[8th Annual Hire Houston Youth Announcement]
[00:00:05]
I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND, UH, HARRIS HOUSTON YOUTH SUMMER, UH, INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, PROVIDING PAID INTERNSHIPS FOR, UH, FOR OUR KIDS, UH, AGES 16 TO 24.
AND I'M PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY, UM, AVERA KOSKA, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION, WHO'S RIGHT HERE TO MY IMMEDIATE LEFT.
AND THEN TO HAVE ALL OF THESE, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER ASHA JACKSON, AND, UH, I BECAME A SALLY ALCORN.
CAROLYN, EVAN CHABA, AND THE VICE MAYOR OF PRO TEM MARTHA CASTEK.
TATUM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CI COUNCILMAN TIFFANY THOMAS AT, I THINK WOMEN AT
IT'S THE WOMEN'S POWER HERE ON CITY COUNCIL, UH, TO BE JOINED BY THEM.
AND THEN FOR SUPERINTENDENT MILLARD HOUSE, UH, TO COME AND TAKE THE TIME, UH, UH, FROM H HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE STANDING HERE REALLY SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROGRAM.
MENT LAWS OUT OF HUMAN RESOURCE, WHO HAD BEEN WORKING WITH THIS PROGRAM FOR A LONG TIME, EVEN BEFORE I BECAME CITY COUNCIL PERSON.
YEAH, THE MAYOR OF, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND THEN DAVE MOSS, UH, FROM THE MCDONALD'S ORGANIZATION.
DAVE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROGRAM BEFORE I BECAME MAYOR, AND, UH, THE MCDONALD OWNERS HAVE BEEN A VITAL, VITAL CONTRIBUTOR, UH, TO THE HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM.
UM, AND SO DAVE, LET ME THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR PRESENCE.
SO GOOD MORNING AND TO ALL OF MY CITY DIRECTORS WHO ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY ALL PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
NOW, IF YOU'RE A CITY DIRECTOR, JUST RAISE YOUR HAND, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
THANK YOU ALL, ALL OF YOU THANK, BECAUSE THEY PARTICIPATE IN, IN, IN THIS PROGRAM.
SO, GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.
I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH YOU TO LUNCH THIS YEAR'S HARRIS HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM, AND LET ME THANK THE MEDIA.
UM, BECAUSE I WILL TELL YOU THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM REALLY DEPENDS ON THE MESSAGE GETTING OUT, UH, TO OUR, TO OUR YOUNG FOLK IN THIS CITY.
WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY ALL THE TIME, BUT LEMME TELL YOU, THIS IS ONE WAY, UH, TO HELP KEEP OUR CITY SAFE.
AND THAT'S PUTTING THE EMPHASIS AND MAKING THE INVESTMENT ON THAT YOUNGER GENERATION BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 24.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY NUMBERS, WHAT DRIVES THOSE NUMBERS ARE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 24 THAT ARE COMMITTING CRIMES.
WELL, QUITE FRANKLY, UH, WHEN, WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER, IN A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT GETTING THAT PAYCHECK, BUT IT'S GIVING THEM THE TWO SUPERINTENDENT, UH, FOR FUTURE JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
SO, UH, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE.
UH, I'VE ALREADY INTRODUCED EVERYBODY, SO I CAN SKIP THAT.
ALSO, I WANT TO, UH, WELCOME, UH, METRO KOREA GEAR, HOUSTON WORKFORCE SOLUTION, AND THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP.
ALL OF THESE ENTITIES HAVE BEEN VITAL CONTRIBUTORS, UH, TO THE SUCCESS OF HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH.
AND I, I DO WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE GREATEST HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, UH, THE BUSINESS CHAMBER, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.
UH, GIVE IT UP TO THE GREATEST HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE BUSINESS LEADERS IN THE ROOM WHO HAVE REGISTERED THEIR COMPANIES OR DONATED TO OFFER MEANINGFUL OP UH, EMPLOYMENT, UH, TO OUR YOUTH.
FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 24.
THE PROGRAM CONNECTS THEM TO EIGHT WEEK, UH, PAID SUMMER JOBS AND INTERNSHIP AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND PHILANTHROPIC SECTORS.
AND IN SOME CASES, UH, THESE INTERNS REMAIN WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS BEYOND EIGHT WEEKS.
SO THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP.
UH, BUT MANY OF THEM HAVE IMPRESSED THEIR EMPLOYEES.
THEIR EMPLOYEES WANTED THEM TO STAY EVEN LONGER SINCE ITS INCEPTION, HOW HOUSTON YOUTH HAS EXPERIENCED EXPONENTIAL GROWTH.
IN 2016, THE PROGRAM LAUNCHED WITH 57 EMPLOYERS.
BUT NOW THANKS TO KEY EMPLOYERS SUCH AS HEB, CONOCO, PHILLIPS CAB, PINE AM BANK, HP INC.
UNITED AIRLINES, JP MORGAN CHASE, MCDONALD'S TECH STOCK, AND METRO OHIO.
HOUSTON YOUTH, UH, IS NOW WORKING WITH NEARLY 500 EMPLOYERS, UH, FROM AROUND THE CITY,
[00:05:01]
FROM 57 BUSINESSES TO, TO NEARLY 500 SPEAKS WELL.AND LAST YEAR I TASKED HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH ALORA YA KASKA, WITH AN AMBITIOUS GOAL TO OFFER 12,000 AVAILABLE JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO HOUSTON YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS.
AND I'M PROUD TO REPORT THAT GOAL WAS SURPASSED WITH HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH OFFERING OVER 14,000 JOB OPPORTUNITIES, THE BILL LAWS AND JANE HESS, AND THEN THE ENTIRE HR TEAM.
