Knoxville Area Urban League seeks participants for youth employment
The Knoxville Area Urban League (KAUL) is seeking businesses and job applicants for the Tennessee Youth Employment Program, which pairs young people with career opportunities and paid work experiences.
The eight-week program will be held June 3-Aug. 2, and applicants must be between 16 and 24 years old. Participants can complete up to 250 work hours at a rate of $16 per hour with a maximum earning of $4,000. KAUL has capacity to assist 50 young people with job placement.
“This program will provide opportunities to youth in our community while also helping local businesses fill employment positions,” said Carly Hammonds, director of education and youth services for KAUL. “This initiative’s purpose and impact align with our organization’s core principles and goals.”
Public, private and non-profit businesses and job applicants should register at ulmt.org/syep. Young people seeking employment also must register at jobs4tnwfs.tn.gov/vosnet/default.aspx.
Participating employers must hold workers compensation insurance, hire participants directly and submit a W-9. The employers are entitled to reimbursement for compensation paid to their enrolled employees.
Applicants with low-income backgrounds and previous engagement with the Department of Children’s Services as a foster child will be given preference. Eligible 865 Academy students in Knox County can earn up to 135 hours toward their work-based learning requirement.
The Urban League of Middle Tennessee and KAUL partnered to initiate the Tennessee Youth Employment Program (TYEP), which will be implemented statewide. KAUL was selected to facilitate the program due to its involvement and outreach in the Knoxville community.
“This is our first year as facilitators for the statewide program, and our objective is to maintain our commitment to connecting our youth with a bright future,” Hammonds said.
The national Youth Employment Program empowers students and young adults and boosts the local economy. Involvement in the program engages young minds, offers valuable knowledge into potential career paths and cultivates a sense of readiness for the future. The young participants get a chance to prepare and explore strategies for achieving success, while local businesses can add to the workforce and support the community.
Contact Hammonds at chammonds@thekaul.org for additional information.
About the Knoxville Area Urban League
Since 1968, the Knoxville Area Urban League has assisted disadvantaged people attain social and economic stability and self-sufficiency through direct services and advocacy. The League works to provide a skilled and diverse workforce; to increase homeownership; to support economic and small business development, and to enhance education efforts for our youth. The Knoxville Area Urban League is a United Way partner agency and affiliate of the National Urban League. The League’s work and results are evident in the lives of the over 8,000 people it impacts each year. For more information, call 865-524-5511 or visit thekaul.org.
