City of North Chicago Wins Innovation Award

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Dec. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of North Chicago recently received a prestigious innovation award from the Lake County Municipal League. This award acknowledges municipalities that developed strategic programs to solve municipal challenges and increase the effectiveness of local government. North Chicago's summer youth employment program, "Learn, Earn and Return" received first place at the Municipal League's Annual Dinner. This is the second consecutive year the city has been honored with an innovation award. Last year, North Chicago's neighborhood revitalization and blight busting program was recognized.

"It is a great achievement to receive first place for our summer youth employment program," said Mayor Rockingham. "This is a true partnership among many entities in the area." 

Every summer, through public and private partnerships, the City takes up to 25 summer interns, ages 14 to 18, for seven weeks of work alongside city staff across all departments. The City of North Chicago works in collaboration with Lake County Workforce Development and others to provide wages and professional development opportunities for the student workers.

"What makes this program successful is that students are allowed to self-select their work path," said Bonny Mayfield, Chairperson of the Human Resources Committee. "Our mission is to improve opportunities for low income youth in the workforce, to provide them with access to quality training and skills that are purposeful and relevant, and to inspire their civic engagement."

In the four years since it began, the program has served over 100 local youth by providing an opportunity to earn an income while learning job and life skills and allowing them to the option to return in a leadership role in subsequent years.

One of the greatest success measurements of this program is an 80% reduction in youth crime. Along with this, the City strives to build a talent pool of employees for businesses, and enhance the municipal workforce during the summer months.

About North Chicago
Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, North Chicago is home to the only training center for United States Navy recruits. With the involvement of its citizens, the city provides effective and responsive municipal services to a population of 32,574.  Nearly 300,000 people visit the city each year to attend Navy recruit graduations, visit the world renowned Abbott Laboratories and AbbVie Pharmaceutical Company, receive treatment from the James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, attend medical school at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine, and visit other places, making it one of the busiest destinations in Lake County, Illinois.

Contact:
Mayor's Office
City of North Chicago
847-596-8610
www.northchicago.org
www.facebook.com/northchicagocityhall

SOURCE City of North Chicago