New Study Shows Jobs Program Reduces Youth Violence by 33 Percent

Mayor Rahm Emanuel today hosted youth from One Summer Chicago for the first round table discussion of the program season. More than 31,000 youth ages 14-24 will be assigned to 3,000 work sites across the City this summer where they will receive job training, mentoring opportunities and take part in continuing education programming.

“One Summer Chicago provides more than a job. It gives youth pride, exposing them to mentoring opportunities and teaches them valuable life skills they carry with them long after the summer has ended,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

The start of the 2017 summer jobs season comes on the heels of a University of Chicago Urban Labs study released today that found by providing a summer job, through the One Summer Chicago Plus (OSC+) program, reduced the number of violent-crime arrests for participants by 33 percent over the subsequent year.

Launched in 2012, OSC+ connects youth who are at a higher risk for violence involvement with a 25-hour per week summer job, a mentor, cognitive behavioral therapy and social skill building.

“The overwhelming majority of young men in Chicago are not out to perpetrate violence or cause trouble,” said Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) Commissioner Lisa Morrison Butler. “This study reinforces what we already know: that when you invest in young people and help them invest in themselves, good things will happen.”

One Summer Chicago officially kicked off on Monday, June 26 with new and returning summer job opportunities that range from food service to hospital work to computer programming and more.

For the first time this year, 2,000 students from the Mayor’s Mentoring Initiative will be provided summer jobs through After School Matters. Additionally, new partnerships with Rush University Medical Center and Potbelly’s will place over 150 youth in private sector summer jobs.

Building on a successful pilot from last year, One Summer Chicago will be partnering with Apple Technology and Chicago Public Schools again this year to place 100 youth in a coding academy to enhance their computer skills.

In addition to summer jobs, youth programming will also include a text message campaign focused on safety, a mobile app geared toward providing positive alternatives outside of work and financial literacy education.

Since 2011, Mayor Emanuel has significantly expanded the summer program, more than doubling opportunities while diversifying work opportunities for youths around the city. Each year, the Mayor hosts various round table discussions with the youth to hear about their experiences, gather feedback on the programming and learn more about how to improve the summer jobs program.

For more information on One Summer Chicago visit www.onesummerchicago.org. The public can also donate to the program through the new crowdsource funding website www.onesummerchicago.org/donate.