The Johns Hopkins Institutions formally announced on
April 29 that they will provide jobs for
250 local youth this summer as part of Baltimore's
YouthWorks summer jobs campaign.
In an appearance with Mayor Sheila Dixon at the city's
annual career fair for young people,
university
President Ronald J. Daniels and Johns Hopkins Hospital
and Health System President Ronald
R. Peterson announced their intention to fund wages for the
summer job participants.
"As president of Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health
System, I am aware of the vital importance
of preparing young people for the world of work," said
Peterson, who is a 2009 YouthWorks campaign
co-chair along with Bishop Douglas Miles, clergy co-chair
for Baltimoreans United in Leadership
Development. "It's more important than ever that we support
YouthWorks so that businesses can help
develop the skills of young people now to improve the
productivity of the future workforce."
Both Peterson and Daniels praised the way private
employers and the city have come together
to help young people during a time of financial struggle
for many families.
"This is a terrific illustration of how the city and
Baltimore's private employers can work
together to address an urgent public need," Daniels said.
"I am proud that Johns Hopkins is helping to
answer the mayor's call to expand the YouthWorks summer
jobs program in the midst of a very
serious national recession."
Johns Hopkins has worked with the city for years to
provide summer jobs through YouthWorks.
In 2008, 186 participants were placed in summer jobs at The
Johns Hopkins Hospital, and several
others worked for the university. This year, the health
system will place 150 youth in summer jobs and
the university 100, an increase that will help expand the
city program. Last year, the program
employed 6,500 young people, an increase of 20 percent from
the previous year. Everyone who
registered for a summer job was offered one. The goal this
year is to be able to offer jobs to 7,000
young people, according to Baltimore City officials.
"Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins University
have been tremendous YouthWorks
supporters throughout the years," Mayor Dixon said at the
career fair, held on M&T Bank Stadium's
club level. "Their generous 2009 YouthWorks donation
represents the largest-ever private sector
contribution to our summer jobs effort and will result in
productive employment opportunities for
Baltimore City youth."
Nearly 70 employers, including Johns Hopkins,
conducted interviews at the career fair.
The summer jobs program, administered by Baltimore's
Office of Employment Development,
runs for six weeks beginning June 22. The program is
designed to get local youth, ages 14 to 21,
working and earning money during the summer, and to expose
them to a variety of public- and private-
sector work settings. Employers, in turn, benefit by
introducing young workers to their industries and
helping them prepare for their future careers.
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