CHICAGO – Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and several City departments and agencies today announced a variety of summer youth programming, including the 2022 One Summer Chicago (OSC) application. OSC 2022 will run from July 5 to August 12 and marks the return of in-person job and life-skills training for youth ages 14 to 24. Young people can apply at OneSummerChicago.org up until the June 10 deadline. The OSC 2022 portfolio will support young people as they participate in career exploration opportunities and strengthen their own neighborhoods, providing positive summer activities that support individual and community growth. Of the youth surveyed last year, 87% reported strengthening their skills and abilities.

 "I am tremendously proud of the work that My CHI. My Future., One Summer Chicago, and all City youth programming does to provide opportunities that help young people succeed," said Mayor Lightfoot. "With these investments and programs, young people have access to enriching opportunities that enable them to build their skills and talents, earn money, and, most importantly, stay safe. The benefits of youth programs spread to uplift entire communities and ensure our city has a promising future." 

One Summer Chicago will provide thousands of young people the opportunity to receive hands-on experience in technology, healthcare, media, finance and more, with a range of private, public and nonprofit partners. Thanks to Mayor Lightfoot’s $150 million investment in Chicago’s young people and youth programming, 2022 OSC participants will earn $15 an hour within all Chicago Departments.  

"Our mission as public servants is to ensure all our communities have access to resources to help them succeed. I'm happy to join Mayor Lightfoot and other outstanding City departments in the launch of applications for One Summer Chicago," said Alderman Howard Brookins. "Having access to paid opportunities will help our young people strengthen their neighborhoods, with positive activities that will contribute to our ongoing growth and development while helping them build their skills." 

“We encourage our CPS students to take advantage of the many opportunities made possible through One Summer Chicago and gain important job experience within their own city,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez. “These types of hands-on experiences can serve as catalysts for future academic and career success - and in the meantime, they offer immediate financial benefits for each participant.” 

OSC’s signature Summer Youth Employment Program, employing young people ages 16-24 in subsidized employment opportunities, helps young people build financial capabilities and employable skills through opportunities like an iOS Training Program, an introduction to Augmented Reality, and much more.   

Also returning under the One Summer Chicago umbrella is the Chicagobility career exploration program for young people ages 14 and 15. Over the course of a 6-week period, young people will connect with public and private sector industries through project-based learning, workshops, and more. The opportunities will also provide a weekly stipend up to $450 for the duration of the summer, allowing young people to earn while they learn.

“One Summer Chicago continues to be a critical pathway for young people to explore career opportunities, earn money during the summer and make new connections,” said DFSS Commissioner Brandie Knazze. “OSC is all about giving our youth the chance to harness their potential and create a path to success. As they develop, we want to make sure that young people see what is possible and believe that they can achieve their goals.”  

Through the Mayor’s $29.3M investment, the Chicago Youth Service Corps (CYSC), a civic leadership program, is expanding from a six-week summer program to operate year-round. In 2021, young people addressed housing insecurity, social and economic inequities, and more. Over 80 percent of CYSC participants in 2021 felt that they had made a real impact in their communities. The application is available at OneSummerChicago.org. 

Other opportunities announced today included those through the Chicago Parks District, Chicago Public Libraries, City Colleges of Chicago, and more.  

“Chicago parks help cultivate our future workforce by creating opportunities for our youth to be productive and engaged in their communities,” said Chicago Park District Interim General Superintendent and CEO Rosa Escareño. “This Summer, we’re offering more than 2,100 summer job openings available to Chicago youth, ages 16 and older, including Seasonal Recreation Leader, Lifeguard and Junior Laborer. These unique and exciting opportunities will allow them to earn a competitive salary while building an impressive work history for any career they choose to pursue. We strongly encourage young people to apply now.

The Chicago Park District will have youth and adult employment opportunities including camp counselors and lifeguards. With more than eight different programs, including Teen Camps, Rolling’ Rec, and Summer Teen Leagues as well as hiring for summer staff with a focus on hiring summer lifeguards.

“Chicago Public Library is excited to provide opportunities for Chicagoans of all ages this summer to celebrate the stories that help us connect, build relationships and strengthen our communities,” said Chicago Public Library Commissioner Chris Brown. “We will also provide teens with opportunities to learn leadership skills and connect with kids and families, as we employ over 75 teens in partnership with After School Matters and One Summer Chicago, and through our Junior Volunteer program for younger youth.” 

“Creating economic opportunities for youth through One Summer Chicago is important because employment helps build their self-esteem and develop their soft skills,” said Chancellor of City Colleges, Juan Salgado. “City Colleges of Chicago is proud to be a partner and is offering Summer Start. In this program, young people have the opportunity to earn up to $1,000 while learning. They can also choose an elective course and earn colleges credits, and for free.

The Citi Foundation is continuing to support OSC for its ninth year in a row, with funding that has totaled over $7 million. The Summer Jobs Connect program, spearheaded by the Citi Foundation and the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, supports young adults seeking summer employment and provides safe and appropriate banking products, services and education. Citi Foundation is also the largest private funder of the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), a citywide program designed to employ out-of-school youth. 

“A summer job lays the foundation for a strong financial future by helping youth both develop employment and leadership skills as well as understand how to manage their first paychecks,” said Brandee McHale, Head of Citi Community Investing and Development and President of the Citi Foundation. “As OSC starts in-person job and life-skills training once again, the Citi Foundation is excited to connect more young people across Chicago with meaningful job opportunities this summer.” 

One Summer Chicago is an integral part of “My CHI. My Future.” (MCMF), Mayor Lightfoot’s signature youth-focused initiative designed to connect youth across Chicago to meaningful out-of-school experiences. The MCMF family, inclusive of One Summer Chicago, the Chicago Youth Service Corps and more than 250 community-based organizations, are focused on strengthening the opportunity ecosystem in Chicago and galvanizing caring adults, all over the city, to ensure that every young person is connected to a meaningful opportunity. This year, the initiative will be expanding from five community areas to 15, increasing accessibility to after-school programming.

More information on OSC, Chicagobility is available at OneSummerChicago.org 

More information on CYSC is available at cysc.mychimyfuture.org  

More information on MCMF is available at explore.mychimyfuture.org  

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