FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, July 2, 2010

CONTACT Ryan O’Doherty (410) 818-4269 ryan.odoherty@baltimorecity.gov Baltimore City’s Summer Jobs Program Completes First Week Mayor and City Council help to fund YouthWorks at same level as 2009 despite city’s economic challenges.

BALTIMORE, MD. (July 2, 2010)—Baltimore City’s YouthWorks summer jobs program completes its first week today as thousands of youth and young adults begin their six-week work experience. More than 5,400 young people, ages 14-24, were offered summer job opportunities at more than 400 private sector and nonprofit locations throughout the city. “Resolving the worst budget crisis in Baltimore City’s modern history presented many challenges, but our commitment to YouthWorks has remained unchanged,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “I am appreciative of the financial support provided by individuals, as well as our local business and philanthropic communities.” This year’s theme, Summer Jobs Launch Careers, describes the lasting effect that a productive summer job can have on a young person. Through targeted matching of job assignments to older teens’ career interests and an emphasis on effective work behaviors and financial literacy for all participants, YouthWorks 2010 helps our future workforce develop the skills required to build careers and become effective employees. At a cost of $1,400 per participant to pay wages for these 30-hour per week positions, several sources of funding are being utilized to operate this city-wide program. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and the Baltimore City Council approved $1.6 million for YouthWorks 2010, which represents the same level as last year. “I want to thank our Congressional Delegation for securing a grant from the Department of Labor to create the Baltimore Career Corps,” added Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “This initiative will provide jobs for 300 participants to increase their knowledge of and experience in Baltimore’s high growth industries.” Sponsored by Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman John Sarbanes, the $575,000 Department of Labor grant will result in YouthWorks participants developing individualized career development plans and acquiring work readiness skills at worksites in the private sector, selected city agencies, and community-based organizations. Legg Mason, Grant Capital Management, Motorola Foundation, and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation are among the key employer and foundation contributors to YouthWorks. “For well over a decade, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has been an enthusiastic supporter of YouthWorks,” said Barry Schloss, trustee for the Weinberg Foundation. “We understand that providing opportunities for Baltimore City’s young people to experientially learn vital work skills not only benefits the youth, but also serves as a positive investment for the entire city.” Other significant contributions include $1,000,000 provided by the Maryland State Department of Human Resources and the Baltimore City Department of Social Services to provide summer jobs to youth from families who qualify for Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF). YouthWorks participants are involved in a wide variety of work settings including summer camps, hospitals, universities, and law offices. Many are gaining “green” job experience, such as horticulture, wildlife management, and urban forestry. Others are participating in the Youth Ambassador Program, in conjunction with Baltimore City Public Schools, to learn peer support and conflict resolution skills to become ambassadors for their schools. The National Aquarium in Baltimore is one of many organizations that provide work experiences that may lead to part-time employment once the summer program ends. YouthWorks operates for six weeks and concludes on August 6, 2010. For more information, visit www.oedworks.com. ### Visit our Website @ www.baltimorecity.gov