YOUR GOOD MALE POWER JUST SHOWED UP.
COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON
UM, THIS YEAR, THIS YEAR, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE UNFORTUNATELY MY, WELL FOR ME, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT SOME OTHERS.
AND MY LAST YEAR IN OFFICE AS MAYOR, I HAVE SET THE BAR JUST A LITTLE BIT HIGHER, AND THAT IS TO PROVIDE OVER 15,000 JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITH A STRETCH GOAL OF 20,000 JOBS.
AND MY OFFICE HAS AIMED NOT ONLY TO EMPLOY THESE YOUTH, BUT EMPOWER THEM TO SUCCEED LONG AFTER THEIR INTERNSHIP IS OVER.
AS I TOLD MY TEAM, THIS IS THE YEAR TO EXECUTE AND IMPLEMENT ON THIS AND OTHER PROJECTS.
UH, WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING BIGGER AND BETTER, INCLUDING HIRING HOUSTON YOUTH, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR SIGNATURE INITIATIVES TO ENSURE THAT THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED ARE DIVERSE IN NATURE AND REFLECT THE CURRENT WORK WORKFORCE TRENDS.
UH, MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO RECRUIT AND REGISTER EMPLOYERS IN KEY INDUSTRIES OF HOUSTON, SUCH AS ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, FINANCE, AND MORE.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND WE LOOK VERY CLOSE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING VERY CLOSELY, UH, WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS IN OUR DISTRICTS, UH, WITH SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE AND HISD, UH, TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR KIDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ATTRACTED, UH, TO WHAT WE ARE OFFERING FOR THEM FOR THE SUMMER.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, MY ADMINISTRATION IDENTIFIED A GROWING DEFICIT IN MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER EXPLORATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH, PREVENTING THEM FROM GAINING THE SKILLS NEEDED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR DYNAMIC ECONOMY TO SOLVE THIS DEFICIT.
HOWARD HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM WAS CREATED IN APRIL, 2016 THROUGH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT.
HOUSTON ENDED 2022 WITH RECORD, EMPLOY UNEMPLOY EMPLOYMENT WITH UNEMPLOYMENT FALLING TO 3.9% BELOW 4% FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
AS WE CONTINUE OUR RECOVERY FROM THE PANDEMIC, IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE REAL OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW AND DEVELOP WITH THE ECONOMY OF TODAY AND TOMORROW.
SO, LET ME JUST SIMPLY CLOSE BY THANKING OUR EMPLOYERS.
'CAUSE WE NEED THEM AND WE NEED THEM IN EVERY AREA.
FINANCE, TECHNOLOGY, MANUFACTURING IN EVERY AREA.
AND SO TO THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, WHY Y'ALL BACK THERE?
UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED THE EMPLOYERS, BUT THEN LET ME CLOSE BY SAYING WE NEED, WE NEED THE INTERNS.
SO, UH, LET ME SPEAK FIRST TO THE PARENTS, OKAY? 'CAUSE WE'RE TALKING 16 TO 24.
SO PARENTS ENCOURAGE YOUR, YOUR, YOUR KIDS, UH, TO SIGN UP TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE.
AND TO THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES, BETWEEN AGES OF 16 TO 24, THAT'S HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AS WELL AS THOSE IN COLLEGE OR, AND, AND, AND WHETHER THEY'RE IN COLLEGE OR NOT.
UH, PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I JUST STRUCK THAT 15, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM.
BUT IT'S MY HOPE, UH, THAT THIS YEAR, UH, THAT TODAY WE CAN HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH EMPLOYEES TO PROVIDE MORE THAN 20,000 OPPORTUNITIES, AND THAT WE'LL HAVE MORE INTERNS, UH, OLIVE VERA AND VIMA THAN THE 20,000.
UH, IF WE DO THAT, IF WE DO THAT, UH, LET ME PROMISE YOU, YOU'LL SEE A, YOU'LL SEE A HAPPIER CITY, A MORE PRODUCTIVE CITY, AND A SAFER CITY BECAUSE AN INVESTMENT IN THESE INTERNS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL TO ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
AND AT THIS TIME, LET ME TURN IT OVER TO, IS IT OLIVERA? YEAH,
[00:10:01]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.I WOULD LOVE TO SHOW YOU A SHORT VIDEO THAT INTRODUCES THE PROGRAM AND SUMMARIZES WHAT MAYOR JUST DESCRIBED REAL QUICK.
AND THEN I'LL DIVE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO SOME OF OUR, UM, PROGRAM DETAILS.
HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH IS MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER'S EMPOWERMENT AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS YOUTH TO LOCAL JOBS WHERE THEY ARE EMPOWERED WITHIN EARN AND LEARN OPPORTUNITY IN HOUSTON'S DYNAMIC ECONOMY, I STARTED OFF AS AN ANXIOUS PERSON WHO BELIEVED THAT EVERYTHING IS CONSIDERED GREAT, ONLY IF I DID IT MYSELF.
BUT NOW THAT I'VE LEARNED THAT IS NOT TRUE, PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY ARE HERE TO HELP ME.
AND I BELIEVE THE SKILLS THAT I'VE LEARNED WILL HELP ME BECOME A BETTER PERSON AND SHAPE MY FUTURE CAREER GOALS AS I COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL AND GO ON TO COLLEGE.
I HOPE TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR WITH THIS PROGRAM AND THANK YOU HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH AND MAYOR TURNER FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GROW.
