Governor’s Summer Job Hunt Ramps Up With Call-In Event At 9news
By Bill Thoennes, CDLE Public Relations Office 

Across the front range, in the mountain towns and on the Western slope, in big cities and in small farming communities on the Eastern plains, teenagers all share something in common:  they are in the process of designing their lives completely from scratch.  This is a time in their lives when they get to make thousands of choices that will help determine who they will become as adults.  And a big part of learning about yourself is in that first summer job.

It’s exciting … and it’s a little scary too.  Fortunately, help is available.  The Governor’s Summer Job Hunt is a well-established program with a network of Workforce Centers delivering a variety of employment services to young people.  Students who are interested in finding summer work and employers who are in need of workers use the Governor’s Summer Job Hunt program to make the connection and come together.  Last year, the program assisted over 34,000 teens find summer employment.  It’s the biggest and longest running program of its kind in Colorado.

The success of the program is due, in large part, to the partnerships it has forged – with businesses, with county-run Workforce Centers and with media.  Since 1996, the Department of Labor and Employment has enjoyed a strong partnership with KUSA 9News, Denver’s NBC television affiliate.  Each year, the station has promoted the Summer Job Hunt by staging Teen Jobline 9 call-in events that air several times in the Spring during the morning and afternoon newscasts.  Workforce Center specialists field the calls and talk with teens about their summer job goals and how to attain them.  On March 6, 9News held its first Teen Jobline 9 of 2007.  While it may seem early to be talking about summer jobs, the fact is, thousands of teens are securing summer employment before school lets out for the summer.  The best jobs go to those who make plans long before the calendar is turned to June.

As soon as 9News opened the phone lines during the 4 PM newscast, an avalanche of calls poured in.  Six Workforce Center staffers answered the phones -- but if there had been twenty open lines and as many Workforce Center volunteers it would have been just as busy.  Executive Director Don Mares visited the station that evening and even joined the volunteers in answering some phone calls.  Here are some photos from that call-in event. 

Clockwise from the foreground, Thomas Gonzales; Jeanette Gonzales; Executive Director Don Mares; Alisha Romero, Kim Jones and Tiffany Basniz.  Watching is Julie Berge, the administrator of the Governor’s Summer Job Hunt.  “Young people need to know that there are a lot of people who want to help,” she says.  “They’re out there if you connect and follow through.”   Most of the March 6 volunteers were from Arapahoe/Douglas Works with the exception of Jeanette Gonzales who is from the Adams County Workforce and Business Center.	Don Mares talks with a young job seeker during Teen Jobline 9. The call-in room is right off the newsroom where reporters are preparing the 5 PM newscast.	It’s a cluttered mess – cups and paper everywhere and the phones ringing frantically for two and a half hours.  Here, Thomas Gonzales, Jeanette Gonzales and Don Mares talk with callers.

While the call-in was taking place, education reporter Nelson Garcia was covering the Youth Fair at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.  That’s another successful component to the Governor’s Summer Job Hunt.  Workforce Centers offer “youth fairs” in March, April and May (for the full listing, see: http://www.coworkforce.com/sjh/ and click on the little palm tree icon).  The fairs are hugely successful, extending the outreach of the program across the state.

They’re more than just job fairs.  The focus is both on assisting students with their immediate needs – such as getting a good summer job – but also on long range career exploration.  Representatives from community colleges and four year universities are on hand to answer questions as are agencies that provide a wide spectrum of services to help students take charge of their future.  To view the 9News story about the Youth Fair that was staged by the Jefferson County Workforce Center on March 6, go to http://www.9news.com/rss/article.aspx?storyid=65919 and click on the camera icon.

The next Teen Jobline 9 will air on Monday, March 19, during the early morning newscast.  Executive Director Don Mares will be interviewed about the Governor’s Summer Job Hunt at 6:40 AM.

Greening of State Government Efforts
On February 15th, the employees at the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment furthered their greening efforts at their 251 E. 12th Avenue location. This building is the first and only state-owned building to receive LEED certification back in July of 2005.

Once again, employees at this location are taking the lead in continuing their Greening of State Government efforts. These efforts, led by Rick Jaramillo and Don Burns, have enabled recycling of various kinds of materials such as aluminum, tin and plastic, not previously recyclable at the 251 12th Avenue location. “This is just the beginning.” Rick stated at the recycling kick-off presentation on February 15.

Rick Jaramillo standing with Executive Director Don Mares at the recycling kick-off on February 15.

Don Burns and Rick Jaramillo spoke about the efforts and  importance of Greening of State Government  at the kick-off.