This past summer RochesterWorks! staff, community partners, and more than 1350 youth, ranging in age from 14 to 24, were quite busy working.

With an infusion of more than two million dollars received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), local youth received paid work experience through a combination of private-public sector employment and 41 different organizations providing a variety of community-based structured experiences. Youth ages 14 and 15 gained their first exposure to the world of work, while youth ages 16 to 24 gained valuable real world experience working at various worksites throughout the City and County.

New this year, utilizing ARRA funds, RochesterWorks contracted with seven community-based partners to provide youth ages 18-24 with project-based work experiences.  These experiences included the creation of a summer youth employment video documentary, entrepreneurial skill development, community revitalization, building affordable and sustainable structures, community asset mapping, and the development of a successful pathway to employment for ex-offender youth. The concept of project-based employment proved very successful and is one RochesterWorks expects to support again.

Funding Available to Host a Youth Intern This Summer
Funding is available for employers to provide youth with work experience this summer. Contact Ms. Rosa Smith-Montanaro, Placement Specialist at (585) 258-3513.

Don't miss our 2009 Summer Youth Employment Program Documentary
Youth who participated in summer employment programs have produced a video documentary on the opportunities the program created for them. Entitled Rochester Summer Youth Employment: An Investment of a Lifetime, you can view a six-minute clip or the entire 30-minute video by clicking on “2009 Summer Youth Employment Program” on the left-hand side of this page.

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