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Campaign for Summer Jobs
United Neighborhood Houses fights for Summer Jobs for young people.
Through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), New York businesses and nonprofits provide jobs for thousands of teens each year, occupations like serving as a camp counselor or working in a professional office, retail job or as a museum docent.
Through the Campaign for Sum mer Jobs, United Neighborhood Houses, along with our co-chair, Neighborhood Family Services Coalition, advocates for funding for SYEP and at the same time provides leadership opportunities for young people.
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- UNH leads workshops for teens at their local community centers to help them learn how to talk about the importance of a summer job.
- Teens learn how to be effective advocates for their cause in preparation for annual Youth Action Days in Albany and at City Hall.
- UNH organizes Youth Action Days where teen advocates meet with legislators and make their case for the importance of supporting summer jobs.
For over a decade, the Campaign has been successful in building support for tens of thousands of summer jobs. With teen unemployment at an all time high, the Campaign for Summer Jobs be comes even more important today. Budget cuts have reduced SYEP jobs to its lowest level in eleven years.
In New York City, there are over one million youth between the ages of 14 and 21 who are eligible for the Summer Youth Employment Program. The Campaign's goal is to see that every youth who wants a summer job can obtain one. While government funding made it possible for nearly 28,000 young people in New York City to have a summer job in 2011, a record number of approximately 131,000 youth applied.
For further information on the Campaign for Summer Jobs, please contact Kevin Douglas, Policy Analyst.
Businesses can contact Jessica Ziegler, Director of Development, to find out how to become a summer job sponsor.
Wisdom from a few of our Youth Advocates:
"I can help my family, and save money for college." Michael, 13
"…Giving us responsibility is important, and sends the message that life is not just in the street. We need to do something productive and positive." Kimani, 17
"Jobs not only teach useful skills, but how to be responsible with money. This summer, I learned how to open my own checking and savings account. Now, I can save for the future." Tymell, 16
Latest News
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
"Employment! Want it!” echoed through the Well of the Legislative Office Building in Albany on January 30
th, as 250 New York City youth emphasized their need for summer jobs. This year marks the 13
th annual Albany lobby day for
The Campaign for Summer Jobs, co-sponsored by United Neighborhood Houses and Neighborhood Family Services Coalition.
The two youth emcees, David Hope (age 25) and Gabriella Wilkinson (age 16), got the crowd motivated for the day ahead. Gabriella said, “Thanks to SYEP, I now have a job I love at a Beacon Center, leading activities for kids.” Other speeches by teens and a performance by the step team from the Child Center of NY in Ozone Park brought the energy of the rally through the roof.
Legislators and officals stopped by to show their support of the rally, which was held to urge State leaders for $35 million for SYEP. Among the speakers were Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senators Bill Perkins, John Sampson, Daniel Squadron, Marty Golden, Valmanette Montgomery, and Adriano Espaillat. “Courage is the word of the day,” said Senator Malcolm Smith, commending the youth for challenging their leaders. Speaker Silver echoed his sentiments, saying, “Make your voices heard. Help us to understand how we can help you.”
The youth met with legislative champions of the program following the event to share their summer job experiences, and to advocate for more funding. Last year, only 31,000 NYC youth of the 130,000 who applied were employed through SYEP - a drop from the 50,000 employed in 2009. It’s clear that when it comes to employment, youth want it.
In their own words…
"My summer job gave me something positive to do with my time. I also set an example for my friends, who want to get jobs this summer." Cindy, 14
"It's important for us to speak out for our rights; we need to let the legislators know that kids need money too, and no one wants to stay home and waste their summer on the couch." Damien, 13
"Summer jobs are important because what would happen to the businesses that we work at? Or the camps? We give a lot of extra help." Sherry, 15
Thursday, September 22, 2011
NY1 VIDEO: Errol Louis of “Inside City Hall” discusses the drop
in summer jobs for city teenagers with Jonathan Bowles, the executive
director of the Center for an Urban Future, Suzanne Lynn, the deputy
commissioner for community development at the city's Department of Youth
and Community Development, Anthony Ng, the director of policy and
advocacy for United Neighborhood Houses of New York, and 16-year-old
Avion Cummings from Manhattan, who was unsuccessful in her attempts to
get into the summer jobs program the past two years but found her own
summer internship this year.
Watch the discussion here>>
Read more articles about the Campaign for Summer Jobs »
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