NEWARK, NJ – The White House announced on Monday, May 16, an interagency effort to provide tailored support to 16 communities to upgrade and expand jobs, learning, meals and violence reduction programs for young people this summer and year-round. Competition among cities for this designation was fierce and Newark was chosen as one of the 16 in recognition of the city’s coordinated efforts to provide youth with job training and preparation, learning programs, violence reduction initiatives and innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities.
“The choice of Newark as a Special Impact Hub is an important addition to Newark’s coordinated programs targeted to young people,” said Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “But more importantly, it is a first step in the city’s massive effort to create jobs and lift the economy of Newark. We will be announcing the details of our Newark Jobs Plan in a few weeks.”
“Access to a job in the summer and beyond can make all the difference to a young person – especially those who don’t have access to many resources and opportunities,” stated President Barack Obama.
As a Special Impact Hub, Newark will be paired with a ‘summer ambassador,’ a federal official who will spend the spring and summer partnering with the city to meet its goals for youths by leveraging federal resources, breaking down agency silos and building new local and national partnerships.
In partnership with the White House, Newark is also enlisting the support of companies and philanthropies to create more opportunities for young people in the city. Federal agencies are coming together to support these efforts. For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing nutritious meals, while the Department of Education is offering technical assistance through its Summer Opportunity iForums webinars. Additionally, the Department of Treasury is offering information on financial education and the Department of Housing and Urban Development is enlisting the help of its network of 4,000 public housing authorities.
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