NEW IL STATE TASK FORCE LAUNCHES ATTACK ON JOBLESS YOUTH
Business Leaders Join Legislators to Offer Employment Solutions at Youth Hearing on March 2nd
WHAT: Illinois, the first and so far the only state to take this step, is tackling youth unemployment with a newly minted, bi-partisan State Task Force on Developing Opportunities for Youth and Young Adults Who Are Jobless and Out-of-School.
The Task Force is co-chaired by state Sen. Mattie Hunter, D-3, and Rep. Sonya Harper, D-6. The first in its series of statewide public hearings, Help Build the Economy: Help Strengthen Our Youth & Communities Prepare, Educate & Employ Out-of-School and Jobless Youth, a dialogue between youth, legislators and businesses, about the barriers and potential pathways for young people in finding employment, will be held in Chicago.
Youth employment data will frame a panel discussion with youth, legislators and business leaders.
WHO:
- Ill. state Sen. Mattie Hunter, D-3, Task Force co-chair & legislative sponsor
- Ill. state Rep. Sonya Harper, D-6, Task Force co-chair & legislative sponsor
- Karin Norington-Reaves, CEO, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
- Jack Wuest, executive director, Alternative Schools Network
- Sheila Venson, executive director, Youth Connection Charter School
- Shari Runner, CEO, The Chicago Urban League
- Reyahd Kazmi, director, Business and Government Strategies, National Youth Advocate Program
- Quiwana Bell, COO, Westside Health Authority
- Business leaders
- Youth
WHEN: 9 a.m. - Noon, Friday, March 2, 2018
WHERE: Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd., Conference Room 1107, Chicago IL
WHY: With 190,901 youth and young adults in Illinois (16 to 24 years old) out-of-school and jobless in 2015, the Illinois General Assembly, in June 2017, created by an Illinois House and Senate resolution the Statewide Task Force on Developing Opportunities for Youth and Young Adults Who Are Jobless and Out-of-School in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Human Services. A similar task force 11 years ago resulted in important legislation that boosted opportunities for young people to re-enroll in school. As labor shortages threaten to squelch economic growth in the U.S. economy, the nation and the state must identify solutions for the tens of thousands of idle young people who are instrumental for future economic stimulus and growth.
For more information on the Task Force go to www.ILTFYouth.org.
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