“This season we had SummerWorks youth doing everything from skilled trades training to technology entrepreneurship and science research,” said Mayor Greenberg. “It’s exciting to see the collaboration with employers in the private and public sectors, as well as our largest educational institutions JCPS and UofL.”

The Louisville Science Pathways program, which is funded by SummerWorks, placed high school students in STEM labs across multiple departments at UofL. These students got hands-on experience assisting professional scientists and faculty in areas such as neurobiology, psychology, computer science, engineering and more. In addition to Louisville Science Pathways, SummerWorks also supported youth working at the at the J.B. Speed School of Engineering.

“We are proud to partner with Mayor Greenberg and his SummerWorks program to provide exciting opportunities like the ones at the Louisville Science Pathways and the J.B. Speed School of Engineering. Both of these efforts are exposing a diverse set of students to people, careers and educational pathways that they might otherwise never know about,” Schatzel said. “We love that high school students are getting exposed to our beautiful campus, our great faculty and our talented graduate and undergraduate students. We hope to see many of them in a year or two as students at UofL.”

SummerWorks participants see higher rates of graduation, college attendance and full-time employment than their peers, according to a 2019 study by the Kentucky Center for Statistics.

“Young people are our next generation of leaders, yet too many, especially from underrepresented communities, don’t have access to the skills, network and work experience they need to prepare them for meaningful employment opportunities in the future,” said Costel, Kentucky Region Manager for JPMorgan Chase. “Good jobs are the foundation of a strong economy but remain out of reach for too many. Bringing together local government, employers and community partners through summer youth employment programs can help bridge this gap and ensure that more young people are connected with the resources and tools they need to better prepare them for the opportunities of tomorrow.”

All Louisville youth ages 16 to 21 (as of June 1) are eligible to enroll in SummerWorks. Applicants who face barriers and come from disadvantaged backgrounds are prioritized in the job-matching process. Once youth register online, they can create or upload a resume, get soft skills training and apply for job opportunities.

SummerWorks also is continuing to sponsor jobs and work-learn experiences at nonprofits and agencies across the community that share the program’s commitment to advancing equity.

SummerWorks is operated by Louisville in partnership with , the Louisville region’s Workforce Development Board. SummerWorks’ core operating funds are approved by the Louisville Metro Council. Supporters of SummerWorks include the James Graham Brown Foundation, the Diaz Family Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, the Jewish Heritage Fund, the Gingko Foundation and others.

To learn more about SummerWorks and how to get involved as a participant, employer or supporter, visit .

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The Mayor’s SummerWorks Program started in 2011 when Mayor Greg Fischer saw the high unemployment rate among youth and wanted to improve the community. The program helps students, ages 16 to 21, find jobs and includes workshops, practice interviews, resume reviews and resources. Since its first year, the program has placed 11,600 local youth. The program spans seven weeks throughout the summer and students work in various capacities at various companies around the city.

Williams participated in a similar program in 1973 when he was 16 and worked at the Jefferson County Board of łÉČËÖ±˛Ą. Students in that program worked 7 hours a day Monday through Friday in the summer and 1 to 2 hours after school during the school year.

Williams said that experience inspired him to be a part of the Mayor’s SummerWorks program, adding that the mentorship component is why he believed it would be a good fit for UofL.

Exposure to college experience

Orientation was held on March 15, where employers were educated on the program. Eighty businesses set up booths later that month as part of a career fair for the students participating. Each business brought two to three recruiters to discuss their business with students and gauge their interest. Williams estimated at least 200 students attended the event, and 21 students expressed interest in working with UofL’s Physical Plant department as part of the program.

Those students will work on both the Belknap and Health Science Campuses, doing custodial and groundwork, including landscaping, Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., from June 12 to July 28. These students are expected to not only gain valuable work skills, but also a better understanding of life on campus.

“We hope to expose them not only to good work ethics and what we do, but also take them on a tour of the campus for that college experience,” said Carla Meredith, custodial services manager in the Physical Plant Department.

The program requires at least two staff to be trained as mentors, but Williams said all three of his staff will be trained to accommodate summer schedules and ensure the students feel welcome and well assisted.

“(The students) will bring new and fresh ways of doing things that will come from young creativeness and from a young person’s perspective,” he said.

There are already plans for this partnership to continue next year.