WHAT: Summer Youth Employment Recognition Luncheon, an annual appreciation ceremony for the businesses that partner with the City of Little Rock

WHO: Bruce Moore, City of Little Rock City Manager, Department of Community Programs staff and mentors, business owners, employees, and interns of the year recipients

WHERE: Crowne Plaza Hotel
201 South Shackleford Road
Little Rock, Ark. 72211

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 5, 11 a.m.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Aug. 3, 2015) – A Catholic High School senior who entered the work force for the first time this summer will be the keynote speaker at the Little Rock Department of Community Programs’ annual Summer Youth Employment Recognition Luncheon on Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Luis Eduardo Mendoza, an intern at John Roberts Allstate Insurance Co., was one of 719 participants in the program this year who took a job to develop career skills, get one-on-one mentoring, and add to their résumé, all while earning a paycheck.

Nearly 200 businesses partner with the City of Little Rock to help area teenagers and young adults enter the workplace and become productive members of the community. The benefits of hiring through this program are evident: the local economy gets a boost from more people in the work force, businesses enjoy the extra seasonal labor, and interns receive invaluable work experience.

The City invested $1.2 million in the program this year, which covers payroll for participants and worker’s compensation insurance. That investment is important because it builds stepping stones for these interns as they progress in their education and future career paths.

“It’s one thing to train someone for a job. We’re focused on preparing our young people for successful careers,” says Community Programs Director Dana Dossett. “We are thankful that so many companies share our passion of developing Little Rock’s population of high school and college-age students and have come on board for this program.”

The appreciation ceremony is an opportunity to recognize those that help make the program a success, including such employers as Arkansas Foodbank, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Our House, The Nature Conservancy, UALR Children International, and Walgreens.

In addition to landing a summer job, many of those in the program also took part in the Career Crash Course program developed this summer by two student mentors, Shandrea Murphy from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Vontia Mitchell from Arkansas State University. The workshop series, which garnered a special note of congratulations from Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, consisted of eight sessions on topics ranging from successful interview skills and money management to job attire and the importance of city government. The pilot project will become a regular feature of the Summer Youth Employment Program.

The application period for youth opens in January. Businesses interested in being a part of the Summer Youth Employment Program should contact Barbara Osborne a bosborne@littlerock.gov.