By Tina Camba, Conference of Mayors Summer Fellow
May 10, 2004

Providence (RI) Mayor David N. Cicilline continues to place education at the forefront of his policy agenda. He is also leading a coalition of Rhode Island mayors on the issues of state school funding reform. On April 26, as part of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, Cicilline taught fifth graders at Carnevale Elementary School an important lesson on the dangers of drug use and alcohol consumption. This continues Cicilline's practice of visiting at least one school each week to talk with and listen to students. There are a total of 53 public schools in Providence.

Sponsored by the Mayor's Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force, this teach-ing was part of a nationwide effort in over 150 communities to teach children about the consequences of underage drinking and the need to remain substance-free. The project was funded by a community grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Later that afternoon, Cicilline focused on the educational training and needs of low-income youth when he announced the establishment of the Boston-based Year Up Program in Providence. Cicilline made the announcement with partners Founder and Executive Director of Year Up Gerald Chertavian, Sr. Managing Director of Providence Equity Partners Paul Salem, and Executive Director of Year Up Providence Sara Strammiello. This expansion was a result of a MIT-conducted study in 2002 that recommended Providence as a potential expansion site. "I was so impressed with what the mayor was planning, in terms of after'school programming and education, when he visited during the campaign that I knew they would be coming back to Providence at some point," Salem said.

Chertavian agreed, saying, "We are very excited to expand Year Up to Providence and to have the opportunity to serve another group of urban young adults. The community has been incredibly welcoming and receptive."

The Year Up program, started in Boston in 2000, is an intensive, one-year program that offers urban, low-income youths, ages 18 to 24 with a high school diploma or GED, the chance to gain technical and professional skills. Each participant is placed in an information technology paid corporate internship and can receive college credit if they are enrolled in a post'secondary education institution. Since the program's inception, more than 100 students have participated each year. So far, 65 percent of the participants have applied to college; 43 percent currently attend college; 43 percent of the students have been hired or contracted by their intern employer; and 88 percent have been placed in full or part-time positions with an average wage of $14 an hour.

Some of the companies offering paid internships include the city of Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston Medical Center, Children's Hospital, Fidelity Investments, FleetBoston Financial, State Street Research, Digitas, and Houghton Mifflin.

At the announcement, Cicilline welcomed the Year Up Program to Providence, saying, "This is an important, exciting and proven way to transform the lives of our young adults, giving them education, experience and guidance, and putting them on the fast-track of some of today's leading career choices. Based on the incredible achievements of the Boston and Cambridge programs, we know this works. And we are delighted the young men and women of Providence will now have the same great opportunity."

Cicilline also emphasized the need for programs directed at low-income youth in Providence, as well as Latino and African-Americans who have dropped out of school. Cicilline reinforced the notion that mayors as elected officials and community leaders have an obligation to give youth every chance for success.

Cicilline concluded by saying, "Having someone who says, 'I care,' is important to our youth. Year Up and its leaders are doing just that — and they are sending the signal to the business community that they can also make a difference in the lives of these young people and our community. How very fortunate we are that they are willing to do so."

For more information about the Year Up Program, contact Gerald Chertavian, Founder and CEO, at 617-388-2307. For more information about Cicilline's involvement in education, contact Ann Gooding at 401-421-2489 or agooding@providenceri.com.