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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
CONTACT: Laurie R. Glenn
PHONE: 773.704.7246
EMAIL: lrglenn@thinkincstrategy.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015
MEDIA ALERT
NEW TEEN EMPLOYMENT REPORT TO BE RELEASED AT YOUTH HEARING
91% Of Chicago Black Male Teenagers Jobless In 2012-13
WHAT:
A new report providing a comparative analysis of youth unemployment between Chicago, Illinoisand the United States will be released at the Chicago Urban League Youth Employment: A Smart Investment Youth Hearing. Despite a growing national economic recovery, Chicago is one of the nation's leaders in teenage youth joblessness with low-income Black and Hispanic teens continuing to fall significantly behind.
The report, A Frayed Connection: Joblessness among Teens in Chicago, conducted by Dr. Paul Harrington from the Center for Labor Markets and Policy at Drexel University uses recent American Community Survey and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey data and is part of an ongoing series commissioned by the Alternative Schools Network (ASN).
Former out of school high school students from ASN schools will present testimony to a panel of state and local public officials regarding the impact of youth joblessness. Additional hearing co-sponsors include Westside Health Authority, Chicago Area Project, Black United Fund of Illinois and Youth Connection Charter School.
WHO:
Youth Hearing Panelists will include:
- Janice Collier on behalf of Governor Bruce Rauner
- IL State Senators Mattie Hunter, District 33; Emil Jones III, District 14; Heather Steans, District 7; and Donne Trotter, District 17
- IL State Representatives Monique Davis, District 27; Will Davis, District 30; Marcus Evans Jr., District 33; La Shawn Ford, District 8; Elizabeth Hernandez, District 24;Thaddeus Jones, District 29; and Rita Mayfield District 60
- Chicago's Department of Family and Support Services Commissioner Evelyn, Diaz on behalf of Mayor Rahm Emanuel
- City of Chicago Aldermen Jason Ervin, Ward 28; Emma Mitts, Ward 37; Harry Osterman, Ward 48; and Latasha Thomas, Ward 17
- Cook County Commissioner Robert Steele
- Karen Chavers on behalf of Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin
- Paul Harrington, Center for Labor Markets and Policy, Drexel University
- Jack Wuest, Executive Director, Alternative Schools Network
- Andrea Zopp, President & CEO, Chicago Urban League
- Jesse Ruiz, Vice President, Chicago Board of Education
WHEN:
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Friday, January 30, 2015
WHERE:
Chicago Urban League, 4510 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
WHY:
Out of school and out of work teens and young adults ("disconnected youth") face adverse labormarket consequences in their adult years, including higher incidence of unemployment, reduced earnings, and higher incidence of poverty. Jobless youth are also susceptible to various behavioral and health problems. Investments in creating meaningful work for these youth will pay dividends immediately and for years to come.
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