Bolstered by testimonials from young people who got their first summer jobs and a kickstart in a possible career through the program, the fourth year of the Private Sector Summer Jobs Initiative was launched formally this morning in a full conference room at the Tarrytown House Estate.
“The world is my oyster; I can do anything I want,” said a very poised and well-dressed 19-year-old, Asad Richardson, who said he was a “product” of the Mt. Vernon Youth Bureau and this program.
Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino was on hand to offer his name-brand endorsement, as were representatives from the Business Council of Westchester who run the program in collaboration with Westchester-Putnam Investment Board.
Watch the video attached of John Ravitz, COO of the Business Council, explaining the program.
“We urge corporations to join the growing list of businesses and service partners who want to help this initiative," Astorino said. "A lot of our energy needs to be devoted to selling our youth on the benefits of working in Westchester County."
Energy, that is, but not tax-payer dollars, noted Astorino. The participating businesses pay the summer job salaries with the added incentive of tax incentives in many cases.
Businesses interested in hiring at least one young adult aged 18 to 24 for six to eight weeks or longer can contact Ebony White of the Business Council at 914-948-2110 or list a summer job opportunity at westchestersummerjobs.com.
Youth are invited to enroll the growing program, which after one-on-one interviews, pairs them with opportunities most suitable to their interests and goals. Youth can call the agency in or closest to their community. They can log onto westchestersummerjobs.com for more info. They can also call or email the Westchester One-Stop Employment Center at 914-995-3910 and Allen Kelly at alk2@westchestergov.com
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Participating youth agencies:
City of Mount Vernon Youth Bureau
One Roosevelt Square, Rm 307, Mount Vernon, NY 10550
Debbie Burrell-Butler, Youth Employment Service Coordinator
914-665-2346 Dburrell@cmvny.com
City of Peekskill Youth Bureau
828 Main Street, Peekskill, NY 10566
Andrew Chappell, Coordinator
914-734-8418 achappell@cityofpeekskill.com
City of White Plains Youth Bureau
11 Amherst Place, White Plains, NY 10601
Patti Staffiero, Youth Employment Supervisor
914-422-1378 pstaffie@whiteplainsny.gov
SER of Westchester Council of Community Services
10 Pearl Street, Port Chester, NY 10573
Neiva Garces 914-681-0996 • 914-406-9718 (cell)
WestCOP Community Opportunity Center of the Tarrytowns
105 Wildey Street, Tarrytown, NY 10591
Amanda Kyle-Shaw, SYEP Coordinator
Kenneth Chamberlain, Job Developer 914-631-7340
WestCOP New Rochelle, CAP
95 Lincoln Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801
Benita Hamlett, Case Manager
914-636-3050 bhamlett@westcop.org
Westhab, Inc
103 Elm Street
Yonkers, NY 10701
Mayra Gonzalez, Community Services Advocate
914-968-7627 x 109 Mayra.Gonzalez@Westhab.org
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