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income and foster youth who are 18 or older. “We really encourage the youth to stay in school,” explained Dianne Russell, an FWIB operations manager who works with Mendoza-Jaime. “When they work during the summer, they begin to understand what work is all about.” However, she added, “When they go to work, the work takes over and school suffers. Foothill’s stance is [for young people] to use work-based learning to use the work opportunities and to learn that the more advanced education you can get, the more opportunities you will have in the world of work.” Over the years, FWIB has placed students in public-sector positions for the cities of Pasadena, Monrovia and Duarte; Los Angeles County agencies; and the California Highway Patrol, among others. Some private employers — including Party City, the Altadena Country Club and Fresh & Easy grocery stores — have also offered positions. FWIB is trying to persuade privatesector employers to create more jobs for young people. The city of Pasadena’s Human Services and Recreation Department is also seeking more private-sector summer jobs for its long-standing Summer ROSE (Rewarding Opportunities in Summer Employment) Program. ROSE is fi nanced by the city and has traditionally offered jobs in city agencies and other government positions. Department Director Mercy Santoro said
Leadership Pasadena Youth Employment Support, a group of professionals that works to improve the community, has developed and initiated a marketing campaign to “to locate 15 placement opportunities for young people with the business sector.” These opportunities, she added, will hopefully lead to a “scaleup” in private-sector positions “that would not only positively impact the business community but really enrich the lives of our young people by delivering a real career pathway to them.” ROSE, which for many years accepted students between the ages of 16 and 21, has now returned to its original policy of serving youth between the ages of 14 and 24. The program also increased student workers’ salaries from $8 to $9 an hour. In addition to the age requirements, program participants must reside in Pasadena and meet the US Department of Housing and Labor Development (HUD) low-income guidelines. The deadline to apply for ROSE was April 10. ROSE will employ about 160 young people from July 1 through Aug. 15. Participants must complete up to 140 hours in their paid work assignments and receive weekly soft-skills training. Both the city and PUSD this summer will take part in a government-funded program that was introduced last year. The Careers to Conservation Program will enable 30 students in the Engineering and Environmental Science Pathway at John Muir continued on page 40
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SUMMER GUIDE 2014 PASADENA WEEKLY