Member News

ROCHESTER, NY, JULY 8, 2024— One sign that summer has arrived is the annual presence of several hundred youth from the City of Rochester and Monroe County participating in the teen employment and career exploration initiatives jointly offered through RochesterWorks’ Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and the City of Rochester Summer of Opportunity Program (SOOP).

Today marks the beginning of the 2024 effort, which will place 835 teenagers into paid jobs with local businesses, governments, and community-based organizations for the next several weeks. The program pays wages of $15 an hour and is often many local youths’ first paid work experience.

“It is gratifying and inspiring to see an increasing number of young people take an interest in spending part of their summer recess learning about the world of work,” said Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans, who has pushed since taking office to expand SOOP and other youth employment opportunities and include a financial literacy component. “This truly is a summer of opportunity for hundreds of our youth to get the experience they need to become successful working adults. I’m grateful to RochesterWorks, our community partners and all the employers who make it possible for our young people to earn money while they learn the critical skills that will benefit them now and in the future.” 

“The Summer Youth Employment Program has long been a bright spot for Rochester. For many youths participating, this is their first step towards what we hope is a long and fulfilling career in the workforce,” said Dave Seeley, Executive Director of RochesterWorks. “As we look to disrupt intergenerational poverty, SYEP and SOOP are invaluable resources that help instill the value of hard work and the fulfillment of having that work rewarded with a paycheck.”

RochesterWorks’ SYEP program, operated on behalf of Monroe County and funded by New York State, has seen a substantial uptick in enrollment from last year and will place 505 teens with over 60 local employers, earning a projected $1.6 million in wages. The City of Rochester’s SOOP program has also rebounded from the pandemic and will place 330 teens into seasonal employment with 30 local employers.

Mayor Evans and Dr. Shirley Green, commissioner of the City Department of Recreation and Human Services, greeted SOOP participants at two orientation sessions today at the Rundel Memorial Library. 

Every participant in SYEP/SOOP will receive financial literacy education and an opportunity to open their first bank account. Roughly half of the participants are from families who receive public assistance, and most students are from households that earn at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $45,000 a year for a family of four.

Enrollment for SYEP/SOOP is closed for the summer of 2024. However, RochesterWorks will continue to offer in-school youth paid employment opportunities through the new ROC Your Job initiative during the late summer months and the 2024-2025 school year. This initiative was launched earlier this year and has already placed 256 high school students in after-school employment, most of whom are from low-income families in the city of Rochester.

About RochesterWorks
RochesterWorks is Monroe County’s largest employment and training initiative. We are a nonprofit dedicated to providing free employment and workforce services to job seekers, youth, and businesses in Rochester and the Greater Monroe County Area.

Learn more about RochesterWorks, our programs, events, and services by visiting www.rochesterworks.org or by calling our Career Center at 585-258-3500/(TTY: 800-662-1220).

RochesterWorks is an equal opportunity program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.