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With the stimulus money, we have been able to provide summer jobs to 1,300 at-risk kids ages 16-24 in the Portland Metro area. This is the first funding we've had for a summer jobs program in a decade. This important program provides exposure to the world of work for kids who have otherwise disconnected. Of the kids participating:

• 100% are low income
• 69% are dropouts or at risk of dropping out
• 64% are kids of color
• 11% are pregnant/parenting
• 11% are homeless or runaway
• 11% are gang involved/affected
• 49% are food stamp recipients
• 54% are public assistance recipients

92 cents of every dollar goes directly to wages and support services for the kids and injects $3.27 million dollars in new money into the local economy. This has been a very successful program and we are looking for partners to help us continue to fund it after the stimulus money runs out.

Tricia Ryan, Chief Operating Officer

Worksystems, Inc. (covering the City of Portland, Multnomah and Washington Counties)

www.worksystems.org

posted 3 years, 9 months ago
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