There's a high demand from young people in Little Rock for summer employment, as seen by the more than 1,200 applications submitted to participate in the city's summer job program, which has only 650 slots.
While some applicants already have dropped out of the process for one reason or another -- missing orientation, scheduling conflicts or summer school, for example -- there are still about 750 teens and young adults, ages 16 to 21, vying for the 650 jobs that begin June 22.
"It's real that I probably will have 100 students I have to turn away. That just bothers me because I'm thinking, what are they going to do if they don't have a job?" said Dana Dossett, director of the Community Programs Department.
The city pays the salaries of the 650 interns and another 10 to 15 mentors and office assistants employed in the six-week program. In all, the Summer Youth Employment program accounts for $1,065,000 of the $5.5 million Community Programs yearly budget.
Businesses that partner with the city to provide jobs get labor at no cost to them. The students, in return, get paid minimum wage by the city and gain basic job skills and potential connections for future careers.
About 300 businesses are participating this year. They include public agencies like the Department of Human Services and private companies like doctors and law offices or nonprofits. Out of the 650 jobs, 79 are positions at 36 city-owned sites, such as community centers.
Historically, the city receives about 1,200 applications each year. This year, the intern slots were increased from 600 to 650 to accommodate a few more participants.
When this version of the program first began in 2003 -- the city had earlier supplied summer jobs with federal and state money -- there were more than 2,500 applicants. The city moved up the application deadline to March 31 to minimize the overflow.
"So many apply because the unemployment rate for young people under 21 is really [high] in this city. There's just not enough jobs for kids," said Community Programs manager Barbara Osborne. "I like to refer to our young people as our infrastructure, not the streets and drains and stoplights. If we don't do something to strengthen them, the city can't stand."
Kendra Peterson has participated in the program in various ways since she was 17. For two years she interned at a community center. Now 24 and a journalism graduate of Arkansas State University, Peterson serves as the lead mentor over the interns. This is her fourth year as a mentor.
She works as a liaison between the site supervisors and the city if any problems arise, and ensures the interns have someone to go to with questions or if they need advice.
"I learn something from each individual intern. Sometimes all it takes is someone to listen and an opportunity," Peterson said. "I've noticed a lot of growth within the program over the past six years. A lot of interns are trying to prove themselves and are more concerned about returning next summer. We are doing something right on our end to make them feel this is a real job and you have certain responsibilities."
For about half of the participants, this is their first time in the program and likely their first job experience. It may be their first introduction to talking with strangers, customer service and work responsibilities, said Dossett, the department director.
"Sometimes students are afraid to go to the mall and apply for a job, but they feel comfortable coming to the city because the city is here to help them. You could get the same job if you went to the zoo, but if you go through the city, you know you have someone looking out for you," Dossett said.
Working through the city creates an extra layer of support for young people. At a typical summer job outside the program, they likely wouldn't get orientation or training like the city provides. They also might not have a mentor.
Garbo Hearne, owner of Pyramid Art, Books and Custom Framing/Hearne Sign Art, has received interns for the past five years through the city program.
She shows them a snapshot of what it's like to operate a small business, giving them assignments spanning all parts of the job.
"I try to find out what their interests are, whether they are readers or good with their hands, to see where I can fit them. One guy was a photographer, so I had him take photos of all the art," Hearne said.
Upon exit interviews, she said the interns tell her they learned the importance of multitasking.
Businesses are recruited to the program through the city's contract with New Futures for Youth. Thus far, no request for interns has been turned down.
But to expand the program in the future and accommodate more young workers, Dossett is hoping that some business owners might sponsor an intern with their own funds.
"Especially corporations, even if they could only sponsor one of their kids and we give them 10 kids, then we could hire another one for the one they paid for. The benefit for the company is we do all the administrative work and find them the employee," Dossett said. "There are students in Little Rock who could succeed and be the workforce of the future, they just need that one opportunity, and we need help meeting that need."
Metro on 06/07/2015