500 INTERNSHIP POSITIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PROFIT AND NON-PROFIT SECTORS.
THIS YEAR, HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN EMPHASIZING STEM RELATED CAREERS, AS WELL AS THE CITIES FOR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT FOR SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS TO OFFER FINANCIAL LITERACY COUNSELING TO THE PROGRAM'S PARTICIPANTS.
THIS CO-OP PROGRAM AND OTHERS LIKE IT ARE EXACTLY WHAT HOUSTON YOUTH NEED TO BETTER PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURES AND CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY.
I'M BEYOND GRATEFUL TO CONOCO PHILLIPS FOR DEVELOPING IT AND TO MAYOR TURNER'S HIRED HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM FOR HELPING ME TO DISCOVER IT.
CHRISTMAS YOUTH AGES 16 TO 24 ARE OFFERED INTERNSHIPS, APPRENTICESHIPS, AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT A MINIMUM OF $10 PER HOUR IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY@HIGHERHOUSTONYOUTH.ORG SLASH YOUTH.
ONCE AGAIN, GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
YOUR PRESENCE HERE WITH US REALLY SPEAKS VOLUME OF THE LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU ALL HAVE FOR THE PROGRAM.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, THERE'S ONLY ONE MAYOR IN THE NATION, THEN HAVE A VISION FOR YOUTH.
START WITH 400 YOUNG PEOPLE AND GROW IT TO 14,000.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, MY OFFICE HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY TO RECRUIT AND REGISTER KEY EMPLOYERS THAT HAVE REFLECTED THE CURRENT WORKFORCE STRENGTHS, SPECIFICALLY IN THE STEM INDUSTRIES.
CONNECTING THE CITY'S YOUTH TO THESE KEY EMPLOYERS WOULD'VE NOT BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR OUTSTANDING PARTNERS.
RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'RE AN EMPLOYER HERE.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SHINE A LIGHT ON TWO SPECIFIC KEY ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM THAT WERE ADDED.
AGAIN, THANKS TO MAYOR TURNER'S VISION ON HOW WE SHOULD SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE.
THIS PAST YEAR, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES CHOSE FIVE CITIES TO SUPPORT WITH STEM CAREERS.
WE USED THESE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO EXPAND STEM CAREER PATHWAYS FOR MARGINALIZED YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE COMPLETE COMMUNITIES MAYOR SIGNATURE INITIATIVE.
WHILE STRATEGIZING FOR STEM CAREERS, WE ALSO SURVEYED HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH PARTICIPANTS, AND WE FOUND OUT THE NEARLY HALF OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE CAME AND BANKED, WHICH GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE KEY FINANCIAL LITERACY MESSAGES WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND PROVIDE FINANCIAL COUNSELING.
THANKS TO THE ASSISTANCE FROM CI FROM THE CITIES FOR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT FUND, HOWARD HOUSTON YOUTH WILL PROVIDE, UM, IN COLLABORATION WITH CER OPS WILL PROVIDE FINANCIAL COUNSELING AND FINANCIAL LITERACY TO ALL HIERARCH HOUSTON YOUTH PARTICIPANTS.
THIS IS TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAMMATIC FUNCTIONS IN ORDER TO HAVE AN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN SOCIAL MOBILITY FOR YOUNG RESIDENTS, AGAIN, IN THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE TEAM HAS WORKED REALLY HARD TO BRING THIS PROGRAM AND THE VISION OF MAYOR TURNER TO WHERE IT IS TODAY.
WE ALL CAN THINK BACK AT A TIME WHEN WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY GIVEN TO US FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REFLECT ON THAT TIME.
IT WAS A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING TODAY IN YOUR CAREERS, WASN'T IT FOR ME? DEFINITELY IT WAS.
MAYOR TURNER TOOK A CHANCE ON ME, AND I REALLY, REALLY ENJOY DOING THIS PROGRAM.
AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR HELPING ME DOING, UM, THIS PROGRAM FORWARD.
I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER TO BE THE LAUNCHING PAD FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
SO IF YOU'RE AN EMPLOYER, PLEASE REGISTER.
IF YOU ARE YOUTH, PLEASE TAKE A CHANCE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU CAN START YOUR CAREER.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LIVE UP TO YOUR FULL POTENTIAL.
LET HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH BE THE FIRST STEP IN YOUR LONG AND FRUITFUL CAREER.
APPLYING TO OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR JOB BOARD
[00:15:01]
HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER.LIKE I SAID, WE, WE SURVEYED HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH PARTICIPANTS AND THEY TOLD US, MAKE IT EASIER FOR JOB APPLICATIONS.
SO WE DID, WE ADDED FILTERS FOR YOU TO LOOK THROUGH INDUSTRIES, EMPLOYMENT TYPES, JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITH EDUCATIONAL LEVEL ATTACHED TO IT.
AND OF COURSE, WE HEARD YOU, WE YOU NEED QUICK APPLY OPTIONS.
YOU CAN APPLY QUICKLY TO JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND MULTIPLE JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THAT EMPLOYMENT IS NOT EVERYTHING.
AND IF YOU NEED EXTRA ASSISTANCE DURING AND BEFORE THE H HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM, MAYOR TURNER HAS PROVIDED US WITH RESOURCES TO HELP YOU WITH MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE OVER ACHIEVERS, CONNECTION TO EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, OTHER SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS.
BUT LET ME JUST QUICKLY TAKE A SECOND AND RECOGNIZE MY TEAM BECAUSE OFFERING THESE OPPORTUNITIES WOULD'VE NOT BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT MY SMALL BUT VERY MIGHTY TEAM.
IF YOU'RE PART OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF, OF, UH, ENGAGEMENT AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, JUST STEP FORWARD HERE SO THEY CAN SEE YOU.
