Jobs in Boston Created by MLK Summer Scholars

Several officials are working together to make finding a job in Boston a reality for several young people. To learn more about finding a job in Boston, visit http://www.bostonjobs.com/.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino; Police Commissioner Ed Davis; John D. DesPrez III, John Hancock chairman and CEO; Boston Globe Publisher P. Steven Ainsley; and Boston University President Dr. Robert Brown recently kicked off the second year of MLK Summer Scholars, a teen summer jobs collaboration that will serve 20 percent more students than last year.

John Hancock, the Globe and Boston University have worked to expand summer employment opportunities in the city. Hancock will provide more than $1 million in funds, the Globe will contribute organizational support and in-kind services and Boston University will provide the educational setting and resources to support more than 600 jobs throughout the city. That is 100 more jobs than the program supported last year.

Partners HealthCare also joined the collaboration this year. MLK Summer Scholars is the largest corporate supporter of summer jobs in the city this year and is believed to be the largest program of its kind in the country.

"We are committed to providing our young people with productive and educational experiences during the summer," Menino said. "A summer job is a great way to learn life skills, but with thousands of teens needing employment, the city can't do it alone. That's why I am so pleased we have partners like John Hancock, The Boston Globe and Boston University as well as new supporter Partners HealthCare who make summer jobs for kids a reality."

Apart from gaining valuable workplace experience, students will attend a series of life skills workshops each Friday morning at Boston University. A variety of speakers will address personal finance, communication, interviewing, personal presentation and leadership. Students will be employed at John Hancock, the Globe, Boston University and Partners HealthCare, as well as community service organizations throughout the city.

"We are pleased to be able to make a difference in the lives of Boston youth who represent our future workforce and our future leaders," DesPrez said"As business people, we can't solve the whole problem, but we can help move things in the right direction."