“Most jobs that youth do cannot be done from home.”

— Atlantic Council from "If history repeats: Coronavirus' economic danger to youth"

The City of Cleveland Department of Water and Y.O.U. recognized we needed teens in the community. That’s why this year’s Mayor Frank G. Jackson Summer Youth Employment Program had one of its most unique and important years yet.

Y.O.U.’s strict guidelines for employers to keep teens safe included requiring they wear masks while on the job. Youth wore masks at all times, exemplifying the utmost professionalism during the hot summer days working outside. Despite the conditions of this year’s program taking place during pandemic, the participants accomplished many successes. For many of our youth this was their first job. They learned firsthand about the many soft skills necessary to be successful in their career: good communication, time management, discipline, and craftsmanship in addition to the elements each individual job assignment provided.

Together the Y.O.U. youth removed more than 40 tons of waste from the Forgotten Triangle neighborhood. Teens also weeded, mulched, and planted the rain gardens populating the local parks around the city. This year they maintained 7,600 square feet of rain gardens. Rain gardens offer a smart water conservation method for climates like Cleveland that get ample rainfall. By doing this work, the youth prevent our parks from flooding and erosion, making them a nicer place for anyone in the community to use.

In addition to 1,400 fire hydrants in the Collinwood neighborhood, youth painted at the Nottingham Water Treatment Plant in Euclid. The Nottingham Water Treatment Plant is one of Cleveland Water’s four interconnected water treatment plants that supplies clean water to the entire city. It is the only plant in our system that pumps water directly into three service districts: Low Service, which is the low-lying area closest to Lake Erie; First High Service, which is a narrow area of a little higher elevation; and Second High Service district, which is the highest elevation and farthest from the pump station.

Working amongst the beautiful Art Deco architecture that speaks to another pivotal moment in Cleveland’s industrialization, our participants adorned old sun-dyed ballards, handrails, and hydrants with a fresh coat of orange paint, increasing visibility and making the plant safer to maneuver.

Youth Opportunities Unlimited would like to thank this year’s participants for improving the City of Cleveland with their hard work. We hope they take their new skills with them into the next chapter of the educational and professional careers.