to becoming a mentor in your community to curbing the temporary staffing costs, per the program.
The YouthWORKS program “provides case managed services to at-risk and in-risk youth,” per its website. “Services are participation based and include: academic support, transportation assistance, cultural enrichment trips, life skills and pre-employment training.”
YouthWORKS’ Summer Youth Employment Program is supported by the City of Richmond, Chevron Richmond and America’s Job Center of California.
Learn more about becoming a worksite employer for the Summer Youth Employment Program here. Questions? Contact Bouakhay Phongboupha at [email protected] or 510-307-8050. YouthWORKS’ office is located at 330 25th St. in Richmond; contact the office at 510-412-2044.
