Chicago Public Schools (CPS) together with the Chicago Department of Family Support Services (DFSS) announced that 245 youth and residents from Sending and Welcoming School communities have been hired to fill summer positions that will assist with school transition work. In total, more than 800 members from these school communities are being hired as part this work, which includes another 600 community members who will serve in the District’s expanded Safe Passage program and provide safe routes for students to and from school every day starting this fall.

Individuals were selected through the One Summer Chicago initiative, which streamlines summer job applications and fills employment opportunities available to Chicago residents ages 16-24. All 200 new hires will be assigned to specific Sending and Welcoming schools to execute responsibilities that include packing up learning tools and moving furniture and other school materials to Welcoming Schools based on their needs. “This effort allows us to keep even more of our youth engaged during the summer months, provides them with valuable paid work experience and facilitates a smooth transition for impacted students to their new schools in the fall. It is definitely a win-win opportunity,” said Evelyn J. Diaz, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, in a press release.

The 200 applicants hired last week to move furniture and learning materials were screened and selected by two organizations, Catholic Charities and Central States SER, and operate work hours daily from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. All summer transition work hires earn $8.25 per hour, and are provided lunch along with a $50 Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) stipend. Positions for transition will operate through August 24.