PRESS RELEASE 

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 6, 2012 

Press Contact: 415-554-6926

PUBLIC WORKS & HOUSING AUTHORITY LAUNCHES SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM 

160 Youth & Young Adults to attain job training skills

San Francisco, CA—The Department of Public Works (DPW) and the San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA) is partnering with the Mission Neighborhood Centers, Inc., Hunters Point Family, and Young Community Developers to employ 160 youth as part of the Summer Youth Program. Of the 160 participants, 32 live in the San Francisco Housing Authority housing communities. The program employs youth ages 16-21 that live in San Francisco to complete various cleaning and greening activities at public housing sites and throughout the city. 

“Giving young people job opportunities is among my highest priorities,” said Mayor Lee. “DPW’s Summer Youth Program supports my San Francisco Summer Jobs + Initiative, which is investing in our youth, giving them valuable job skills and preparing our next generation of leaders.”

The Summer Youth Program is funded by the Department of Public Works and the San Francisco Housing Authority to create jobs and provide training and day to day management skills for various crafts. The participants will specifically work with DPW’s Urban Forestry Program on landscaping projects citywide. The youth will work Tuesday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm with an hourly rate pay of $11/per hour, 24 hours a week. The program includes 160 young individuals working in two groups of 80: first group began May 29th and will work through June 29th and the second group begins July 2nd through August 3rd.

“Over the past five years, Public Works has participated in programs that have created more than 100 opportunities for youth and young adults,” said Mohammed Nuru, Director of the Department of Public Works. “This year, we have increased the opportunities through the Summer Youth Program; which is a major focus of Mayor Lee. These 160 individuals are vital to providing landscape and other services that DPW would not otherwise be able to perform and allow the agency to continue to ensure safe and clean public rights of way.”

The San Francisco Housing Authority has partnered with DPW for the past four-years to support and expand employment opportunities for SFHA residents. Public housing residents will be hired and trained to support beautification and greening efforts at public housing sites throughout San Francisco.

“Mayor Lee has prioritized job creation for San Francisco residents, and the Housing Authority is proud to support this critical priority through the expanded partnership with DPW by continuing to develop employment opportunities for SFHA residents,” explained Henry Alvarez III, Executive Director of the San Francisco Housing Authority. “The Summer Youth Program provides upward economic mobility for our residents and necessary experiences for our youth and young adults to advance their professional goals.”

Mission Neighborhood Centers, Inc. partnered with more than 14 community-based organizations responsible for recruiting, pre-screening, and interviewing participants for the program. These organizations include the Bayview Hunters Point Community Foundation, Community Youth Center, Inner City Youth, South East Sector Community Response Network, Together United Recommitted Forever, Precita Center, United Playaz, North Western Community Response Network, Young Community Developers, Hunters Point Family, Brothers Against Guns, 

San Francisco Housing Authority housing communities such as; Roberts B. Pitts, Sunnydale, Alice Griffith , and the resident associations.

“Mission Neighborhood Centers, Inc. is proud to be an integral partner of this important program; which also serves and benefits multi-ethnic youth and young adults. The program is part of our mission to preserve the integrity of San Francisco’s diverse cultures through building community,” said Mitchell Salazar, Director of Workforce Development for the Mission Neighborhood Centers, Inc.

Over the last five years through the investment of DPW, Mission Neighborhood Centers, has employed over 700 Youth and Young Adults to help clean and green San Francisco City property. Since 1959, the Mission Neighborhood Centers, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, with 13 community centers, have provided quality programs that promote self-sufficiency and community growth for the San Francisco’s children, youth, families and seniors through our Child Development Programs, Youth and Senior Services Programs. For more information, please visit www.mncsf.org or visit www.sfdpw.org