Welcome to the E-chatter for this week:
Upcoming Events:
TODAY!! The American Red Cross and the St. Louis Cardinals are inviting you to step up to the plat and donate! Join the Cardinals in their mission to save lives this summer by donating blood. Today, Friday, July 11 from 2pm to 7pm at University mall, donate blood and you will receive a specially designed Cardinals “Step Up to the Plate and Donate” t-shirt.
TONIGHT!! Carbondale Main Street Art & Wine Fair 4pm-10pm Towne Square
TONIGHT!! Opening night of “The Producers”. A special “ladies night out” with pre-show martinis. Tickets available at the McLeod Box Office 453-3001. The full invitation is here for “ladies night out”.
Thursday, July 24 9am to 11am Senior Fair at Civic Center. Gather information about prescription and insurance programs, veterans’ benefits, unclaimed assets, financial fraud, identity theft and many other programs.
Saturday, August 23 39th Annual Art, Craft & Yard Sale SIU Arena 8am-2pm
Special Opportunity:
SUMMER YOUTH WORK PROGRAM (SYWP)
Family Advocacy Services has been notified by the Governor Blagojevich’s staff that Carbondale is one of three southern Illinois cities selected to provide summer employment opportunities to 50 youth. Family Advocacy Services, through its Youth Empowerment Services (Y.E.S.) Center, was designated as the non-profit agency which will oversee this program in Carbondale. The Y.E.S. Center is located at Hopewell Church, 400 E. Main Street in Carbondale.
The Illinois SYWP seeks to provide employment opportunities for youth in underserved communities across the state, as a means of engaging them in positive activities.
During this two-month period, youth will gain community development skills including: leadership training, project management, life skills and other service related experience which impact the quality of community life. The primary focus of this initiative is to institute new opportunities for youth development in Illinois. It is anticipated that this relatively short-term experience will have a long-term, positive affect on the lives participants involved in this initiative to prepare them for the world of work.
Scope of Employment Opportunities
The summer youth employment program will employ youth from ages 13 to 15 years old, 16 to 18 years old, and 19 to 22 years old, who will be placed employments. They will perform duties these duties:
1. Community Service is designed for youth who are 13 to 15 years. Youth in this category will be solely responsible for helping with the development or design of community service projects with their peers. They will pledge to remain positive and display good behavior while they accumulate valuable work experiences. Participants are expected to work ten to 15 hours per week for eight-weeks. At the culmination of this program each person youth will receive a $250 stipend for
their participation and commitment.
2. Community Development Projects are for youth ages 16 to 18 years old, which will perform work experiences including: office and clerical duties, youth-to-youth tutoring, mentoring, community beautification projects, gardening and eight days of life skills training. Participants will be expected to plan, develop and implement projects for eight weeks. Youth in this category will be paid $8 an
hour at 20 hours per week.
3. Transportation Related Career Opportunities Placements are for youth ages 19 to 22 years old who will work perform duties as interns with companies that provide transportation-related services to the Illinois Department of Transportation. The youth will earn $10 per hour for 25 hours per week.
Eligibility Guidelines for Youth Participants
1. To be eligible for the Summer Youth Works Program (SYWP), the family income must be less than 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level or $63,600 annually for a family of four.
2. SYWP youth must live within the designated community.
3. SYWP youth must be the appropriate age (13 to 22 years of age).
4. SYWP Providers are responsible for reviewing and maintaining records and documentation for criteria eligibility.
Should you choose to participate, I would need to know the number of youth you could hire per age group, the start date and time, and a brief job description for the positions.
The deadline to place youth in these positions is July 17. However, we would like to start as early as next Monday.