Summer Jobs+

I’ve been working since I was in high school, so I have had a lot of summer jobs. One summer, I got a job as a paralegal at a law firm in Chicago.  I was beginning law school in the fall, and wanted to know what it was like being a lawyer.  A young lawyer named Michelle Robinson invited me into her office, and showed me what she was working on and answered a few questions. Our chat was short, maybe five or ten minutes long. Later that summer, I met her fiancé Barack Obama, and to make a long story short, the rest is history.

Now, not every summer job will lead to a job at the White House, but I can tell you that every job is a priceless opportunity and a chance to have a great adventure. You learn to work hard, to work well with others, and to manage all sorts of situations. That summer, I didn’t just meet a future First Lady and President, I also was introduced to the ins and outs of being a lawyer, something that has served me well during my law school and legal career to my job at the White House today. Obviously, I will never forget that summer job.

That’s why Summer Jobs+ is so important. Summer Jobs+ is a joint initiative that challenges business leaders and communities to join in providing summer jobs for America’s youth. This week at the White House, we welcomed youth from around the District of Columbia to participate in a Summer Jobs + event. Staff from the White House led small groups on resume- writing, interviewing, and other skills for job searching.

We know that every young person has unique skills, special talents, and big dreams.  We also know that they can’t do it alone: they need opportunities to build those skills, exercise those talents, and develop those dreams.

Unfortunately, as the nation continues to recover from the deepest recession since the Great Depression, many American youth are struggling to get these important opportunities.

According to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (Current Population Survey): 48.8 percent of youth seeking employment between the ages of 16-24 were employed last July, the month when youth employment usually peaks. This is significantly lower than the 59.2 percent of youth who were employed five years ago from then and 63.3 percent of youth who were employed 10 years ago. 

Minority youth had an especially difficult time finding employment last summer. Only 34.6 percent of African American youth and 42.9 percent of Hispanic youth had a job last July.

That’s why, in January of this year, President Obama launched the Summer Jobs+ initiative,  launching a call-to-action for business and government to work together to provide opportunities for youth to build new skills and get job experience over the summer.

Partners include major corporations, nonprofits, and local governments. The initiative also represents a wide range of high-growth, high-demand sectors like manufacturing, transportation, IT and health care.  

We’ve also launched the Summer Jobs+ Bank, a new online search tool to help connect young people to jobs, internships and other employment opportunities this summer and year round.  The Summer Jobs+ Bank includes thousands of job postings in every state.  Youth can apply to jobs ranging from fashion marketing at a start-up to electrical engineering at a big company to human resources at a nonprofit to delivering customer service at a store and so much more.

President Obama has said that we need to do everything we can to make sure youth have the opportunity to earn the skills and a work ethic that come with a job.  What is important to the future of our youth is important for the future of our country.

My summer job changed my life. And I hope the Summer Jobs+ Initiative will change the lives of many more.

Michael Strautmanis is a Deputy Assistant to the President and Counselor for Strategic Engagement to the Senior Advisor.

Securing a Brighter Future for Our Nation's Most Precious Resource

Melissa Kicklighter is being honored as a Champion of Change for her time and effort in supporting parent involvement in our children's education.

It is truly an honor, and I am humbled to be selected as a White House Champion of Change. PTA came to me over a decade ago as the perfect way to be involved as my first child entered school, but little did I know that I would learn so much and it would become the platform from which I would have the opportunity to build such meaningful relationships, launch widespread initiatives and create such powerful results.

As a school based PTA leader, my focus was on caring for the students and faculty of our school by building a strong membership and community business partnerships and offering quality programs and services. The first step in accomplishing this was to build a strong team of dedicated board members who were willing to learn with me and get the job done. Through the efforts of this team of dedicated PTA leaders and generous volunteers, we were able to enhance our traditional school programs with increased family and community participation and offer innovative programs and activities each year. Partnering with our teachers to provide educational and fun family night activities and the addition of the BUDs (Brothers, Uncles, Dads, etc) Club, which was created to increase male involvement, were a few of many programs that we created and implemented with pride.

Bringing the Change

Calvin Endo is being honored as a Champion of Change for his time and effort in supporting parent involvement in our children's education.

Mother Teresa was asked by the auditor of the Catholic Church who investigated the work of the Missionaries of Charity, “What is your business plan? What is the written document that you have that show your operational instructions that help run this ministry?” Her answer was critical to having her ministry canonical recognized by the Church. Mother Teresa leans toward the auditor and said, “This is what I do. I speak to Jesus and He speaks to me and I do what He tells me to do.”

I have learned that the only way I can effectively serve my school, church, community, state and our great nation is to get Divine guidance. So I try my best to see the needs of my community through God’s eyes. I serve in many different ways to be a blessing to many. The following is a few ways that I serve my community and State.

Hawaii PTSA – as a member of the state board it gives me insight to the needs of our schools and educational system in Hawaii. We are able to equip our local units, by providing training and workshops and offer ideas and support that help our schools, families and communities.

As a local unit president, I’m able to see firsthand what our principals and teachers are doing to give our children a quality education with minimal financial and training support. I’m constantly trying to get the support our school needs, especially our teachers and students