EAST CHICAGO - Just over 100 East Chicago kids will be getting a job this year in the city's 2017 Summer Youth Employment Program.
Malcolm Jones, Multi Media Associate for the city of East Chicago, says the program is conducted every year and the number of kids employed in it varies. "We have youth that works in various departments such as public works, the parks department, and just so many other departments where young people are able to get experience that they can definitely use in the future such as experience they can use in college" Jones said.
The SYEP is an eight week program that starts on Monday, June 19th and ends on Friday, August 11th. Participants work 28 hours a week and earn $7.25 to $9.00 an hour, depending on the position.
"So it's pretty much like community service hours, plus you're getting paid at the same time so we get a lot of young people who take advantage of this program," according to Jones.
The city is looking to fill several positions including Lifeguards, Recreation Leaders, Basket Attendants and Laborers. Applications will be available from Monday, May 15th through Friday, May 26th in East Chicago's Department of Human Resources. The deadline to apply is at 4 p.m. Friday, May 26th.
The city's HR department will conduct a lottery of completed applications to determine whether applicants are offered a job. Lifeguards will not be part of the lottery drawing.
