1,000 teens start summer jobs today

‘Green’ Teens part of Earn & Learn workforce
 

Milwaukee area non-profit organizations and faith-based agencies are putting 1,000 teens to work beginning today as part of the City of Milwaukee’s Earn & Learn program. A total of 1,500 teens are working this summer through program in city internships, private sector jobs or in positions with 73 community-based agencies. Earn & Learn is operated jointly by the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board and the City of Milwaukee Department of City Development.   Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Alderman Joe Davis and other local and state elected officials held a news conference today to brief the media on the variety of jobs teens would perform this year through the City of Milwaukee’s ‘Earn & Learn’ Summer Youth Jobs program.   “This is a critical program to get our young people started on building their job experiences but in this tight job market, it’s even more crucial to give our teens a chance to earn and learn their way towards a brighter future,” said Mayor Barrett. “Our community-based positions will give teens an opportunity to learn basic work skills and at the same time they’ll help build a stronger Milwaukee through the vital programs our non-profit agencies provide to the community.” Mayor Barrett said that teens will be keeping food pantries stocked, helping serve meals to those who need it most, and they’ll help run programs that keep younger kids engaged in safe summer activities. “Our Milwaukee non-profit organizations fuel a lot of important work in our neighborhoods and it’s my hope that our Earn & Learn teens make lifelong connections to this work experience,” said Mayor Barrett. Mayor Barrett announced today that 175 Earn & Learn positions across all three sectors of the program are green-related. ‘Green Teens’ will perform conservation and revitalization work, learn about environmental engineering, labor at an urban agriculture center or assist with water quality work. Other ‘Green Teens’ will learn from bicycle mechanics to repair bikes for a bike-to-school program. Earn & Learn’s Community-based positions are made possible by funding from the State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and the Milwaukee Public Schools.