Tag Archive | youth

City and partners team on providing weekend programming for teens

Jul30

Two Grand Rapids sites offer basketball, video game tournaments, movie screenings, college nights and more.

The City of Grand Rapids is excited to announce “It Takes a Village” – a new, collaborative, and community-supported summer youth violence prevention program. This pilot initiative provides recreational, creative, and educational opportunities for youth to help them stay constructively engaged. “It Takes a Village” kicked off last week at LifeQuest Urban Outreach and Alger Middle School. Coordinated by the City’s Office of Oversight and Public Accountability (OPA), the program aims to lower violent crime among youth in Grand Rapids by providing positive activities during the summer weekend evenings.

Through August 31, LifeQuest, Grand Rapids Urban League, Grand Rapids Public Schools and Grand Valley State University (GVSU) are offering programming to Grand Rapids youth (ages 12 to 17) on Fridays and Saturdays during summer weekend evenings.

Participants can choose between two sites offering specialized programming to suit a variety of teen interests. Pre-registration is not required.

NightQuest

NightQuest at LifeQuest, 1050 Fisk Rd. SE, offers expanded 5 on 5 basketball, dunk contests, a DJ, food, and guest speakers. This site runs 6 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday August 2 & 3, 9 & 10, 16 & 17, and 23 & 24.

CityVibes

CityVibes at Alger Middle School, 921 Alger St. SE, offers video game tournaments, board game nights, movie screenings, art and music workshops, and college nights. The Grand Rapids Urban League will run this site weekend nights through August 31. Cure Violence personnel will provide engaging programming. GVSU personnel will also host college nights at this location. This site runs 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday Friday and Saturday August 2 & 3, 9 & 10, 16 & 17, 23 & 24, and 30 & 31.

“As the name suggests, it certainly “Takes a Village” to put such a program together,” City Manager Mark Washington said. “I am thankful for the collaboration with community partner organizations that have arranged for transportation through Dean Transporation, provision of security and safety screening mechanisms, serving of nutritious food and beverages, and most importantly, recruiting of kids and promoting events.

“Collectively, we will make a difference in advancing the City of Grand Rapids’ objective to ensure that all people feel safe, and are safe at all times, throughout our community. Please encourage the young people in your life to participate in our NightQuest or CityVibes “It Takes a Village” programing. I believe these summer events will encourage our youth to socialize and interact with their peers, friends, and neighbors in a safe and encouraging environment.”

Brandon Davis, director of oversight and public accountability, said this summer youth violence prevention programming stemmed the community’s urgent response to early summer youth violence in our city. “These incidents happened after 8 p.m. highlighting the need for evening programming,” he said.

“I thank our partners for coming along with us to brainstorm ways we could provide teens with structured, positive, evening activities this summer. Our ‘It Takes a Village’ program borrows on best practices from seven similarly sized Midwestern cities where such summer initiatives led to reduced violent crime rates, all made possible by robust community collaboration. This OPA-coordinated effort complements other existing efforts, such as our City’s youth curfew ordinance, programming sponsored by the Safe Alliances for Everyone (S.A.F.E.) Task Force, Cure Violence, GRow1000, Parks and Recreation programing and camps, financial support from the Grand Rapids Police Department for the Boys and Girls Club and the OnBase Baseball program to name a few.”

Participants are required to undergo security screening prior to entry. No backpacks are allowed.

GRFD announces Fire Cadet Program

Aug29

The program is projected to provide a resource to “grow its own” and to diversify the hiring pool.

The Grand Rapids Fire Department’s (GRFD) Fire Cadet Program provides a path for community youth to discover what it takes to be a firefighter. The City Commission approved the program, vetted by the Civil Service Board, for up to six part-time paid internships.

Cadets will work 16 to 20 hours a week providing general assistance to the fire department in administration, station maintenance, and special projects. Cadets will receive fire training, Medical First Responder training, and the opportunity to interact with top-notch firefighters, as well as the community. 

GRFD recognized a need to provide a program that provides a direct, equitable, and accessible introduction to firefighting as a profession and public safety career. GRFD is an all-hazard response team that requires constant training to protect its community.

The program is designed as an up to one-year long curriculum with the fire department, and it is projected to provide a resource to “grow its own” and to diversify the hiring pool.

Requirements:

Graduation from high school or GED 

18+ years of age 

Possession of a valid driver’s license

More information and the application materials are available here. You can also contact the City of Grand Rapids’ Human Resources Department at (616) 456-3176.

City partners with local employers to launch summer youth jobs program

Mar31

The City of Grand Rapids today announced the launch of the 2021 Grow1000 youth employment program. Building on the success of employing more than 350 youth last summer, the City and area businesses – are poised to employ 650 Grand Rapids residents ages 15 to 24 beginning June 14.

GRow1000 will offer young people 120-hour work experiences over six weeks from June 14 through July 23. Youth participants will work 20 hours each week earning $10 an hour for those under 18 and $13 an hour for those 18 and older. To participate, individuals must meet the following basic requirements:

  • Be between 15 and 24 years old as of June 14
  • Live in the city of Grand Rapids
  • Be eligible to work in the U.S.

“We appreciate the community’s support in making this program possible,” said Mark Washington, city manager. “Providing meaningful work is important in helping our youth stay productive and build skills during the summer. There are more than 9,000 youth in Grand Rapids between the ages of 15 and 21. Nearly three quarters (73%) are under the age of 18 and are persons of color.  Investing in GRow1000 means investing in our community’s future!” added Washington. 

Youth may apply now through April 19 HERE. Required paid training begins May 18. Bus passes will be available as needed. As the employer of record, the City will process youth applications and match them to available positions.  Businesses and organizations are encouraged to participate in one of two ways:

  • Provide paid job or internship experiences. Total amount per youth placement is $1,600 (under 18) and $2,000 (18 and older).
  • Provide financial contributions to support placement of youth at local nonprofit organizations. Individuals are also welcome to donate.

For more information, to register as an employer, or to donate, CLICK HERE.

“Great cities have strong summer youth programs,” said Fred Keller, founder/chair, Cascade Engineering and one of the business leaders of the GRow1000 program. “This is an important moment for business to partner with our city to show our youth the future opportunities and experiences they may have right here in our community,” said Keller.

Last summer, GRow1000 helped employ 354 youth at more than 60 unique job sites that spanned area businesses, nonprofit organizations, health care and higher education institutions, and government.

Businesses and organizations that have committed to GRow1000 to date are:

  • Amway Corporation
  • Autocam Medical
  • Behler-Young Company
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Cascade Engineering
  • City of Grand Rapids
  • Celebration Cinema
  • Crowe
  • Crystal Flash
  • Davenport University
  • DeVos Family Foundations
  • Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc.
  • EuzenConnect
  • First National Bank of Michigan
  • Fox Motors
  • Flexco
  • Frey Foundation
  • Fusion Education Group
  • Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce
  • Jireh Metal Products
  • Kent County
  • Kent County Department of Health and Human Services
  • Kent County Sheriff’s Office
  • Mary Free Bed
  • Meijer
  • Metro Health
  • MSU College of Human Medicine
  • NN Mobile Solutions
  • Nucraft Furniture
  • Progressive AE
  • Renaissance Church
  • Rockford Construction
  • RoMan Manufacturing, Inc.
  • SeyferthPR
  • Spectrum Health
  • Terryberry
  • The Factory
  • The Right Place, Inc.
  • Trillium Investments
  • Warner Norcross + Judd
  • Wege Foundation
  • West Michigan Works!
  • W.K. Kellogg Trustee Donor Advised Fund of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation
  • Xpressions Christian Dance Arts Academy