Submitted By
Emily A. Egan, Development Services Director
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Motion by Trustees Robinson and Wesley to Discuss Village Board Support of the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Youth Internship Program: Navigating Employment and eXperience Training (NEXT).
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Overview
Overview
Trustee Robinson has moved and Trustee Wesley has seconded, to add a discussion regarding the Village Board’s potential support of the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 NEXT Youth Internship Program to the November 21, 2024 agenda.
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Anticipated Actions/Commitments
Recommendation
Should the Board wish to pursue an agreement with the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce outlining the Village’s financial support of the Chamber’s Youth Internship Program, the details of that agreement can be drafted and brought back to the Board, at a later date, for consideration. Further, if direction is provided to the Village Manager, the requested resources can be added to the the Development Services’ budget in order to ensure that financial resources are available in FY25 to support the initiative.
Report
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Darien Marion Burton provided the Village with the attached six (6) page program proposal for the Chamber’s Youth Internship Program Proposal. The proposal provides an overview of the program, lists each initiatives’ goals, outlines a program structure/content, summarizes potential business participation/benefits, describes community impact and then provides proposed budget information. The Chamber would handle all administrative and management tasks associated with the new initiative.
Executive Director Marion Burton will attend the Village Board meeting to provide a presentation of the Chambers’ proposals and answer questions.
The following provides a high-level, brief summary for the Chamber’s First Fridays proposal.
1. In order to be eligble for the program, the individual must be a student of District 200 or 97, and maintain a primary residence in Oak Park. The student must also be in good academic standing and between the ages of 14-21.
2. There are two sessions outlined for the Program. First to take place in Summer of 2025 (May-August) and the second to be Fall of 2025 (September-December).
3. Interns will be paid $15.00 per hour, working up to 20 hours per week.
4. Businesses are required to dedicate 25% of the internship to be educational.
5. The Chamber is requesting the Village funds 100% of the program expenses at a total of $149,000.
DEI Impact
The Youth Internship Program is a workforce development initative created to support Oak Park businesses by connecting them with local youth residents for paid educational internships.
Alternatives
1. The Board can request additional information or analysis from the Chamber of Commerce or Village Department(s).
2. The Board can take no action at this time.