St. Louis youth, get ready for a productive summer. The St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) is hosting a Youth Employment and Opportunity Fair tomorrow, between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. The event, geared toward residents aged 16 to 24, will be held at the SLATE Missouri Job Center, located at 1520 Market Street in Downtown St. Louis. Attendees can expect to engage with a variety of employers, including recognizable names like Procter & Gamble and AT&T, a move that opens the door to numerous career paths just in time for summer.
The fair is part of a larger framework — SLATE's 2025 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), which offers young individuals not just jobs, but a platform for hands-on experience, career training, and character-building encounters. The initiative has roots in meaningful partnerships, notably one with Educational Data Systems, Inc. (EDSI), which works alongside STL Youth Jobs to kindle the flames of vocational aspiration within tomorrow's workforce. EDSI has been on the ball, enrolling 337 youths throughout the year and adding a significant cohort for the summer despite the growing demand.
In response to the recent tornado uprising the city's efforts to rebound, EDSI has also launched the Community Impact Initiative under the SYEP umbrella. This program is designed to provide meaningful labor for 20 young adults in neighborhood recovery and cleanup operations, all the while compensating them with $15 per hour. This particular avenue does not only reinforce the city's infrastructure but also fortifies the resolve and purpose among its youth.
STL Youth Jobs, SLATE's second SYEP partner, has already reached its capacity, with 150 youth slotted in for a summer filled with promise and productivity. According to a statement from SLATE, the Summer Youth Employment Program is "open to City of St. Louis residents ages 14 to 24 who meet income eligibility requirements or reside in a Qualified Census Tract." The program also gives priority to those who face tall barriers in their employment journeys. For St. Louis's youth looking to leap into SYEP's opportunities, the application details are available at the City of St. Louis website.
SLATE's commitment to youth and families has spanned a venerable half-century, a fact that Connie Johnson, Executive Director of SLATE, underscored with pride. She enthused, “For 50 years, SLATE has remained a proud partner to St. Louis youth and families. SYEP is more than a job—it offers young people structure, support, and the chance to envision a better future. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we remain committed to investing in our city’s youth and building a stronger, more connected St. Louis,” according to a press release obtained by the City of St. Louis.