AND THAT WILL HELP ME ANSWER QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS AS WELL.
YOU'LL SEE OUR LOVELY INTERNS CURRENTLY IN THE OFFICE WHO ARE WEARING THE HARD HOUSTON YOUTH T-SHIRT, AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL EMBED THE LOGO IN YOUR MINDS AND YOU WILL HELP US OUT CONTINUE WITH, UM, HER HOUSTON YOUTH.
SO THANK YOU ALL, ALL SO MUCH.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THIS IS MY TEAM.
AND A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, JESSICA MCGOWAN, WHO HAS BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TILL MIDNIGHT TO MAKE, UH, SURE THAT THIS ROOM IS BEAUTIFUL AND, UH, THAT YOU ALL ARE WELCOME HERE.
BUT BEFORE I CALL SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS HOW HISD HAS BEEN COLLABORATING WITH US OVER THE YEARS.
I WOULD LIKE TO JUST QUICKLY SUMMARIZE WHAT MAYOR SAID IN SPANISH BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR POPULATION HERE, UM, WOULD NEED THAT, UM, SUPPORT YOUTH.
NOW I WOULD LIKE TO GO SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE TO HEAR ABOUT HIS DIS ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HAR HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM.
I, I'D LIKE TO, TO BRING, UH, DR. MAYS TO THE, TO THE STAGE TO, TO JOIN ME.
HE'S, HE'S A NEW SUPERINTENDENT IN A LEAF AND I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT JUST AN HISD THING.
THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER, UM, SUPERINTENDENTS, SEVERAL OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BE INVOLVED IN THIS IMPORTANT WORK.
THE, THE FIRST THING THAT I'LL SAY IS THAT, UH, THERE IS A PIECE OF THIS THAT I'M DISAPPOINTED ABOUT.
UM, UH, THE, THE AGE RANGE IS 16 TO 24, AND MY 25TH BIRTHDAY IS IN APRIL
UH, SO I WON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.
UH, BUT, BUT I WILL SAY THAT, UH, I'M, I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE WITH YOU, UH, TO RENEW THIS COMMITMENT, UH, TO THIS GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH MAYOR TURNER, UH, AND HIRE HOUSTON IN REFERENCE TO THE PROGRAMMATIC PROGRAMMATIC PIECES THAT GO ALONG WITH IT.
HOUSTON'S FUTURE IS DEPENDENT ON THE EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS OF OUR LOCAL YOUTH.
AND HISD AND OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND US ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A PATH TO ENSURE THAT OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR OUR STUDENTS.
HUNDREDS OF HISD STUDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS INCREDIBLE
[00:20:01]
EIGHT WEEK PAID PROGRAM SINCE 2016.IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE OUR GROWTH IN OUR YOUTH STUDENTS WHEN THEY TAKE ON THE REWARDING EXPERIENCES OF PAID, AND AGAIN, I SAID PAID INTERNSHIPS AND LEARN SKILLS THAT CAN REALLY HELP THEM BUILD A BETTER TOMORROW.
OUR GOAL CONTINUES TO BE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS GRADUATING, OF COURSE, COLLEGE AND CAREER READY.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTING OUR YOUTH TO THE LOCAL WORKFORCE AND THE CAREER EXPERIENCE THAT GOES AROUND AND GOES ALONG WITH IT.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF MAYOR TURNER'S VISION OF PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THEM TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HOUSTON'S DYNA DI DYNAMIC ECONOMY.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO.
IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR US TO GO OUTSIDE WHEN WE CAN BUILD THE CAPACITY OF OUR STUDENTS INSIDE.
SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.
HISC STUDENTS WILL GAIN ACCESS TO INTERNSHIPS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL HELP THEM TO INSPIRE AND ACHIEVE POSITIVE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES AS A PART OF THEIR WORLD CLASS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
CAREER EXPLORATION WAS CENTRAL TO MY PERSONAL JOURNEY AS I JUGGLED MULTIPLE JOBS.
AT ONE POINT, EARLY IN MY CAREER, I WORKED FOUR JOBS.
UH, SO I KNEW WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE AS A, UH, AS A 21-YEAR-OLD WORKING AS A CERTIFIED BARBER, A REFEREE, A UM, A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER.
AND, AND I, I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER THE FOURTH ONE.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR STUDENTS DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THAT ROUTE AND PROVIDE, BE PROVIDED WITH OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS.
PRIOR TO BECOMING A SUPERINTENDENT, I OF COURSE GAINED VALUABLE EXPERIENCE AS A PRINCIPAL.
SUBT TEACHER, BASKETBALL COACH WAS ONE THAT I MISSED, BUT THOSE EXPERIENCES ALLOWED ME TO BECOME THE INDIVIDUAL THAT I AM TODAY.
BUT WE CAN EVEN BE MORE FRUITFUL IN THE EXPERIENCES THAT WE PROVIDE, IN MORE DETAIL IN WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO THESE OPPORTUNITIES HELP CARVE THE WAY FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND WE'RE PROUD OF THE NEARLY 190,000 HIS STUDENT, HISD STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN ACHIEVING THE EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS TO START IN THE FIELD OF THEIR CHOICE.
WE'RE EXTREMELY EXCITED TO BE RE-ENGAGED MAYOR IN THIS PROGRAM, UH, AND I'M EXTREMELY CONFIDENT THAT THE HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO HELP OUR STUDENTS HAVE THE BEST CHANCE FOR SUCCESS FOR THEIR FUTURE ACADEMICALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.
UH, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, DEAN PAUL PLU, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IS ANOTHER ONE OF OUR GREAT PARTNERS WHO SUPPORTS THE PROGRAM.
