Newsletter of Prince George's County Government
Summer 2005 Youth Employment Program
Helping Young People Gain Real-World Experience
With the launch of the county's Summer Youth Employment Initiative last summer, 2,000 students between the ages of 14 and 21 were employed in private and public sector jobs in the county.

This year's program began the week of June 13, also with approximately 2,000 students. Eligible students must be in good academic standing in their schools, and are then matched to a job opportunity.

County Executive Jack Johnson said the value of the program is that it gives students a high quality, structured and supervised work experience, where they have an opportunity to gain valuable employability skills that prepare them to become productive members of society.

"Earning your first paycheck is a wonderful thing," Johnson said. "We want every student in Prince George's County to have that experience. A first job teaches our students the sense of accomplishment that comes from a job well done."

Students also receive job skills training and job interviewing techniques during a four-day seminar.

Ron Fisher's experience with the Summer Youth Program made him a fan. When Ron moved his family auto repair and landscaping business to Brandywine from Fairfax County last year, he had a problem finding qualified employees for the increased landscaping and auto repair business that comes in the summer months. Fisher's needs were met by the Summer Youth Employment Initiative.

"I can recommend the kids in the Summer Youth Program, because they are great to work with," said Fisher. "They showed up for work on time and they were eager to learn."

Fisher said the kids enjoyed it because he tried to work around their schedules so their work didn't take their whole summer vacation away.

Fisher moved to Prince George's County for the county's quality of life, and to expand his business, which is mainly servicing vehicle fleets for business and rental car companies.

"I've found since moving here that the county looks out for small businesses more than in Fairfax," Fisher said.

Reneika Lyons, 18, of Clinton, who worked preparing and mailing invoices for Fisher for two summers, will enroll as a psychology major at Salisbury University this fall. "The experience I received will help me find another job while I am in college," she said. "I've really learned from them."

Fisher hired two students from the program last year and hired five more this year to help with plans for expanding his business. Although the summer employment program ends in August, Fisher often keeps students on his payroll into the school year, he says, because of the quality of the work they do.