Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE convened clergy and business leaders for a March 6 breakfast where they heard about how they can help reduce street violence and enrich their own communities and workplaces by hiring teens in need of summer jobs.
"There is a huge gap right now between the number of teens who want a job this summer and the number of jobs available," the Rev. Arrington Chambliss told the gathering. She facilitates the youth jobs initiative that is part of the diocese's B-PEACE antiviolence campaign.
B-PEACE's inaugural effort last year created 55 new jobs at eight organizations; this year's goal, Chambliss said, is to create 100 jobs for summer 2014. Several Episcopal churches have partnered in this effort, she said, including St. Elizabeth's Church in Sudbury, the Church of the Redeemer in Chestnut Hill, Trinity Church in Boston and the Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester.
B-PEACE is also working with the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC), which organizes employers to participate in its summer jobs program and then provides job-readiness training for students and support to employers throughout the summer experience. Hiring students through the program costs less than many expect; according to information provided by PIC, hiring a student for a seven-week period costs anywhere from $1,554 (at $8 per hour for 25 hours a week) to $3,263 (at $12 per hour for a 35 hours a week).
There is a proven connection between youth employment and the reduction of violence, according to information provided at the breakfast by the Youth Jobs Coalition.
"God has given each of us the power to help change the destruction that violence creates in people's lives," Bishop Shaw said. "I pray that through work like this we can offer God's transformative power to young lives."
Anyone interested in joining B-PEACE's summer jobs effort may contact Charlie Emple at charlie@ststephensbos.org.