Mayor Stanton Calls On Local Businesses to Provide Youth Employment Opportunities

(Phoenix, AZ)  —  Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton hosted an “Engaging Tomorrow’s Youth Today” breakfast for more than 120 business leaders to learn about youth employment opportunities and how they can partner with the City of Phoenix to provide summer internships for youth between the ages of 16-24.

At this year’s State of the City Address, Mayor Stanton discussed the importance of re-engaging disconnected out-of-school/unemployed youth to help them reach their full potential.  The Mayor shared how the Phoenix community rallied together to work with Starbucks to host the 100K Job Opportunity Fair & Forum, which took place at the Phoenix Convention Center where more than 500 youth received job offers at that event.

“When we make an investment in our youth, it gives them the opportunity to invest in themselves,” said Mayor Greg Stanton. “By working directly with our business community to provide job opportunities for youth, we are changing the course of lives for the better.”

The Phoenix Youth R.I.S.E. (Reach and Invest in Summer Employment) Summer Internship program is funded by General Purpose Funds and businesses are not responsible for paying the youth out of their company budget. The 5-week, up to 40 hours a week, internship program will start June 27 and run through July 29. The program is slated to serve up to 130 youth this summer.

Employer applications will be accepted until June 3.  Employer and youth applications are available for pick up at Phoenix City Hall, 200 W. Washington St., 19th or 20th FL and can also be downloaded at phoenix.gov/econdev/Arizona-at-work/youth.  In mid-June, supervisors and mentors will be provided a two hour orientation to learn about program expectations and to meet their youth intern.