FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 29, 2009

CONTACT: Scott Peterson (443) 740-5412

Mayor Dixon Urges Support for 2009 YouthWorks Campaign Support still needed to meet demand for summer jobs.

Baltimore, MD (April 29, 2009) –Mayor Sheila Dixon was joined by Ronald J. Daniels, President of Johns Hopkins University and Ronald R. Peterson, President of Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System to announce the progress of the 2009 YouthWorks summer jobs campaign. President Daniels and President Peterson, who is also a 2009 YouthWorks campaign co-chair, presented a donation that will fund wages for 250 participants in six-week summer jobs at both facilities. “Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins University have been tremendous YouthWorks supporters throughout the years,” said Mayor Dixon. “Their generous 2009 donation represents the largest ever private sector contribution to our summer jobs effort and will result in productive employment opportunities for Baltimore City youth.” “This is a terrific illustration of how the city and Baltimore’s private employers can work together to address an urgent public need,” said Mr. Daniels. “I am proud that Johns Hopkins is helping to answer the mayor’s call to expand the YouthWorks Summer Jobs Program in the midst of very serious national recession.” “It's more important than ever that we support YouthWorks so that businesses can help develop the skills of young people now to improve the productivity of the future workforce.,” added Mr. Peterson. The registration deadline for summer jobs has passed, but the YouthWorks campaign is still soliciting tax-deductible donations and commitments from businesses interested in adding teens directly onto their payrolls. Despite the nation’s economic struggles, Mayor Dixon maintained last year’s goal of at least 6,500 teens to work in summer jobs in 2009. “I have made summer jobs a top initiative of my administration,” said Mayor Dixon. “YouthWorks gives our young people the opportunity to experience the value of work and develop the skills that employers require.”

It is likely that 7,000 Baltimore City young people will be placed in work experiences that begin June 22, 2009. The Mayor indicated that the campaign still needs to raise about $500,000. The YouthWorks campaign is being supported in part this year by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; however, this funding can only be used for those who are economically disadvantaged and requires that families who have already registered for YouthWorks supply required income eligibility documentation. Bishop Douglas Miles, 2009 YouthWorks co-chair and clergy co-chair for Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (BUILD), encouraged those families who have been contacted by the YouthWorks office to comply with the documentation request so that their registrations and summer job assignments can be completed. Karen Sitnick, director of the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, and Alice Cole, YouthWorks program director, gave further details about the program and campaign, including the need for nonprofits to apply to become YouthWorks worksites. The YouthWorks career fair is an annual feature of the YouthWorks program that links more than 500 older youth (16-21) who have completed 12-hour job readiness trainings to interview with private sector companies, city and state agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Nearly 70 employers conducted interviews at the club level at M&T Bank Stadium. Employers who did not register to attend the career fair, but are interested in hiring YouthWorks participants, can still have their employment needs met in time for the summer jobs program – June 22, 2009 through July 31, 2009 – by contacting the YouthWorks office. It costs $1400 to support a youth in a six-week work experience. There is still time to support YouthWorks. Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to: Baltimore City Foundation/YouthWorks c/o Mayor’s Office of Employment Development 101 W. 24th Street Baltimore, MD 21218 For more information about YouthWorks, call (410) 396-6722 or visit www.oedworks.com. # # #