Give Back: Youth Job Center of Evanston

Chicagoist, June 26, 2008 by Amy Mike

Apparently finding a summer job is not as easy as it used to be. Kids looking for part-time employment are facing a shrinking job market, and it's already difficult to land a job without experience or job history. And on July 1, the state will increase its minimum wage from $7.50 to $7.75, possibly increasing the squeeze on the number of available jobs.

But work is still out there, and the non-profit Youth Job Center of Evanston has been helping “young people get ready for the workplace and to find jobs” since 1983. Youth who are looking for internships or part-time employment receive guidance with interviewing skills, writing resumes and filling out applications. Other programs cater to teenagers and young adults who have not graduated from high school and are looking for full-time employment, offering services like job-readiness training and GED preparation.

The community-based organization is staffed and funded by those who have recognized value in the opportunity to work; a job’s important role in teaching early social and life skills, and keeping kids preoccupied and removed from the increased violence during the warmer months of the year. All Youth Job Center services are completely free.

You can support the Youth Job Center by volunteering to become a mentor, tutor, or trainer, or by working with the center to provide job opportunities to those that have trained hard to become a valuable addition to the workforce.

For more information, contact the Youth Job Center by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by phone at (847) 864-5627