$5 Million Youth Employment Program Launched by County at St. Francis Medical Center

Ridley-Thomas was joined by Cynthia Banks, Director of the County’s Community and Senior Services Department, along with public and private partners, to host a press conference on the lawn of St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood to announce L.A. County’s $5M commitment to this year’s countywide youth employment program. With $2M in funding from the City of Los Angeles and additional support from private companies, there is now $7M in commitments for summer youth employment in the L.A. County region.

The countywide program is the largest program of its kind in the nation, Ridley-Thomas told the crowd. 

“The County Board of Supervisors has responded to the call from the County of Los Angeles, we are stepping up Mr. President,” Ridley-Thomas said in his address during the press conference and referred to U.S. President Barack Obama’s recent challenge to businesses, non-profits and government to work together to provide pathways to employment for low-income and disconnected youth. 

“This is our response to the call to action to provide pathways to employment for youth. If we want good things to come out, we need to put good things in. We want you to know that this partnership is real, and it’s meaningful.”

During his address to the crowd, Supervisor Ridley-Thomas asked the audience to imagine being in a freedom school. 

“When I say recognition, you said recognize,” he said while identifying St. Francis Medical Center and the County of Los Angeles, and businesses like the Special Needs Network who have signed up to participate in the program and provide youth in the county with summer jobs. 

“Teen unemployment was up 25% last month right here in the County of Los Angeles, well, we can do better than that. …The problem is not with the children, the problem is with the adults. We need to invest in them to show them that we are wind beneath their wings, to show them that we want them to succeed, because they are our future.”

President and CEO of St. Francis Medical Center Gerald T. Kozai thanked Supervisor Ridley-Thomas for being a “friend” of St. Francis. With their share of the $5M Summer Youth Employment Program, St. Francis Medical Center, Kozai said, will be able to employ more than 120 youth this summer.  

The Medical Center is proud to be a part of the County’s Earn and Learn Summer Program, he said.   Kozai added that he hopes other businesses in the community make youth a priority and give them opportunities just as St. Francis Medical Center will be doing so this summer, and just as it has done so in past summers.

Lynwood Mayor Sal Alatorre opened the press conference and welcomed attendees to the great City of Lynwood. Having recently implemented a Job Shadow Program at City Hall, Mayor Alatorre is a big supporter of opening the doors to youth looking to get ahead. In applauding the County of Los Angeles’ Summer Youth Employment Program, Mayor Alatorre also applauded St. Francis Medical Center for participating in the program.

The $5M Summer Youth Employment Program will allow 30%, or 1,000 more youth than last year, especially foster youth and those from families on public assistance, to gain meaningful work experience this summer. The goal is for young people, ages 14-21, to develop work readiness skills and gain exposure to careers. Many will also receive “Personal Growth” and financial literacy training necessary to succeed. Worksites are in the public, private and non-profit organizations. Businesses, such as St. Francis Medical Center and Special Needs Network, are encouraged to partner with the County to invest in the future’s workforce by participating as worksites and hiring youth.

For more information, interested persons are encouraged to visit the County’s website at: http://css.lacounty.gov/Data/Sites/1/documentlibrary/WIA/sywepfactsheetmay2013.pdf