43 F
Indianapolis
Friday, March 29, 2024

Fair to help teens find jobs, engage in community

More by this author

As a parent, I’ve experienced the challenge of finding rewarding, safe activities for my child when she is out of school and during the summer months. I know I’m not alone. That’s why I have teamed up with local community organizations and businesses to make it easier for Indianapolis families to find opportunities for their kids.

On Monday, March 6, I will host my fourth annual Youth Opportunities Fair in cooperation with EmployIndy, JAG Indiana, the Marion County Commission on Youth and the Indianapolis Public Library. It will take place from 12–7 p.m. at the Central Library. This event is free and open to the public, and I hope you’ll join us.

The goal of the Youth Opportunities Fair is to present students and parents with a variety of year-round and summer options for youth of all ages. In addition to employers with job openings for teens and young adults, this event will feature local service providers and other groups that offer programs, internships and volunteer opportunities designed for young people.

Last summer, the City of Indianapolis launched a targeted effort called ProjectIndy to increase summer youth employment. The initiative is a network of community organizations, employers and corporate partners who are providing job opportunities, soft-skill development and job-readiness training for young people. I am proud that my fair is working in alignment with these efforts, providing a face-to-face connection with employers. 

However, the Youth Opportunities Fair is about more than just jobs — it is about connecting youth ages 5-24 with positive opportunities. Studies show that youth who volunteer and are engaged in the community not only help others, but they also help themselves. We know that the earlier young people have access to enrichment and work activities, the more successful they will be in school and in their personal development. The after-school and summer programming offered at the Youth Opportunities Fair will allow kids to get involved in their community and develop a network that supports them as they grow. In addition, the responsibility, communication skills and social development skills learned in these programs can provide a solid foundation for when a young person begins looking for a job.

I hope you’ll join me on March 6 at the Central Library to find out more about what Indianapolis has to offer our young people — and how they can give back to our great city.

 

Rep. Andre Carson represents the 7th District of Indiana in the United States House of Representatives. Contact Rep. Carson at carson.house.gov/contact.

- Advertisement -
ads:

Upcoming Online Townhalls

- Advertisement -

Subscribe to our newsletter

To be updated with all the latest local news.

Stay connected

1FansLike
1FollowersFollow
1FollowersFollow
1SubscribersSubscribe

Related articles

Popular articles

Español + Translate »
Skip to content