Mayor Brandon Johnson, alongside the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS), has recently revealed the opening of the application portal for the 2025 One Summer Chicago (OSC) initiative, with a bold new aim to incorporate an additional 1,000 young Chicagoans into its paid employment and life-skills development programs. With this year's target, the total number of opportunities climbs to nearly 29,000 for youths between the ages of 14 and 24, to be employed over six weeks in the summer, according to the City of Chicago's press announcement.
Mayor Johnson, accentuating his commitment to youth employment, stated, “After two consecutive years of expanded youth employment, I am proud to announce that we are aiming to give one thousand more young people a paycheck and a purpose this summer through One Summer Chicago.” He continued, “We believe in our young people and we want to see them thrive. Our vision is simple: we will keep fighting until every young person who wants a job in Chicago can get one every summer.” This initiative comes as a progression from the previous summer, where 27,793 young individuals secured employment, marking not just a 12 percent increase from its antecedent year but also a 39 percent boost since Mayor Johnson assumed office.
Rodrick Winston, who participated in One Summer Chicago through After School Matters, expressed his gratitude by stating, “Last summer, I was an intern in the Basketball Skills and Management Camp – which was way more than just basketball. We learned what really goes in to running a sports program,” and added, “Thank you to Mayor Johnson for fighting to fund these programs – they really make a difference for Chicago teens as we figure out our future.”
The 2024 OSC program had a substantial presence across numerous communities, with Austin leading with 1,672 hires. Notably, of the thousands of OSC participants, the city itself employed 183 young people directly, with 70 graduates from the Laborer’s Trainees Program securing full-time positions, such as Dereon Wiley, who stated, "Completing the Laborer Trainee program secured me a full-time spot working for Streets and Sanitation as a laborer." Wiley noted, "I am truly grateful to Mayor Johnson for my job and to have the opportunity to work for the City. It provides me with a steady income to support myself and my family while allowing me to contribute to the well-being of my community. Every day, I take pride in keeping the streets clean, ensuring safe and sanitary conditions for everyone."
The One Summer Chicago program encompasses several key components. These are the Chicago Youth Service Corps (CYSC), which offers year-round employment to youth 16-24 encompassing leadership development and civic engagement; Chicagobility, which gears towards project-based learning for 14 and 15-year-olds; and the fundamental Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), through which those aged 16-24 can obtain job placements and training to build skills for future careers. OneSummerChicago.org serves as the gateway for interested parties to apply and seek further information about the program, managed by the DFSS with support from the Mayor’s Office of Education, Youth, and Human Services (EDYHS), as highlighted in the City of Chicago's press release.
Acting Commissioner Maura McCauley acknowledges the importance of these initiatives, remarking, "Giving young people the opportunity to work is key to creating pathways to future employment." The commitment to this mission is echoed through the support of various nonprofit, corporate, and public sector partners dedicated to laying the foundations for Chicago's youth.
