IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2005

Contact:  Sandra Rodriguez  (860) 522-1111 x235
                                                                                        

Summer Youth Employment and Learning Program Legislative Showcase
Old Appropriations Room, State Capitol, Hartford, December 1st, 2005 – 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Over 100 Youth and Youth Advocates to Plea for Continued Support

HARTFORD – The Summer Youth Employment and Learning Program administered by Capital Workforce Partners engages youth in meaningful experiences that prepare them for the world of work.  In 2005 alone, this program engaged nearly 30 agency providers and over 200 worksites throughout North Central Connecticut employing and providing job readiness training for 1,300 youth.
But the funding for this program continues to diminish, and more youth are being turned away as a result.  In the past 10-15 years, funding to this program has decreased dramatically, from almost 3,000 positions in 1990 to potentially less than 1,000 positions for the upcoming year.  With the transition from the Federal Job Training and Partnership Act to the Federal Workforce Investment Act in 1999, nearly 1,700 positions were lost due to the consequential reduction in federal funding.  To make matters worse, in 2003, the State eliminated its contributions to the program when it eliminated its Distressed Cities funding. Further, in 2005, the federal Department of Labor Youth Opportunity Program has been discontinued and in 2006, the federal funding through the Workforce Investment Act will also cease.
And, while the City of Hartford has increased its funding to this program for Hartford youth, the rest of the funding base is disappearing without a trace.
Youth and youth advocates are speaking out, December 1st at the Capital Building, with the goal of reaching legislators and to re-engage consideration for funding this year’s program.  The event is student-organized, will feature student exhibits and presentations and will share many positive experiences from previous year programs.
“The Summer Youth Employment and Learning Program helps prepare youth for the future, to take roles of responsibility and to increase academic performance,” says Capital Workforce Partners President and CEO, Tom Phillips, “preparing them to be self-sustainable and prosperous in the year’s ahead.  Right now, their future and our future are at risk.  It’s critical to invest now, so we don’t pay a lot more later in treatment programs for our youth and economic decline due to an insufficient workforce pipeline for area businesses.”
This event is open to the public.  We encourage all to attend.
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