2,700 Teens Hit The Pavement and Go to their Summer Job

CLEVELAND, OH - On Monday, approximately 2,700 youth headed to work for the summer. Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.) matches teens and young adults, 14-24 throughout Cuyahoga County, to meaningful summer jobs in the private, nonprofit and public sectors.  Y.O.U.’s Summer Youth Employment Program strategically tackles idle time, safety and the “summer brain drain” by linking teens primarily from economically depressed neighborhoods to jobs throughout the community. Further, teens are prepared to enter the Northeast Ohio workforce as bright, energetic contributors. Participants work 20-30 hours per week and earn between $8.10 and $10.00 per hour. Program benefits include:

• Opportunities to explore career options and consider career and educational goals

• Development of skills needed to obtain and retain employment

• Career coaching and mentoring

• Job placement assistance

• Establishing a savings account

“George Voinovich was the Founder of Y.O.U. 34 years ago. He would be so proud of how this program has grown, ” said Carol Rivchun, President and CEO.

Youth participants are employed throughout a diverse range of retail and service businesses, agencies, hospitals and medical centers, etc. Examples of worksites include: Faith Community Credit Union, CVS, AES Management Corp, HLW Fast Track Inc., JG Martin, Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Marshall’s 20 Lanes, Orlando Banking Company, Serpentini Chevrolet, Sherwood Food Distributors, Solutions at Work, TJ Maxx/Marshall’s, University Hospital, Walgreens, Cleveland Clinic and many departments of the City of Cleveland.

We are so grateful to our funders and extend our appreciation to Cuyahoga County, The City of Cleveland, the Cleveland Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, The Nord Family Foundation, and Bank of America. Their generous investment in Y.O.U. empowers our youth to succeed this summer and beyond.