FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 27, 2013 FOR ASSIGNMENT: Thursday, April 4, 2013; 9-11 a.m.

CONTACTS: Brice Freeman (bfreeman@oedworks.com), 410-396-1910; Kate Schmelyun (kschmelyun@oedworks.com) or Ernest Dorsey (edorsey@oedworks.com), 410-396-6722

City to Celebrate 13 Years of the Youth Opportunity Baltimore Program YO! Baltimore connects young people to job training, academic services and more Baltimore, Maryland (March 27, 2013) – The Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Employment Development is hosting a “Happy Birthday to YO!” event April 4 to celebrate the Youth Opportunity (YO!) Baltimore program, its partners and members, and its impact on the city. YO! Baltimore was founded in 2000 to address the many needs of youth and young adults who had become disconnected from traditional learning environments. Over the past 13 years, YO! – together with a wide array of committed partners – has provided academic, career/job training, advocacy, mentoring, health and social support services to thousands of out-of-school, out-ofwork city youth. During the event, YO! Baltimore will be recognized as a national model for youth engagement by the Communities Collaborating to Reconnect Youth (CCRY) Network. In addition to celebrating YO!’s past 13 years of success, the event will also look to the future with the unveiling of the new YO! Academy Culinary Arts program, which will prepare students for stable careers in the foodservice, hospitality and tourism industries. Baltimore City Council President Bernard “Jack” Young will provide remarks, along with MOED Director Karen Sitnick; Michael Thomas, director of the Office of Learning to Work for Baltimore City Public Schools; and former YO! members. WHEN: Thursday, April 4, 2013; 9-11 a.m. WHERE: YO! Westside Community Center, 1510 W. Lafayette Avenue (Gilmor Street entrance), Baltimore, MD 21217 BACKGROUND: Since 2000, Youth Opportunity (YO!) Baltimore has been serving out-of-school youth and young adults by providing educational, personal development, and career preparation resources. At two youth-friendly centers, caring adults provide a wide range of support services and opportunities for participants to reach their academic and career goals. YO! members build important life skills and participate in activities that prepare them for the workforce. Operated by the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, YO! has a proven track record of helping young people increase their wage earnings and educational attainment while reducing recidivism, and has received national recognition as a model youth development program. ###