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August 13, 2018
Youth Gain Valuable Work
Experience by
Participating in
Summer Employment Program
The 2018 Lake County Summer Youth Employment
Program wrapped up another exciting summer as more than 215 Lake County youth
gained meaningful work experience while earning a paycheck. Funded by the
Lake County Board, the program matches youth with local worksites that
offer a paid, part-time work experience. For most youth participants, this is their first job. To launch this year's program, youth participants met at the Job Center for a two-hour orientation that
included information about program expectations and work ethics.
Youth worked at 35 sites, including a mix of nonprofit
organizations, local municipalities, private and community-based
organizations throughout Lake County. Youth were paid $8.25 per hour during
the program. Participants worked in a variety of areas including office
support, camp counseling programs, and indoor/outdoor maintenance. The four
largest employment sites included: the City of Waukegan, Green Farm North
Chicago, Waukegan Park District, and Zion Township. Zion Township hired four mentors to guide and teach their group of 33 youth participants. The mentors reinforced six values among the
students: respect, integrity, responsibility, safety, perseverance, and kindness.
The City of North Chicago also provided a unique experience for the 18 participating youth this year. On their first day, participants listened to presentations by managers
of multiple departments who described their departments, job functions and how they
progressed to their current job. Youth
participants were matched with an appropriate department for the summer. Claudia, who will be a high school sophomore,
is interested in business and finance and was placed at the Office of the Comptroller. She processed water bills and
parking tickets, filed paperwork and handled mail. “I didn’t think that I would have so much
responsibility,” she said. “It’s just
like a real job.”
 Youth participants with the City of North Chicago went on a few half-day field trips designed to expose them to a variety of careers. Youth visited Youthage
Culinary in Mundelein where they met Chef Robert Collins and participated in a
waffle-making contest. They also toured Laser Precision in Libertyville and saw a manufacturing company
in action. The field trips were funded through the City of North Chicago and
other charitable contributions.
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 Wilfredo, who will be a high school senior this year, worked
at the North Chicago Police Department and reported directly to the Chief of Police. He said that answering telephones at the
office helped him to increase his confidence. “At this job, I’m an adult joining the workplace. We’re not treated as students.” He said that the most important lesson that
he learned this summer was “to get involved in a career that you love.”
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Lake County Workforce Development will begin accepting applications for next year's Summer Youth Employment Program in March, pending County Board approval. For more information on this program and other workforce development opportunities, please visit the Lake County Job Center website.
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Contact
Jennifer Everett
Lake County Workforce Development
Phone: 847-377-3447
Email: jeverett@lakecountyil.gov
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