Mayor Johnston Announces $1.7 Million for New Summer Youth Programs

Posted May 23, 2024

As part of a significant new investment to prevent youth violence and grow local economies, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced $1.7 million in new youth summer programming on Monday. The funding will support workforce opportunities, expanded access to high-quality food and healthcare, as well as an innovative new work support program for young Denverites.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “These new summer opportunities will support Denver youth as they learn valuable skills while making a positive impact in their community.”

Structured summer opportunities for youth have been shown to reduce crime and improve long-term outcomes for youth. The funding announced today will support new opportunities for young people across Denver, including new summer programs, workforce opportunities, and wellness support. The programs will also focus on expanded access to high-quality food, healthcare, and mental health services.

The funding announced this week will also help launch the Mayor’s YouthWorks Initiative, an innovative new workforce development program. This new program will grant $1,000 to up to 1,000 eligible Denver students between 14-21 years old who complete 100 hours of work this summer. Priority will be given to families with lower incomes. Participants will also receive financial empowerment training to improve students’ financial literacy and help them build a secure economic future.

Young Denverites interested in participating in this program can begin their job search through two job fairs hosted by the city. The Mayor’s Virtual Summer Job Fair will be from 4 – 6 p.m. on Friday, May 24. The Mayor’s In-Person Summer Job Fair will take place from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, at the PPA Event Center, 2105 Decatur St. Those who are interested are encouraged to learn more and register online at denvergov.org/YouthSummer.

Mayor Mike Johnston has made support for healthy families and resilient communities a cornerstone of his administration. He recently set a goal to reduce violent gun crime by 20% by the end of the year as part of an ambitious set of citywide goals for 2024.

Mayor Johnston also recently announced the creation of the Office of Neighborhood Safety to work with communities to tackle the root causes of crime and violence and a plan to invest more than $500 million to restore downtown neighborhoods and help build a Denver that is more vibrant, affordable, and safe for all.

Families are encouraged to visit Denvergov.org/YouthSummer to learn more about all available opportunities and resources. This website is designed to be a one-stop-shop for Denverites to easily access the information they need to take advantage of these opportunities.