CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Teens face little help in landing summer jobs By Nina Mamikunian

When Governor Donald Carcieri recently announced plans to spend $50,000 of his contingency fund on transplanting 400,000 pounds of shellfish to cleaner waters in Narragansett Bay, Henry Shelton was left wondering, "What about the children?" Shelton, the director of the George Wiley Center, a Pawtucket-based advocacy organization aimed at eliminating childhood poverty, is campaigning to create summer jobs for low-income teenagers. And he’s asking the governor to use some of his contingency fund as seed money for the statewide effort.

Several years ago, the federal Job Training and Partnership Act (JPTA) provided money for putting low- and moderate-income to work at summer jobs. That funding has been cut, however, and although there are year-round programs, no specific funds are earmarked for summer employment.

Shelton says it’s hardest for 14- and 15-year-olds to find a summer job because most businesses prefer to start hiring when a youth reaches 16. The summer employment for younger kids is important, though, not just because it can alleviate some of the burdens that poor families face, but also since it teaches work skills and is effective in preventing students from dropping out of school. "It is a strong educational motivation," Shelton says.

When JPTA funding was cut a few years ago, Shelton appealed to the Human Resource Investment Council (HRIC) of Rhode Island and city governments. HRIC contributed $250,000 and the City of Pawtucket added 32 summer jobs last summer specifically for low-income youth. Pawtucket Mayor James Doyle is again pledging his support in this campaign. Shelton had also appealed in the past, with less success, to chambers of commerce and former Governor Lincoln Almond.

The activist is now turning to state senators, asking them to talk to the Labor Department about funding, but, "It’s not on their radar screen, it’s not seen as a priority," he says. "They talk about education and dropouts, but they don’t make the connection between that and employment. I don’t think children are on their radar screen at all, especially not low-income teenagers."

The Wiley Center recently sent a letter to Carcieri and has requested a meeting with him on this issue. Shelton hopes that the governor will contribute at least $50,000 to help fund the summer jobs program. Although noncommittal on money for summer jobs, Carcieri spokesman Jeff Neal says the governor hopes to create more employment opportunities in the state through a variety of efforts. "To do so means addressing issues such as education for children and university students in the state, and even adult literacy," Neal says. "We are attacking the job question on a number of fronts."

Shelton maintains that where there is a will, there is a way, citing Boston as an example. During one breakfast meeting in that city, state officials and members of the business community pledged to create more than 5000 summer jobs for low-income teenagers. Meanwhile, in Rhode Island, "The people see the state not doing anything, so the private sector is not interested," Shelton says. "We need a champion, we need the state to step out as a leader and the people will follow."