Mayor Krewson to Hold Press Conference Announcing Expansion of STL Youth Jobs Program

STL Youth Jobs, now in its fifth year of providing jobs to 16-24 year olds in the City of St. Louis, engages young adults in meaningful employment to reduce crime, increase academic success and build the skills needed to build a lasting career.  

Since 2013, STL Youth Jobs has provided over 2,000 youth with paid work experience, job readiness and financial literacy training, career and mentoring services and works with more than 200 local employers on an annual basis.  

The Citi Foundation has granted $297,000 to STL Youth Jobs as a part of its Pathways to Progress initiative.  The funding will expand the initiative’s ability to provide jobs and financial literacy training and education and ultimately connect young people to a paid job and a safe and secure bank account.  In summer of 2016, 96% of all STL Youth Jobs participants were banked as a result of Citi Foundation’s support of STL Youth Jobs.

STL Youth Jobs was created as a cross-sector solution to bridge the divide between the challenges facing our region’s youth and the growing demands of our local workforce.  STL Youth Jobs utilizes its strategic partnerships to leverage resources and support to provide St. Louis youth with the most meaningful summer work experiences.  Strategic partnerships include Mayor Francis Slay, the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE), St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green, St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura Jones, the Incarnate Word Foundation, the St. Louis Community Foundation and MERS Goodwill.   

It costs about $2,500 to fund one youth employee’s job. Mayor Krewson has committed nearly $300,000 of City resources to support youth employment in summer 2017.  These investments, coupled with private donations, will allow over 700 at-risk teenagers and young adults to gain employment.

Press Conference Details  

Who:
Mayor Lyda Krewson
Hillary Frey, Executive Director, STL Youth Jobs
Shawn Kormanek, Citi Group
*STL Youth Jobs participants will be available for Q&A and interviews

When: 
May 23, 2017
10:00 a.m.

Where:
Mayor’s Office, Room 200, St. Louis City Hall