By Kathy Amoroso
February 1, 2010

Mayors and their workforce development directors participated in an interactive dialogue with U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis about the successes, challenges and lessons learned from last year's Summer Jobs program during the Summer Jobs breakfast held at the 78th Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting.

Sponsored by the Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council, the breakfast was moderated by Conference of Mayors Immediate Past President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, and featured a presentation by Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle, a keynote address by Solis, and remarks from Conference Past President Akron Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic, Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez, and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter on effective strategies to connect with at-risk youth to provide them with valuable work experience.

"Crime stats, gun violence and shootings are way down in Omaha," said Suttle. "This program kept youth off the streets and out of trouble, and all of these relate back to giving youth an opportunity they otherwise would not have had. We are convinced that the Summer Jobs program has a major impact, and is why these stats are coming down the way they are."

"We are putting the three E's in place in Omaha," Suttle continued, "Enforcement, Education and Employment. They do work together and they do produce results and this program has demonstrated that."

In her remarks, Solis outlined the Department of Labor's work to increase economic growth and spur renewed hiring for the millions of Americans who are out of work. "There is not one day that goes by that I do not think about the millions of Americans that are struggling to find a job," said Solis. "I want you all to know that this Administration is focused on job creation every single day. The Department of Labor is working tirelessly to ensure that we fulfill our responsibility to provide workers with the assistance they need today in order to prepare for the careers of tomorrow. Good Jobs for Everyone has been my goal from day one and it will continue to be in 2010."

Regarding the Summer Jobs program, Solis addressed the program's critics. "Despite what some critics say, the Summer Youth Employment Program made work opportunities a reality for many young people by providing real world work experience, skills training and mentoring activities to allow young people to get started in the world of work."

"We have heard back from a countless number of young people about their positive experiences and here is what we learned: these young people came from diverse backgrounds, some had dropped out of school and others lacked clear vision of their goals and how to obtain them. The Summer Youth Employment was a successful economic stimulus program that not only helped deliver funds back into the economy, but increased the knowledge and job experience to young people, and gave them a sense of responsibility and self-pride. And, most importantly, it's something that we want to continue."

Solis encouraged the mayors to check in with the people running their Summer Jobs programs as soon as they get home to reiterate to them the importance of early planning.

"We still have work to do before we can be sure that all Americans have access to good jobs, but I am confident that we will reach that goal. By working together with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and other stakeholders, we can turn our economy around and create pathways to success for all Americans," she said.