By Penny Tilghman
June 2, 2008

Youth organizations continue to advocate for the inclusion of a $1 billion youth jobs program in the war supplemental domestic spending package to create up to one million jobs for teens this summer, several weeks after The U. S. Conference of Mayors sent a letter to Congressional leaders with 141 mayoral signatures calling for inclusion of this crucial funding.

The D.C. Alliance for Youth Advocates in partnership with Sasha Bruce YouthWork, Metro Teen AIDS, Urban Alliance Foundation and the Latin American Youth Center hosted a rally for youth job funding on May 19 behind the Capitol Building at the Capitol Reflecting Pool.

At the rally, D.C. Alliance for Youth Advocate Policy Director Victoria Cunningham welcomed the audience of teens and youth partners by chanting, “We need more money for youth jobs!” In her opening remarks, she said that summer jobs provide young people with opportunities that they would not otherwise have, and that youth employment is critical in addressing a host of socio-economic needs. She also publicly thanked the United States Conference of Mayors for their advocacy in this area. “I would also like to express many thanks to USCM for being here today, and providing continuous support to this cause.”

The Sasha Bruce Director of the Third Party Monitoring Program, Carl Douglas, relayed how important it was for him to have a job as a teen since his mother could not afford to help him with extracurricular and recreational expenses. “Having a job as a young person salvaged my self-esteem. I was able to buy clothes and shoes for school, and hang out with friends at the movies.”

Guest speaker, National Youth Employment Coalition Policy Associate John Larson encouraged audience members ages 17-18 to register to vote. “The one most important thing that you can do if you want to make a difference is to get registered to vote. In order to effect change and have Congress move in your favor—you must vote. This year’s election is the most important election of our time.”

Urban Alliance Foundation Executive Director Veronica Nolan informed the crowd on statistics that support youth employment programs. “Employing youth works. My foundation, since 1996, has provided 1,000 young people with jobs. Jobs for teens help curtail youth violence, teen pregnancy, high school truancy and drop-outs as well as provide money for college.” She also commended Washington (DC) Mayor Adrien Fenty for his commitment to employing 15,000 youth this summer. “Fenty wants to provide our District’s kids with jobs this summer. He has been a formidable champion for Summer Jobs since his inauguration.”

Sasha Bruce Executive Director and Founder Deborah Shore reminded the audience that youth employment is not only a DC problem but also a national crisis. “The problem of youth joblessness does not only lie in the heart of the nation’s capitol—it is an epidemic facing cities and communities across the country. We must encourage Congressional leadership to invest in our nation’s youth by supporting the Summer Jobs Act of 2008.”

Petitions were circulated in support of Summer Jobs legislation at the end of the rally. Before the official end of the event, youth lobbyists shared their experience meeting several Congressional staff in favor of the Summer Jobs Act. Several teens also gave testimonials about the positive impact summer employment has had on their outlooks for the future.