US Education Secretary Visits Philadelphia, Touting Summer Jobs For Youth
By Paul Kurtz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- US education secretary Arne Duncan visited West Philadelphia today to take part in a roundtable discussion about the importance of summer employment for young people.
At a Free Library branch at 34th and Haverford Avenue, Duncan was joined by Mayor Nutter and schools superintendent William Hite.
But the adults turned the microphone over to the young folks for a while, to hear first-person accounts of the positive impact that summer jobs can have.
Mayor Nutter says the city is looking to hire 10,000 people this summer.
"We've got young people from our Power Corps PHL Program," he said, "and certainly Philly Future Track and others that we're creating, and giving opportunities to young people in our Parks Department, in our Recreation Department, our Streets Department, and Water Department. The ultimate goal, of course, is that they'll actually come into city government."
For Duncan, these West Philly success stories were a reflection of the Obama administration's "Promise Zone" initiative, in which urban areas partner with local business and community leaders to expand opportunities.
"The Promise Zone initiative is not a gift," Duncan said. "It is an investment. And that's our belief in the collective commitment and leadership and vision, not just of the political leaders and community leaders but of the young people here."
City officials say the jobs programs cost an average of $1,700 per youth.