Special to The Dallas Examiner
Mayor Eric Johnson and partner organizations on Monday launched the second year of Dallas Works, the mayor’s summer jobs program for youth in the city.
Last year, the program was only open to high school students. This year, Dallas residents between ages 15 through 24 will be eligible to participate.
“Dallas is a city of dreamers of all ages, and it is critical to me that we help as many young people as we can achieve their dreams,” Johnson said. “This is an important initiative, and it is personal to me as someone who grew up in underserved communities here in Dallas – and as someone who will soon be raising three children in this great city.”
Johnson launched Dallas Works a year ago with the goal of eventually employing thousands of young people. He modeled the program on efforts in other cities such as Houston, Boston, Chicago and New York, which have long had robust summer jobs programs – usually for people up to age 24 – that help employ thousands of people.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated economic fallout, the program helped connect 465 students to job training and summer jobs at businesses, nonprofits and governmental entities. That was more than in any single year of the program’s predecessor, the mayor’s Intern Fellows Program.
Education is Freedom runs the program in partnership with the Office of the Mayor. Other partners include Dallas ISD, the Dallas Regional Chamber, the Dallas Citizens Council and numerous private sector companies.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, the mayor and officials with the partner organizations on Monday encouraged Dallas businesses to help put young people to work this year.
“Together, we can build a better future for our city through Dallas Works,” Johnson said. “Together, we can set up our kids for success and set them on a path that will allow them to thrive for years to come. And together, we will bounce back from COVID-19 and continue to be a city of opportunity for all of our children.”
Information on the program’s eligibility and application deadlines can be found at https://www.dallassummerjobs.org.
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