Published: July 18, 2008 12:03 pm         

Youth putting summer hours to work

DANVILLE — Eighteen-year-old Ollie Williams sweated away in the heat this week while painting outside Danville Housing Authority’s Churchill Towers on Seminary Street.

The hot summer job isn’t the first he’s had. He also had to deal with the weather when he delivered newspapers for the Commercial-News.

Taking a break from painting, he already was thinking about the paycheck he was to receive today.

He hoped it wouldn’t be “bogus.”

“I hope the check will be fat,” fellow painter Tabreyea McClendon, 16, said.

This is McClendon’s first job. Her only complaint so far was the heat.

They’ve been painting fences, curbs and putting down mulch.

The two are among 40 local 13- to 18-year-olds taking part in the Illinois Summer Youth Works Program through the Christian Center of Hope Baptist Church’s AGAPE Development Center outreach efforts.

According to the state’s Web site, the program is providing summer jobs for up to 10,000 youth across the state, helping them to establish productive work habits while investing in their communities.

The Summer Youth Works initiative is providing jobs focused on community service, community and highway beautification, job training programs and pre-professional training, such as working with highway engineering firms.

“Summer jobs gave me the opportunity to work and be engaged in positive activities as a teenager. For some of our youth, having a summer job means earning money and providing real alternatives to gangs and violence,” said Gov. Rod Blagojevich on the Web site.

“Programs like this mean a lot for communities that are suffering from crime and increased violence — communities that need our help. The time for help is now.”

The goals during this two-month period are that youth will gain community development skills including: leadership training, project management, life skills and other service-related experience that impact the quality of community life. The initiative is preparing youths for the world of work.

Those involved in community service work, 13- to 15-year-olds, are expected to work 10 to 15 hours per week for eight weeks. At the culmination of the program, each will receive a $250 stipend for their participation and commitment.

Those ages 16 to 18 working on community development projects will be paid $8 an hour during their 20-hour work week.

And finally, those ages 19 to 22 involved in community beautification projects will earn $10 an hour for 25 hours a week.

This group of Danville youth is largely completing maintenance work at DHA properties. Others are helping with the summer food program and at the Garfield Park concession stand.

AGAPE Development Center Executive Director Raenell Crenshaw said the youth work for four days a week and on Fridays they go to the center for empowerment lessons.

They’ll hear from different speakers, such as state Sen. Michael Frerichs, D-Gifford, and someone in the banking industry.

The program started July 7 and continues through Aug. 21, ending just before school starts back.

“The project is all right,” Williams said.

DHA housing inspector Monty Schroeder said the youth have been doing a good job.

“It helps us out a lot,” he said.

There are seven DHA maintenance workers to cover five developments, Schroeder said. There’s not enough time in the day to get everything done, he said.

Schroeder thinks the program is a great opportunity for the youth to develop work ethics and earn a little extra month for the summer.

“It’s helping us get ready for real jobs,” McClendon said.

She added the extra money will alleviate some money stress off her parents.