Denver offers bonuses to some teens, young adults who work summer jobs in an effort to reduce youth violence
The city of Denver announced Monday that it would pay $1,000 bonuses to qualifying young people who log at least 100 hours at a job this summer.
The payments — available to Denverites ages 14 to 21 years old — are part of a broader effort Mayor Mike Johnston’s office is spearheading this summer to drive down rates of youth violence.
“We are thinking about this as a multi-pronged approach to how we can engage young people into positive summer activities and how we can help prevent the risks of summer violence,” Johnston said during a morning news conference.
The YouthWorks initiative will be funded through a $1 million state grant, according to city officials.
City officials say the program is designed to provide payments to up to 1,000 youths in the city. The program will prioritize low-income households. The online application says household income information will be required, including whether applicants received free or reduced-price lunches at school and if their households qualify for food stamps or Medicaid.
Besides the work bonuses, Johnston on Monday touted the city’s creation of a website that will be a one-stop-shop for all summer programming for young Denverites. That website — DenverGov.org/YouthSummer — on Monday featured an interactive map with links to programs offered through Denver Public Schools, Denver Public Libraries, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver and other organizations.
That site also includes the registration link for the YouthWorks initiative.
Johnston’s summer strategy also includes a $500,000 grant program for community organizations seeking funding for special events — whether barbecues or basketball tournaments — that serve young people and families. The Denver Office of Children’s Affairs will be administering those grants.
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Melissa Janiszewski, the deputy director of that office, said that in order to receive the $1,000 payments, young people will have to be prequalified based on their family’s income. She described the payments as a “retention bonus.”
Applications are open through June 30. Required hours must be worked before Aug. 30.
The city is hosting two youth job fairs: a virtual event on Friday between 4 and 6 p.m., followed by an in-person event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 1 at the PPA Event Center, 2105 Decatur St.
Employers that want to participate in the YouthWorks initiative should contact the city via email at [email protected].
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