1. The Mayor’s Task Force SummerYouthEmploymentProgram 2015
City of Plainfield
Mayor Adrian O. Mapp
“One Plainfield – One Future”
2. Facts about Plainfield Mayor’s Task Force Summer
Youth Employment Program (SYEP)
2
Program established in 1979
•Goals
• Introduce and prepare youth to the world of work
• Identify career interests and acquire good work habits and skills
• Provide supplemental income to families
•Program Structure
• Up to 6 weeks of paid work
• Federal minimum wage of $8.38 per hour
• Open to all Plainfield residents from the age of 14 – 22
• Clean Streets Initiate 23+
• Program Dates: July 6th through August 14th
3. 3
Service Options
Service Option Hrs/Wk Specialized Services
Mayor’sTaskForceSummer
YouthProgram 25
• Orientation session to review the program structure, work assignments, financial
literacy, and information about workplace health and safety and labor laws for
youth.
• Work experiences include service learning and community service projects.
• Prepared youth through training and guidance in technical, hand, and soft skills
needed for specific career pathway or work setting.
• Program staff devoted time to developing and maintaining relationships with
youth employees.
Mayor’s Clean Streets
Initiative Administrated by
Department of Public
Works
35
• Orientations focus on work readiness and financial literacy and also may include
career exploration, health education, and preparing for higher education.
• Goal to make Plainfield Neighborhoods safe and inviting through graffiti removal;
corridor and planting maintenance; tree trimming; fire hydrant painting; and assisting
in community clean-ups.
5. 5
Facts and Figures 2015
429 Applications Submitted
40 SYEP Worksites Developed
175 Participants Enrolled
6. Program Partners
6
City of Plainfield Departments Community Partners
Administration & Finance
Audit & Control
Bilingual Day Care Center
Chamber of Commerce
Community Development
Division of Inspections
Division of Recreation
Economic Development
Engineering Division
Fire Division
Health Division
Information Technology
Office of Corporation Counsel
Planning Division
Public Works
Tax Assessor’s Office
WIC Program
Plainfield Action Services
Plainfield Municipal Court
Public Works & Urban Development
Boys & Girls Club of Union County
Dawn to Dusk Pre-School
Donald Van Blake Tennis & Education Foundation
Family Support Organization of Union County
First Unitarian Society of Plainfield
Hopes CAP, INC.
Little Hearts Learning
Neighborhood Health Services Corporation (NHSC)
Neighborhood House Association
Plainfield Salvation Army
Plainfield Area YMCA
Plainfield Board of Education
Plainfield Housing Authority
Playhouse Child Development
Precious Steps CCC:
Second Street Youth Center SSYC
Shiloh Baptist Church
V.C.D.C. Summer Program
West-End Garden Learning Summer Camp
YWCA OF Central New Jersey
8. 8
Types of Worksites
Industry/Sector Number of Worksites
Day Care/Day Camp 14
Educational Services 8
Community/Social Service 7
Government Agency 20
Healthcare/Medical 2
Religious Services 2
Arts and Recreation 2
Financial Services 4
Legal Services 2
Media/Entertainment 2
Marketing/Public Relation 2
Note:Someworksitesmayappearundermultiplecategories
9. 9
• Several youth providers offered
project-based worksites developed to
cultivate a service ethic and reinforce
core competencies such as
interpersonal, communication, and
decision-making skills
• Work experiences encouraged youth
engagement and community
involvement using a six step process:
• Identifying Issues of Importance
• Education and Awareness
• Examination and Analysis
• Planning and Implementation
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Reflection
• Celebration
• All participants attended pre-
employment orientations that
highlighted:
• Program Structure
• Teamwork and Conflict Resolution
• Workplace Health, Safety, and Labor
Laws
• Work Readiness and Workplace
Etiquette
• Applying and Interviewing for a Job
Youth/Educational Component
10. Top Employers/Worksite(s)
as surveyed by participants :
1. City of Plainfield Engineering Department
2. City of Plainfield Department of Inspections
3. City of Plainfield Department of Public Works
4. City of Plainfield Planning Division
5. City of Plainfield Tax Assessor's Office
6. City of Plainfield Department Bilingual Daycare
7. City of Plainfield Department of Information Technology
8. City of Plainfield – Plainfield Actions Service
9. City of Plainfield Fire Division
10. Plainfield Housing Authority/West-End Garden Summer Camp
11. Little Hearts Learning Center
12. Second Street Youth Center
13. Visions Summer Program
Survey Results
10
Employee, Parent, & Worksite
Survey Results
• 99% of employees would like to participate in the
program again.
• 98% of employees rated their program experience
as positive.
• 87% of employees parents were happy with the job
placements of their children.
• Less than 10% of parents had a negative response
to the program.
• 81% of worksites/employers rated the performance
of their youth employees as superior/good.
• 100% of worksites/employers would participate in
this program again.
• 93% of the employees, parents, and worksites
found the recruiters effective and efficient.
11. Special Projects
SYEP participants took part in exciting
hands-on learning experiences this summer
1. City of Plainfield 4th of July Parade
2. H.O.P.E.S. Community Forum
3. Emergency Food Providers Round Table
4. City of Plainfield Tenant Questionnaire
5. Councilwoman Diane Toliver Fire Hydrant
Initiative
Project Highlights
• Plainfield 4th of July Parade: displayed the diversity
of the city.
• H.O.P.E.S. Community Forum: Healing,
Opportunities, Possibilities and Education mission is
to close the gap between the community and Law
Enforcement.
• Emergency Food Providers Round Table: an
initiative to create a local food coalition.
• City of Plainfield Tenant Questionnaire: to
understand the needs and operation of local
businesses to know how the City of Plainfield can
better serve the community.
• Councilwoman Diane Toliver’s Plainfield Fire
Hydrant Initiative: replace at least 50 fire hydrants
and paint almost 700 hydrants located throughout
the city.
11
12. 12
• Bank provided fee-free transactions:
• Investor’s Bank
• Participants provided with access to:
• End-of-program earnings statement
Participant Pay
16. 16
Honorable Adrian O. Mapp, Mayor
“One Plainfield – One Future”
COUNCILWOMAN BRIDGET B. RIVERS
Council President
COUNCILWOMAN TRACEY L. BROWN
Chairwoman Committee of the Whole
Councilwoman at Large
COUNCILWOMAN DIANE TOLIVER
First Ward
COUNCILWOMAN VERA GREAVES
First and Fourth Wards
COUNCILMAN CORY STORCH
Second Ward
COUNCILWOMAN GLORIA TAYLOR
Third Ward
COUNCILWOMAN REBECCA WILLIAMS
Second and Third Wards
