Mayor George Heartwell’s Campaign Pushes to Increase Grand Rapids’ Youth Employment

Increasing employment for Grand Rapids youth is a huge goal for 2015, and Mayor George Heartwell is pushing hard to make sure it happens.

The mayor and Lynn Heemstra, executive director of Our Community’s Children, are discussing plans for increasing youth employment in Grand Rapids during the Mayor’s 100 Campaign kick-off reception on Thursday (Feb. 26).

The Mayor’s 100 Campaign, which is an expansion of the Mayor’s 50 Campaign, is seeking to double the number of local employers -- particularly those in technology, engineering, sciences and environmental fields -- willing to offer young people meaningful employment opportunities.

Young people ages 15 through 24 years old who live in Grand Rapids and complete the Leadership and Employment, Achievement and Direction (LEAD) pre-employment training are eligible for a Mayor’s 100 employment experience is facilitated by Our Community’s Children (OCC).

The reception is to highlight former LEAD student employees and current Mayor’s 100 Businesses that have participated in the program since its inauguration in 2010. The program begins at 6 p.m. EST at Rockford Construction, 601 First Street, NW in Grand Rapids.