Atlanta's Summer Youth Employment Program: A Pathway to Success

Atlanta city officials have highlighted the success of their summer youth employment program, which has provided nearly 6,000 young people with job opportunities and valuable work experience this season. Mayor Andre Dickens announced this milestone, emphasizing the program's role in preparing Atlanta's youth for long-term success. The initiative connects teens and young adults with paid positions across various fields, including the arts and public service.

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One notable participant is Zan Harris, a recent high school graduate from Bankhead, who joined the city's job placement initiative and secured a role as a production assistant with Broadway on Bankhead, a youth theater company. Harris expressed the significance of the program, stating, "Graduating high school, summer time's here, finding yourself not doing anything... you really just want to put that stuff to work." His experience included running rehearsals and managing staff, which he described as pivotal in his career journey. Harris now works full-time for Broadway on Bankhead, illustrating the program's lasting impact on participants.

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Senitra Heath, Executive Director of Broadway on Bankhead, noted the importance of the partnership with the city, which allowed them to pay youth staff $600 a week throughout the summer. She remarked, "Our youth in the program really want to do performing arts, and they have a lot of talent in it." This collaboration not only benefited the company but also provided essential support for the youth involved.

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Theresa Austin-Gibbons, Atlanta's Commissioner of Labor and Employment Services, emphasized the broader implications of youth employment, stating, "It's important that we start them early. They learn these work readiness skills. They learn how to be team players, and they continue that on up until they're adults." This sentiment underscores the program's goal of fostering essential skills that will serve participants throughout their lives.

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As the program continues to demonstrate its effectiveness, city officials have announced that registration for next year's summer youth employment opportunities will open soon. Harris articulated the long-term impact of such initiatives, asserting, "This will impact teachers and students generations to come," highlighting the program's potential to shape the future of Atlanta's youth.

WJZ - CBS Baltimore

• "Graduating high school, summer time's here, finding yourself not doing anything... you really just want to put that stuff to work." — Zan Harris, Participant

WJZ - CBS Baltimore

• "Our youth in the program really want to do performing arts, and they have a lot of talent in it." — Senitra Heath, Executive Director of Broadway on Bankhead

WJZ - CBS Baltimore

• "It's important that we start them early. They learn these work readiness skills." — Theresa Austin-Gibbons, Commissioner of Labor and Employment Services

WJZ - CBS Baltimore

• "This will impact teachers and students generations to come." — Zan Harris, Participant

WJZ - CBS Baltimore