FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2012

FOR ASSIGNMENT: Friday, May 18, 2012; 2-4 p.m.

CONTACTS: Brice Freeman, MOED, 410-396-1910, bfreeman@oedworks.com Donella Johnson, Commercial Interiors, 410-859-4141, djohnson@commercial-interiors.com

Mayor Rawlings-Blake to Visit Hire One Youth Job Fair for Baltimore Students Seeking Summer Jobs in the Construction Industry Baltimore, Maryland (May 16, 2012) – Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will visit a job fair to connect Baltimore City high school students interested in construction careers with part-time summer jobs in the industry. The fair was organized by Commercial Interiors, Inc., and other participating companies include Allen & Son, Allstate Floors and Construction, BK Truland Electric, Bunting Door & Hardware Co., Dynis, Calvert Mechanical, the Cordish Companies, Edwards & Hill Office Furniture, Ironshore Contracting, K&K Adams, McLaren Engineering Group, Modu-Tech, and Unique Resources. These companies are taking part in Mayor Rawlings-Blake’s Hire One Youth campaign, which challenges Baltimore employers to hire at least one job-ready 16- to 21-year-old this summer through the city’s YouthWorks program. Kevin Johnson, president and CEO of Commercial Interiors, Inc., is one of eleven local business leaders from various industries who are part of the Mayor’s Hire One Youth Leadership Team. WHO: More than 40 Baltimore City high school students, ages 16-21, are participating in the job fair. All are seeking a summer job through the YouthWorks program, and all have been prescreened to ensure employers have well-prepared, qualified students to interview. WHEN: Friday, May 18, 2012, 2-4 p.m. Mayor Rawlings-Blake will attend from 2:15-2:45 p.m. WHERE: War Memorial Building, 101 N. Gay Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 BACKGROUND: YouthWorks is Baltimore City’s summer jobs program, which places young people between the ages of 14 and 21 in six-week summer jobs with private sector, nonprofit, and city and state government employers throughout the city. To widen the positive impact of YouthWorks in 2012 by creating more summer job opportunities with local employers, Mayor Rawlings-Blake has created the Hire One Youth campaign and formed a leadership team comprised of members from the business community to champion the effort. Local employers who wish to join the Hire One Youth campaign by committing to hire at least one youth this summer can complete the online form at www.baltimorecity.gov/HireOneYouth or contact YouthWorks at 410-396-JOBS (5627) or HireOneYouth@oedworks.com. YouthWorks is operated by the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development with the assistance of employers and workforce partners, and with financial support from a variety of contributors. YouthWorks 2012 will run June 25 through August 3, and is part of Baltimore City Super Summer, a partnership between the City, Baltimore City Public Schools and nonprofits to ensure that every child has access to learning, meals, reading and other fun activities during the summer. Visit www.youthbmore.org or call 211 for more information about Baltimore City Super Summer. ### In fiscal year 2011, the Mayor's Office of Employment Development hosted more than 139,000 visits from city residents at our one-stop career centers, facilitated nearly 19,000 computer literacy training sessions at our Digital Learning Labs, and placed close to 2,700 individuals in jobs. We connected more than 5,000 youth to summer employment and assisted more than 500 businesses through our Employ Baltimore strategy. This year we are continuing our commitment to match Baltimore citizens with good jobs and satisfying careers, and to link area businesses to qualified employees. www.oedworks.com.