07/21/2026
Investing in Chicago’s Youth: Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond! 🏙️✨
Today, the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services joined the Chicago Mayor's Office and community partners at Phalanx Family Services for the Chicago Youth Works Summer Press Conference & Briefing to highlight the life-changing impact of summer youth employment!
Chicago Youth Works is more than just a summer jobs program—it’s a year-round investment in our city's future, connecting young people ages 14–24 with paid work, career exploration, and real paths to long-term success.
Key Highlights Shared by DFSS Commissioner Angela Green:
📈 High Demand & High Impact: Out of 58,000+ applications, DFSS is delivering 19,465 paid opportunities through our dedicated delegate agencies toward the Mayor’s citywide goal of 29,000!
🎯 Goal in Sight: We’ve already hit 92% of our hiring goal, with thousands of youth on the job building skills, gaining confidence, and earning income.
🚀 Introducing CEEP: Earlier this month, we launched the Career Exploration & Employment Preparation Program, serving 1,500 young adults (ages 18–24) with pre-apprenticeships, training, and direct job placement.
➡️ What’s Next? Tomorrow, the momentum continues with the Future Ready Summit & Opportunity Expo, connecting youth directly to employers, colleges, apprenticeships, and industry leaders!
A huge thank you to our incredible employer partners, community organizations, and leaders like Bevon’s Mentee Network for believing in Chicago’s youth.
To all of our young workers: Your summer job isn't the finish line—it’s just the starting point. We can't wait to see where you go next! 💪💙
