(Washington, DC)  The Department of Employment Services (DOES) added an extra day to register youth for the District’s Summer Youth Program.  The Youth Registration and Career Information Fair, was held today at the DC Armory from 10 am to 2 pm, and offered interested youth a last opportunity to submit a completed application along with proof of District residency, citizenship/alien status, social security verification, date of birth, and parental consent to participate in the District’s 2007 Summer Youth Program.

More than 11,000 young residents – approximately 1,000 more than last year – are expected to sign-up for work experience and academic enrichment activities. The 2007 summer program, with the theme “Young Workers, Future Leaders,” operates for six weeks beginning Monday, June 25 through Friday, August 3, 2007.  Participants, ages 14 -21, will have an opportunity to acquire basic work skills.  Youth participants placed with District and federal government agencies and non-profit organizations will be paid a federal training wage of $5.15 per hour.  Young workers will compete for private sector and selected federal government positions, working 40 hours a week and earning as much as $12 an hour.

The event also featured District of Columbia Mayor Adrian Fenty, who encouraged the youth to take full advantage of the professional experience afforded to them this summer.  Council members Kwame Brown and Harry Thomas, Jr. toured the fair.  The Department of Employment Services Acting Director Summer Spencer and Youth Mayor Nicole Newman also spoke to youth participants

Additionally, the bonus day featured local businesses eager to disseminate information and speak to registrants and their parents about career opportunities.  Local businesses participating in the bonus day event are as follows:

Bonus Day Participating Local Businesses
CVS	Operating Engineers
Clark Construction	PEPCO Holdings
Connecticut School of Broadcasting	Restaurant Association
Courtyard by Marriott	Safeway Foods
FedEx Group	Southeastern University
Giant Foods	Towne Park (Hospitality)
Home Depot	Washington Convention and Tourism Corp.

The 2007 Summer Youth Program is a component of the Department of Employment Services’ Passport-to-Work Youth Program.  For additional information on the 2007 Summer Youth Program, contact the Department of Employment Services’ Office of Youth Programs at (202) 698-3991 or (202) 698-3492.