OUR PROGRAM WOULD NOT BE SO COMPLETE IF WE DON'T HEAR FROM A YOUTH THEMSELVES.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, ARI, ARE YOU IN THE ROOM? DO PLEASE JOIN US.
YUKARI IS ONE OF OUR, UH, UH, HAR HOUSTON YOUTH INTERNS FROM LAST YEAR, BUT WE'LL HEAR FROM TOMMY WAN TODAY, WHO WAS ALSO A HAR HOUSTON YOUTH INTERN WHO WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE WITH THE HAR HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM.
TOMMY, TOMMY, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR.
MY NAME IS TOMMY JUAN, AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE MY STORY WITH YOU AND WHAT I WENT THROUGH IN TERMS OF THE HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM.
I GREW UP IN ALE AND REALLY WE'RE A MICROCOSM OF CULTURE, HERITAGE, AND JUST COMMUNITY SERVICE.
SO I'VE REALIZED THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT PLAYS SUCH AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT FROM TRANSPORTATION TO INFRASTRUCTURE TO SIMPLY HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THE ESSENTIAL NEEDS TO STRIVE TOWARDS EQUITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.
SO WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM THROUGH YOUTH ORGANIZERS WHO FOCUS ON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, I WAS ECSTATIC TO APPLY.
I WAS ECSTATIC ABOUT THE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH MY FELLOW CONSTITUENTS TO LEAD WITH THEM AND TO COLLABORATE WITH THEM.
SO AFTER APPLYING, I WAS PLACED IN MY VERY OWN DISTRICT, DISTRICT F WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TIFF NEEDY THOMAS.
AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
IT WAS MY FIRST TASTE OF PROFESSIONALISM, MY FIRST INTERFACE WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND I'VE GOT TO LEARN THE STRUCTURE AND THE FUNCTION OF HOW CITY AND HOW EACH AND EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE.
I LEARNED HOW TO COLLABORATE WITH STAFF MEMBERS TO LEAD PROJECTS ABOUT YOUTH AND MEET COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND ULTIMATELY GAIN THESE EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS THAT I WILL BRING WITH ME BEYOND HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH.
AND SINCE COMPLETING THE PROGRAM,
[00:25:01]
I'VE ENROLLED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, AND I WAS ABLE TO NOW WORK AS A LEGISLATIVE AIDE AT THE TEXAS HOUSE OF, UH, REPRESENTATIVES THERE.I'M TAKING THE SKILLS I LEARNED THANKS TO MAYOR TURNER AND ALL THE STAFF WHERE I'M LEARNING STATE POLICY ABOUT BILLS AND USING THOSE SAME EXACT SKILLS THAT WAS BEEN FOSTERED AT THE CITY COUNCIL OFFICE.
NOW LOOKING TO THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH AND BECAUSE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
NOW I WANNA WORK IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
IT'S AN AVENUE FOR CHANGE FOCUSING ON URBAN POLICY, TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING NEEDS FOR THE PEOPLE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENTS, AND THANK YOU FOR EMPLOYERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE HOUSTON THINGS FOR BELIEVING, RECOGNIZING, EMPOWERING, AND INVESTING US YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR ABILITIES AND OUR IMPACT IN THE GREATER HOUSTON REGION.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU INTERN AN F OOH, WOW,
AND IF YOU THOUGHT THAT TOMMY WAS NOT AS IMPRESSIVE WITH ALL THIS, YOU HEARD, HE'S ACTUALLY A VERY TALENTED SAXOPHONE PLAYER.
HE PARTICIPATED IN THE MAKE MUSIC DAY LAST YEAR AND HE PLAYED FOR US.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UM, OUR SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR, UH, WILMA LAWS, WHO HELPS US SUPPORT THE, THE PROGRAM FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON SITE.
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU MAYOR TURNER.
I BRING GREETINGS TO ALL OF YOU ON BEHALF OF OUR HR DIRECTOR, JANE CHEEKS, WHO IS UNABLE TO BE WITH US HERE TODAY, BUT SHE IS DEFINITELY HERE WITH US IN SPIRIT.
THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IS VERY PLEASED, DEPART WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT TO SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S VISION OF HIRING HOUSTON YOUTH.
EACH SUMMER, OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS OPEN THEIR DOORS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR 500 INTERNS WHO RESIDE IN HOUSTON SO THAT THEY CAN GET A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT TAKES TO SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS OF THE NATION'S FOURTH LARGEST CITY.
AND MANY OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE IN THOSE ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, ACCOUNTING, AND OTHER FIELDS THAT YOU REFERENCED.
OUR INTERNS WILL BE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 24 ON JUNE 12TH.
THAT IS WHEN OUR PROGRAM RUNS FROM JUNE 12TH TO AUGUST 3RD.
AND FOR THOSE EIGHT WEEKS, OUR INTERNS WILL EARN $10 AN HOUR AND WILL BE ACTUAL CITY EMPLOYEES.
THIS PROGRAM HELPS US GROW OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE BY EXPOSING YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS TO THE WIDE VARIETY OF CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT WHILE PROVIDING MENTORSHIP AND VALUABLE WORK EXPERIENCE.
THE HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH PROGRAM IS A PERFECT FIT FOR OUR GROW YOUR OWN WORKFORCE INITIATIVE, WHICH EXPOSES STUDENTS TO MUNICIPAL CAREERS THROUGH INTERNSHIPS, IMMERSIVE PRACTICUMS, PIPELINE PROGRAMS, AND COLLEGE AND CAREER FAIRS.
