DALLAS POLICE CHIEF RENEE HALL ANNOUNCES

 DPD TO YOU(TH) SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM

Today, Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall announced the launch of a summer jobs program for 15-year-old youth from some of Dallas’ most undeserved communities.

The program is in partnership with Safer Dallas and is being fully supported via private funding, with AT&T and the Mark Cuban Foundation serving as its founding, primary sponsors.

Participating sponsors include Target, Pepsi, Flying Cross, DISD, Imprimis Staffing, Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and the Dallas Regional Chamber. Additional partners include Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas, City of Dallas Youth Commission, and City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department.

One of Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall’s strategies is to collaborate with business leaders and community stakeholders to engage youth in undeserved communities as they navigate the daily challenges they may face because of their current circumstances. The ultimate goal is to create a comprehensive program to captivate youth ages 14-17 to help them learn leadership skills and provide workforce development while building trust to achieve long-term positive engagement. In turn, this will result in stronger, safer communities and possibly a reduction in youth violence. This summer will see the launch of Phase I of that program by providing employment and leadership development opportunities for fifteen-year-olds.  

“We know that during summer months, there are thousands of youth who are out of school, without activities to occupy their time,” Chief Hall said during the announcement, adding, “it’s in those moments of idle time where our youth can make decisions that could possibly impact their lives forever. We want to ensure that they make positive decisions and to give them opportunities that will not only shape their future but begin to build a strong work force for the City of Dallas.”

DISD and Big Brothers Big Sisters are working to select the youth. The students attend or live near Lincoln, Wilmer-Hutchins, Bryan Adams, New Tech, South Oak Cliff, and Spruce High Schools. The schools were chosen based on higher than average crime statistics and higher than average arrests amongst 14-18-year-olds.

Imprimis Staffing is in the process of on-boarding the students while Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas finalizes job sites. The program will officially launch on June 10^th with an orientation and students will report to their non-profit or government agency locations on June 18.

The students will work Tuesday through Thursday and weekly participate in Mentorship Monday, where they will tour of various corporations and organizations and have lunch and learn sessions to gain insight into various diverse careers, meeting area civic and business leaders. They will also participate in a “Shark Tank” style entrepreneur day sponsored by the Dallas Regional Chamber.

Additionally, there will be a citywide youth community service day with law enforcement officers from agencies throughout the area serving as volunteers also. The service day will be sponsored by the City of Dallas Youth Commission and the City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department and is open to youth citywide.

The Dallas Police Department and Safer Dallas extends it appreciation to AT&T and the Mark Cuban foundation for serving as the founding sponsors of the DPD to You(th) program. DPD also appreciates the support of the program’s participating sponsors and partners in this endeavor.

For information regarding youth participation in the program, please contact, counselors at: Lincoln, Wilmer-Hutchins, Bryan Adams, New Tech, South Oak Cliff, and Spruce High Schools.

For participation in the Citywide Youth Service day or interest in hosting a Mentorship Monday, contact, Elizabeth Saab, City of Dallas, External Relations Manager, Elizabeth.Saab@DallasCityHall.com.

For donations or sponsorship opportunities, contact, Calvert Collins Bratton, President, Safer Dallas, Calvert.Collins@Gmail.com.