Buffalo has added more summer youth jobs to its paid-internship program. WBFO'S Eileen Buckley says even though it it is still winter, Mayor Byron Brown kicked off the annual Summer Youth Internship Program at Burgard Vocational High School to encourage students to begin applying for the May first deadline.
"We know that many young people face high unemployment. We certainly want to change that," said Mayor Brown.
Students 14 to 21 years of age are encouraged to apply for the paid internship program. Several area companies participate.
Last year Joy Anderson interned at Dunn Tire and is now a full-time employee.
"They liked me, so I got to spend, for the rest of the year, working there," said Anderson.
Dunn Tire is in its second year with the program. Dunn Tire Human Resources director Bill Cleary said it is so important to give city youth workplace experience.
As the city school district struggles to keep students in the classroom, the mayor has decided to add 50-more positions to target the city's most at-risk youth.
"We are going to try to identify those young people working with the school district, working with Peacemakers, working with Say Yes to identify those young people who will be determined as some of the most at-risk young people in this community. They, right now, are at a path that's very dangerous for them. We want to alter that. We want to put them on a positive path," Mayor Brown said.
More than 14-hundred jobs will be available to provide workplace experience.
