Students, employers encouraged to apply for 2015 Summer Jobs 253 program

The City of Tacoma and its partners, the Reach Center, Tacoma Public Schools, and WorkForce Central, are accepting applications for the 2015 Summer Jobs 253 program.

The program provides Tacoma Public School incoming juniors and seniors the opportunity to earn high school credit while acquiring on-the-job skills and work experience during the summer.

The Summer Jobs 253 program was piloted in 2013 with 50 students (see “Tacoma pilot program links students to paid summer jobs, graduation credits,” Tacoma Daily Index, June 24, 2013) and officially launched in 2014 with the support of a $4,000 grant from the U.S. Conference of Mayors (see “Tacoma youth employment program awarded $4K grant,” Tacoma Daily Index, Jan. 24, 2014). During the program’s first year, students participated in the National Endowment for Financial Education High School Financial Planning program, which was backed by Columbia Bank and included lessons on money management, borrowing, investing, and other relevant topics (see “Summer Jobs 253 recruiting Tacoma employers to host youth,” Tacoma Daily Index, March 20, 2014).

“For the students, this is really a life changing event,” said Summer Jobs 253 contract and program auditor Christopher Wright. “For many of them, it is their first contact with the work world. Not only do they get paid and get high school credits toward graduation, but you can really see them grow in their confidence level as they become adults.”

This year, the partners are hoping to expand the number of student participants to 150 students, as well as the number of participating employers.

Students and employers interested in learning more about the program should visit summerjobs253.com.