On Wednesday, June 23, County Executive Jonathan Delagrave joined community leaders at Pritchard Park to kick off Racine County’s Youth Summer Jobs initiative, a new program aimed at improving outcomes for youth of color.

The Racine County Youth Summer Jobs initiative, in its first year, is a joint effort between the business community, local nonprofits and Racine County. Youth employment has been shown to improve graduation rates and lifelong wages, while also reducing involvement in the juvenile justice system. The County has brought together over 15 companies and nonprofits that are helping fund wages and employ approximately 30 kids, with priority given to youth of color and individuals in youth justice diversion. 

“With this initiative, we aim to address workforce challenges and improve racial equity. I’m grateful to our businesses and nonprofits for making an investment into the future of Racine County and helping chart a path of success for our kids. This program is a true win-win – it helps our youth, it helps our businesses, and it helps our community,” County Executive Delagrave said.

The week of June 21 marked the first week that kids are at job sites. Pritchard Park is one of seven work sites in the inaugural year. Officials plan to expand the program to additional job sites next year.