Mayor Brandon Johnson is betting big on the youth of Chicago by launching the application portal for One Summer Chicago (OSC), a program aimed at driving kids to the workforce. The initiative aims to swell the ranks of working youngsters by 4,000, putting paychecks in the hands of 14 to 24-year-olds for six summer weeks, as reported by the City of Chicago.
"The most important investment that we can make in our City is to put W-2s into the hands of young people," said Mayor Johnson. With a vision to galvanize various city departments, unions, nonprofits, and business communities, Mayor Johnson expressed that this move is designed not just to create summer jobs but to anchor broader goals like public safety and economic growth.
According to the City of Chicago, OSC is a collaboration across local businesses, community groups, and city agencies, providing paid work experiences across six weeks. The initial months of Johnson's term saw a 20% surge in job opportunities for youngsters from the preceding year, totaling 24,300 hires, with an impressive 2.43 million work hours clocked in.
In 2024, the Mayor's ambitious plan aims to put up to 28,000 youth in jobs, working 15-20 hours weekly. Bolstered by a $76 million boost in the FY2024 budget to youth employment schemes, Johnson is targeting a doubling of these summer slots by the term's end. Programs under OSC include the Chicago Youth Service Corps for 16 to 24-year-olds, Chicagobility for 14 to 15-year-olds, and the Summer Youth Employment Program, spanning 16 to 24-year-old demographics.
Brandie Knazze, DFSS Commissioner, attests to the power of these employment opportunities, remarking, "Youth employment offers our youth not just jobs but transformative opportunities to expand their skills and develop their capacity." Deputy Mayor of Education, Youth, and Human Services Jen Johnson echoes these sentiments, suggesting that OSC is a linchpin in fostering youth empowerment and neighborhood cohesion, as per the City of Chicago.