WE APPRECIATE THE ABILITY TO PLAY A PART IN DEVELOPING A KEY COMPONENT OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR YOUTH.
IT IS A LABOR OF LOVE FOR OUR TEAM AND VERY GRATIFYING TO SEE THE INTERNS LEARN, CONTRIBUTE, AND GROW.
BUT WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS IMPORTANT ENDEAVOR.
OUR GREAT FRIEND AND COMMUNITY PARTNER, DAVE MOSS OF THE GREATER HOUSTON MCDONALD'S OWNERS, HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE HOUSTON AREA SINCE THE INCEPTION OF MAYOR TURNER'S INITIATIVE, BY COORDINATING A SERIES OF JOB FAIRS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSTON AREA, MR. MOSS HAS TOUCHED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF YOUTH BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO JOBS, SOFT SKILLS AND TECHNICAL, UH, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
MR. MOSS IS NOW RETIRED FROM HIS ROLE AS A MCDONALD'S OWNER, SO WE ARE ESPECIALLY HAPPY TO HEAR FROM HIM TODAY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MR. DAVE MOSS, AS WE ALWAYS SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST.
MAYOR, I DIDN'T FORGET YOUR FRIES.
I JUST GOT, GOT DELAYED WITH A FEW VIDEOS.
BUT WITH THAT SAID, THIS IS AN EXCITING MOMENT FOR ME BECAUSE THIS IS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA.
I STARTED OTHER, THE MAYORS WITH HIS LEADERSHIP WITH WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WOULD HIRE HOUSTON YOUTH AGES 16 TO 24 AND WE WOULD MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I WANNA MAKE SURE EMPLOYERS AND PARENTS UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY IS AVERA WITH THE INTERNSHIPS, BUT I'M THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
WE ARE THE ONES THAT EVERY SATURDAY WILL
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BE OUT HIRING HOUSTON YOUTH ON THE SPOT TO GO TO WORK IN JOBS RIGHT THEN AND THERE.I AM SO PROUD AGAIN TO BE A PART OF THIS.
MY SONS OWNER OPERATORS NOW, JOSEPH AND JORDAN, AND WE HAVE THE, UH, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CO-OP STEVE MCKINNEY, AN EX HOUSTON TEXAN.
UH, WE ARE HERE REPRESENTING MCDONALD'S, BUT ALSO I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE EMPLOYERS.
WE, ALONG WITH VEMA LAWS, SHARON, UH, MAMBO AND MS. JANE CHEEK, WE MAKE CALLS OUT TO ALL EMPLOYERS THAT WANT TO COME AND REGISTER AND OFFER A JOB.
WHETHER YOU HAVE ONE JOB OR A HUNDRED JOBS, WE ARE ASKING FOR YOU.
I AM ASKING FOR YOU TO MAKE THIS AN EXCITING CLOSE FOR ME WITH CLOSING THIS OUT WITH THE MAYOR'S JOB HERE, INDY, WHICH I THINK HE PROBABLY WISH HE WOULD'VE MADE A BETTER DECISION COMING FROM A GARBAGE MAN.
AND NOW A MULTIMILLIONAIRE, RETIRED MCDONALD'S OWNER OPERATOR.
I DON'T KNOW WHO MADE THE BETTER CHOICE MAN, BUT, UH,
MAYOR, THAT'S THESE LADIES IN THE BACK THAT KEEP SAYING THAT.
OKAY? BECAUSE THE GENTLEMAN GOING LIKE, HOW CAN I BECOME A MCDONALD'S OPERATOR? WITH THAT SAID AND DONE, I HAVE A COUPLE OTHER REQUESTS, AND ONE, THE MAYOR EMPHASIZED IT EARLIER, AND THAT'S FROM THE NEWS MEDIA.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT EVERY FRIDAY BEFORE EVERY SATURDAY THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THESE JOB HIRING EVENTS THAT YOU RUN A LITTLE PSA SAYING, HEY, THIS IS WHAT QUADRANT OF THE CITY, THEY'RE OFFERING JOBS.
YOUNG PEOPLE COME OUT AND EMPLOYERS REGISTER.
WHERE CAN YOU GO TO A HIRING EVENT THAT'S FREE THAT WE'RE SETTING UP FOR YOU, WHERE WE MAKE SURE THE APPLICANTS ARE TRAINED TO HAVE THE ASSESSMENT TO DO AN INTERVIEW.
WE ALSO SCREEN THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS.
THEY HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY TEXAS IDS, THE I NINES.
WE HAVE TEXAS WORKFORCE SCREENING THEM ALSO FOR TJTC TAX CREDIT FOR EMPLOYERS THAT HIRE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.
SO AGAIN, I APPEAL TO YOU TO PLEASE COME OUT, MAKE MY DAY, MAKE MY DAY AS A RETIRED MCDONALD'S EMPLOYER, AF OMEGA STARTING THIS PROGRAM AND ENDED IT ON THE OUTSTANDING NOTE WITH THIS OUTSTANDING MAYOR WHO HAD THE FORESIGHT TO SEE IT AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT MR. MOSS WAS A COMEDIAN, PART-TIME
YEAH, I, I SIMPLY WANT TO, I HEAR, I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE DEAN OF THE BUSINESS SCHOOL FROM UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE ALL OF US AND WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH, UH, DEAN PAVLO FROM THE BUSINESS SCHOOL HAS COME OUT AND BEEN WITH US AT ALMOST EVERY SINGLE OCCASION.
SO, UM, UH, DEAN, WHY DON'T YOU PLEASE COME AND WELCOME.
I WASN'T PLANNING TO GO HERE, SO I'LL TRY TO KEEP IT, UH, UH, ANYWAY, UH, MY NAME IS, UH, PAULE PALO, THE MAYOR.
