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THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014
Vol. CXXIV, No. 54
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Published Since Since 1890 1890
Summer Jobs 253 seeks Tacoma employers to host youth
Image Courtesy City of Tacoma The City of Tacoma, the REACH Center, Tacoma Public Schools and WorkForce Central are partnering to accept applications from local businesses interested in providing employment to Tacoma high school juniors or seniors this summer. The plan is part of "Summer Jobs 253," a summer youth program that provides an opportunity for Tacoma high school students to gain work experience and increase self-confidence and personal growth. Estab-
lished as a pilot program last June, Summer Jobs 253 enrolled 50 students attending public high schools in Tacoma. The students worked a total of 160 paid hours each, with the opportunity to earn academic credit. They also participated in the National Endowment for Financial Education High School Financial Planning program. The program, backed by Columbia Bank, included lessons on money management, borrowing, investing, and other relevant topics. Though there are a number of youth employment programs offered in Tacoma, discontinuation of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act summer youth employment funding has limited the number of employment opportunities for youth, according to City of Tacoma officials. In setting priorities for its 2013 Strategic Policy, Tacoma City Council identified that the City of Tacoma should strengthen and support human services, public education and diverse higher learning opportunities in Tacoma. Additionally, the adopted 2010-2012 Human Services Strategic Plan included a goal to address barriers to academic success at all grade levels, and to allow children to succeed in school and graduate ready to continue education or obtain employment. Research has identified that two significant barriers to young adult success are on-time high school graduation and the ability to obtain employment, partially due to a lack of work experience. It has also been
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RSVP for Port of Tacoma Summit Awards, Annual Breakfast Posted online Weds., March 19 Image Courtesy Port of Tacoma The Port of Tacoma will recognize the 2014 Summit Award winners during the organization's annual breakfast in downtown Tacoma. The Summit Awards honor Port of Tacoma customers and tenants for corporate achievement and business excellence. The awards recognize three categories of leadership: Business Magnet – A Port of Tacoma customer or member of the supply chain (shipper, transportation or logistics service provider, developer) for business development efforts and investments that lead to recognizable increase in business volume or new business opportunities for the Port of Tacoma, and have a positive economic effect for the citizens of Pierce County. Environmental Stewardship – A Port of Tacoma customer or tenant for a project, program or initiative that supports Pierce County's sustainability and honors biodiversity and the interconnected nature of industry, people, wildlife and natural systems. Livable Community – A Port of Tacoma customer or tenant for a project, program or initiative that demonstrates the business community's positive contribution to Pierce County through social responsibility. Criteria include philanthro-
py and charitable giving, community service and employee volunteering, community engagement and outreach, and employee development. Past Summit Awards recipients have included Washington United Terminals, Trident Seafoods, Targa Sound Terminal, SAFE Boats, MacMillan-Piper, Totem Ocean Trailer Express, and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 23. The annual breakfast will also include a State of the Port address by Port of Tacoma CEO John Wolfe, and a keynote address by Journal of Commerce Senior Editor Bill Mongelluzzo, who will discuss how unprecedented change in the international container industry is forcing ports and shippers to think and act differently. The event will be held on Weds., April 9, between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door (price includes breakfast and parking at the convention center). Register online at portoftacoma.com by Weds., April 2.
determined that youth employment and development programs are effective in reducing problematic behavior in young adults. And, according to the Justice Policy Institute, youth unemployment is tied to youth referrals to the juvenile justice system. In January, Summer Jobs 253 was awarded a $4,000 grant from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. "Last year, the pilot program was a great success," said City of Tacoma Neighborhood and Community Services Director Tansy Hayward. "We have modified the program this year to make Summer Jobs 253 more sustainable and to provide more opportunities for students and employers to participate." The $50,000 in funding support by both the City of Tacoma and WorkForce Central, and a $500 employer contribution per student, allows the program to provide case management, classroom support, and wages for the student participants. "Given that the $500 investment by employers entitles organizations to nearly 100 work hours, we feel this is an opportunity to expand organizational capac-
ity and invest in community workforce development at a very low cost," said REACH Center Director Kurt Miller. Employers interested in participating in Summer Jobs 253 can download an application online at summerjobs253.com or contact summerjobs253@reachtacoma.org. Employer applications must be received by May 1 and can be mailed to the REACH Center, c/o Tacoma Community House, P. O. Box 5107, Tacoma, WA 98415. To read the Tacoma Daily Index's complete and comprehensive coverage of Summer Jobs 253, visit our Web site for the following articles: -- City Hall News: Tacoma Smelter Plume cleanup, public art restoration project and Presidents Day (Tacoma Daily Index, February 14, 2014); -- Tacoma youth employment program awarded $4K grant (Tacoma Daily Index, January 24, 2014); -- Tacoma pilot program links students to paid summer jobs, graduation credits (Tacoma Daily Index, June 24, 2013).