WHAT IS HYPE?
HYPE (Helping Youth Prepare for Employment) is a collaboration between the entities below to form one youth employment network free to the public with each program having its own strengths. The collaborative goal is to educate youth in business practices within a classroom setting and assist them in finding employment. The employment options include obtaining a job at one of the youth-targeted job fairs, utilizing their new job skills to acquire employment on their own, or the possibility of being placed directly into a paid work experience. The majority of the activities occur during the summer months to avoid interfering with school programs
Youth Employment Project
The Youth Employment Project is part of the employment services extended to youth via the Workforce Alliance. Ideal ages are 16-19 for placement, but ages 14 and 15 can attend the pre-employment workshops
The Way to Work Program
The primary goal of The Way to Work (TWTW) Summer Youth Employment Program is to expose youth to positive work experiences, teach self-sufficiency skills, meet the community needs, and help reduce certain teen risk factors for 14 through 17-year-olds. TWTW empowers youth to use their tools and resources as anchors for success. Participants receive up to 20 hours of paid employment per week after training for approximately 8 weeks each summer. Training is taught by certified professional instructors and City staff. TWTW is seeking to hire approximately 175 Temporary/Part-time Seasonal youth workers, 14-17 years old, as participants in its summer youth employment program. Summer placements will be assigned on a first come first serve basis.
Job Prep
The Greater Wichita YMCA sponsors an in-depth job training program, equipping youth with resume and interview training, and additional work skills as they apply for job openings in the local area.
Why youth employment?
“It’s just incredibly important to invest in our future, to invest in our community… It’s not just workers, it’s leaders that we’re grooming here.”
Jeff Longwell
Former Wichita Mayor