SAID, UH, I'M, UH, I SERVE AS A DEAN OF THE CITY, BOWER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS, UH, HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF, UH, OF HOUSTON.
SO IT'S A GREAT, UH, PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, INVITING ME.
AND, UH, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, I WAS DELIGHTED THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS, UH, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, WORKING HARD TO, UH, EMPLOY THE YOUTH.
I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL, AS A UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON TO, UH, PROVIDE INTERNSHIPS TO, UH, PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR, UH, FOR JOBS.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE A BUSINESS SCHOOL.
WE FOCUS ON, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, COLLEGE READY, UH, STUDENTS WHO CAN ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, GET, UH, JOBS.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME, UH, YOU KNOW, USUALLY 18 TO 24, THAT'S OUR SWEET SPOT, UH, AS WELL.
SO I THINK WE'RE DOING EXACTLY THE SAME, UH, THING.
AND WE HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME, UH, GOAL.
UH, ACTUALLY WE VOLUNTEERED THE LAST, UH, YEAR TO OFFER ADDITIONAL TRAINING, UH, FOR, UH, STUDENTS.
SOME OF THE STUDENTS, UH, ACTUALLY TOOK A SALES TRAINING.
WE HAVE A WORLD CLASS, UH, UH, SALES EXCELLENCE PROGRAM AT THE BUSINESS SCHOOL.
AND, UH, WE USE OUR FACULTY TO PROVIDE THE SAME EDUCATION WE PROVIDE TO OUR STUDENTS IN OUR CONTINUE EDUCATION.
SO WE CAN ACTUALLY TRAIN EVEN MORE THE STUDENTS TO PROVIDE, UH, YOU KNOW, EVEN BETTER SERVICES IN THE SALES, UH, FIELD.
UH, I DON'T WANT TO, UH, SPOIL IT, BUT, UH, THIS YEAR, THIS SUMMER, HOPEFULLY WE WILL ADD, UH, ADDITIONAL OFFERING.
SO BASICALLY WE CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO THE YOUTH SO THEY CAN GET EVEN MORE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, HIGHER END CAREERS IN, UH, IN TECHNOLOGY IN STEM AS A MAYOR AND OLIVERA MENTIONED, AND MORE BROADLY IN THIS EMERGING FIELDS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, UH, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND HOPEFULLY OTHERS.
SO, UH, WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO SUPPORT, UH, THIS PROGRAM ALSO.
WE ARE PART OF THIS EMPLOYER BASE, UH, UH, AS WELL.
UH, DON CANNOT HIRE AS MANY AS MCDONALD'S UNFORTUNATELY, BUT, UH, WE'RE HIRING AS MANY AS, UH, WE CAN.
I MEAN, THE SUMMARY IS A GREAT, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN, UH, AND, AND BE PART OF THE WORKFORCE.
AND ACTUALLY, I ADD ANOTHER THING THAT, UH, HOPEFULLY WE
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CAN EVEN THINK ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AS A YEAR LONG, UH, OFFERING.YES, I MEAN, THE SUMMARY IS A GREAT, UH, OPPORTUNITY, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING AT THE, AT THE BAR COLLEGE OF BUSINESS.
WE REALIZE, YOU KNOW, MOST OF OUR STUDENTS WHILE AT SCHOOL, THEY ACTUALLY WORK, MANY OF THEM, UH, UH, FULL TIME.
SO PROVIDING THESE, UH, INTERNSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR EMPLOYERS OF ALL KINDS.
THEY ACTUALLY, AGAIN, GET SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, UH, COMPENSATION THAT THEY CAN PAY, YOU KNOW, FOR THE TUITION.
AS MUCH AS WE TRY TO KEEP IT LOW, IT STILL, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, QUITE, UH, IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION.
SO, UH, WE'RE VERY MUCH BEHIND THIS PROGRAM.
WE'LL DO OUR VERY, VERY BEST, UH, TO SUPPORT IT IN ANY WAY WE CAN, ESPECIALLY ON THE TRAINING, UH, FRONT.
UH, ALSO I MENTION THE CAREER PREPARATION.
THAT'S ALSO, THAT'S SOMETHING WE DO.
WE TRY TO PREPARE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO BE INTERVIEW READY TO, YOU KNOW, TO GO THERE, UH, YOU KNOW, AND SHINE IN FRONT OF, UH, UH, INTERVIEWERS.
AND SO WHATEVER WE, WE CAN DO TO HELP AND SUPPORT, UH, THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM, AND HOPEFULLY YOU SAID 20,000, HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET TO 25,000.
I DUNNO WHERE THE NUMBER CAME FROM.
20,000 IS ENOUGH, HOWEVER, OKAY,
ON THAT POSITIVE NOTE, UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR, UH, UH, FOR HAVING ME HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH OPPORTUNITY AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING ON THIS PROGRAM.
AND VERY BRIEFLY, LET ME TELL YOU THE REASON FOR 20,000.
WE ESTIMATE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 20,000 PEOPLE, UH, GANG MEMBERS, ABOUT 20,000 IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, WELL, WE NEED TO SHOW OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, UH, MORE LOVE THAN A GANG WILL SHOW TO THEM, OKAY? AND, UH, AND THE BEST WAY TO SHOW OUR KIDS THAT WE LOVE THEM IS TO INVEST IN THEM.
AND AT LEAST AT THE VERY MINIMUM, MAKE THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR THEM.
OKAY? SO THE REASON WHY THAT 20,000 IS SO IMPORTANT, AND SO SIM IT'S SYMBOLIC OF THE FACT, UM, THAT FOR EVERY GAME PERSON OUT THERE SPOT, THAT THERE IS A JOB OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM THAT'S AVAILABLE AND THAT WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THE SKILLS.
