New Employment Reports to be Released at Youth Hearing on President's Jobs Bill

What:

A new series of four reports describing the devastation of the down economy during the past ten years on both adult and teen workers in Chicago, Illinois, the Midwest and nation will be released at a Chicago Urban League hosted Youth Hearing.  Youth and adults will speak on the potential impact of the proposed Pathways to Work Fund of the American Jobs Act with key national and local elected officials.  The $5 billion program would provide funding for summer jobs, year-round jobs, and training for low-income teens, young adults (ages 20-24), and adults in the U.S.

Based on new U.S. Census data the reports were commissioned by the Alternative Schools Network (ASN) and prepared by the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University.  These reports will set the stage for testimony to elected officials regarding the effectiveness of policies and job programs that have put both teens and adults to work and reduce community violence.

The Youth hearing is co-sponsored by the Chicago Urban League, ASN, the Illinois Council On Re-Enrolling Students Who Dropped Out of School, Youth Connection Charter School Youth Pride Services, Community Partners and Development, Alternatives, Inc., Prologue, Inc., Familia Latina Unida/Sin Fronteras, The Southwest Youth Collaborative and Howard Area Leadership Academy.

Who:

Elected Official Attendees include:

• U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky, represented by Leslie Combs

• Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle

• Chicago Public Schools Board President David Vitale

• Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown

• IL State Senator Kimberly Lightford

• IL State Senator Annazette Collins

• IL State Senator Jacqueline Collins

• State Representative Lashawn Ford

• State Representative Monique Davis

• Cook County Commissioner Earlean Collins

• Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer

• Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia

• Chicago Alderman Joe Moore

• U.S. Department of Labor Representative Ken Bennett

When:

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Where:

Chicago Urban League

4510 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago

Why:

These employment reports are part of a series commissioned by ASN on the costs of dropouts and the benefits gained by encouraging them to re-enroll and complete their diplomas. The Alternative Schools Network (ASN) has worked since 1973 to provide quality education with a specific emphasis on inner-city children, youth and adults. The employment prospects of out of school youth have been a major focus of ASN's work.