BUT MORE THAN THAT, MORE THAN THE PAYCHECK, IS THAT WE WANNA SHOW THEM WE LOVE THEM.
AND THE BEST WAY TO SHOW THAT WE LOVE THEM IS THAT WE'VE GOT TO REACH OUT TO THEM.
NOW, THEY MAY NOT JUST READILY COME, BUT WE GOTTA CONSTANTLY KEEP REACHING OUT TO THEM.
AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS, I CERTAINLY WANT TO APPEAL TO THE MEDIA, UH, BECAUSE THE MORE INFORMATION WE CAN PROVIDE AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING, UH, THE BETTER WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEM AND TO REACH THEIR PARENTS OR THEIR GUARDIANS.
AND IT IS ALSO A COMPONENT OF ONE SAFE HOUSTON.
NOW WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT HOW MANY OVERTIME POLICE OFFICERS AND ALL OF THAT.
BUT ONE OF THE COMPONENTS OF ONE SAFE HOUSTON IS THE HIRE HOUSTON INITIATIVE.
SO, UH, LET ME, LET ME ASK, UM, THE MEDIA TO REALLY DISSEMINATE THE HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH AND TO THE EMPLOYERS OF ALL AREAS.
FINANCE, TECHNOLOGY, UM, ENGINEERING, MANUFACTURING, YOU NAME IT.
UH, COME HELP US TO REACH THAT GOAL.
AND THE FLOOR THAT WE SET IS 10 THOU $10 AN HOUR.
NOW IF YOU WANT TO DO MORE, EVEN BETTER, IT'S EVEN BETTER.
BUT I PROMISE YOU, IF YOU HELP US IN THIS PROGRAM, IT WILL BENEFIT THE SCHOOLS, THE STUDENTS AT HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AT A LEAVE FORT BEND, ALL DEAN SPRING BRANCH, IT WILL BENEFIT THEM.
AND THEN QUITE FRANKLY, IT'LL BENEFIT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THIS CITY.
SO, HAVING SAID THAT, EZ YES, I'LL LET YOU CLOSE US OUT.
YES, THANK YOU MAYOR ONCE AGAIN.
AND THANKS TO ALL THE WONDERFUL SPEAKERS.
I'LL BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION A FEW KEY PEOPLE IN OUR PROGRAM THAT JUST WALKED IN.
UH, JULIETTE
UH, I'D LIKE TO ALSO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, REBECCA HOWE FROM THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.
UH, ROBIN MONSU FROM THE HOUSTON HEALTH FOUNDATION, BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP HAVE SUPPORTED US TREMENDOUSLY.
HOUSTON FIRST, UM, LET ME SEE, WHAT ELSE AM I MISSING? I'M PROBABLY MISSING A LOT OF YOU, BUT THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME SPENT HERE.
THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR YOUR VISION.
WHEN CAN WE START AND WHEN THEY CAN
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THEY START RIGHT? IT IS ALREADY OPEN.OH, RIGHT NOW, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE YOU HERE.
WE HAVE WONDERFUL TREATS, COFFEE, COOKIES.
SO WE ARE GONNA CLOSE THE DOORS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE REGISTER.
WHAT'S THE, WE WE ALL REGISTER AT? UM, YES.
AT HIGHER HOUSTON YOUTH.ORG FOR EMPLOYERS, THERE'S A SECTION THAT SAYS EMPLOYER FOR YOUTH.
THERE'S A SECTION THAT SAYS YOUTH, UM, VERY SIMPLE APPLICATION THAT YOU CAN FILL IN WITH COUPLE OF MINUTES.
I HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM FROM BOTH THE EMPLOYER SIDE AND THE YOUTH SIDE WHO'S IN SUPPORT YOU IN THE REGISTRATION PROCESS AS WELL.
HOLD ON ONE SECOND, JUST BEFORE YOU CLEAR THAT.
ONE THING THAT I, ARE WE GONNA LET YOU GO? YES.
SO ONE THING THAT I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, I'M PROUD TO BE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON, I MEAN THE GULF HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL'S DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, BUT AS WELL AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GULF COAST WORKFORCE BOARD AND WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS.
I WANNA SAY, MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS LEADERSHIP IN THIS INITIATIVE TO EMPOWER YOUTH WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE CONNECTIONS TO OUR OUTSTANDING DYNAMIC LOCAL ECONOMY, TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE LEADERS WHO HAVE PUT THEIR TIME AND EFFORT INTO THIS.
I WANNA SAY ALSO TO DAVE MOSS.
YOU'VE JUST BEEN AN OUTSTANDING ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AT THE GULF COAST WORKFORCE BOARD, WE HAVE NOW DESIGNED A DIVISION DEVOTED TO YOUTH SERVICES.
OH, AND I WANT TO ANNOUNCE TODAY WE HAVE LATOYA CASHMERE, WHO IS HE OR SHE, IS GOING TO BE OUR CONNECTOR TO HIRE HOUSTON YOUTH AT THE WORKFORCE BOARD, AS WELL AS MICHELLE CASTRO, WHO WILL ASSIST AS THE JOBS LADY IN SUPPORTING THESE EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR YOUTH ARE EMPOWERED WITH JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
WE ARE DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE TO BE A PART OF THIS.
I THINK I WANNA STAY HERE ALL DAY BECAUSE WE JUST
PLEASE STAY WITH REFRESHMENTS, ASK QUESTIONS, AND UH, I WISH EVERYONE A LOVELY AFTERNOON.