Vision 2018: The American Youth Business Center Of Lakewood

The American Youth Business Center of Lakewood, 2018.

Optimism in the future for the investment of human capital resonates with absolute power from those citizens who lead with prudence, capacity, and resolve for its youth.

As a community, let’s continue to invest in human capital by exploring the idea of establishing the first American Youth Business Center of Lakewood to help reduce the unemployment rates and skills gap among our youth ages 16-24.

The Center for American Progress: "The High Cost of Youth Unemployment 2013" stated that unemployment is a major problem for our youth ages 16-24. They further stated that nearly 1 million young Americans who experienced long-term unemployment during the worst of the recession will lose more than $20 billion in earnings over the next 10 years. Moreover, over the past several decades, employment and labor-force participation among American youth ages 16-24 have declined, while the unemployment rate for this group has risen.

A 2013 study commissioned by the White House Council on Community Solutions estimated that the fiscal cost of the 6.7 million American youth ages 16-24 who are neither working nor attending school is $1.6 trillion over their lifetimes. The study also concluded that failing to create jobs for unemployed young people today will leave taxpayers with a huge bill down the road.

In September of 2009, The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America: "Study Finds Correlation between Rapid Rise in Unemployment and Alcohol Abuse" found that a rapid rise in unemployment can be linked to an increase in suicides, homicides, and alcohol abuse.

On August 13, 2014, The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the "Employment and Unemployment among Youth Summary." The report mentions that unemployment among youth ages 16-24 rose by 913,000 from April to July 2014, compared with an increase of 692,000 for the same period in 2013. The number of unemployed youth ages 16-24 was 3.4 million in July 2014, down from 3.8 million a year earlier.

On March 15, 2014, Cuyahoga Community College co-hosted by David Pattinson’s American Future, a Washington, D.C. based youth unemployment advocacy group, discussed ways to lower high joblessness among teens and young adults. David Pattinson, founder and CEO of dpaf, said that he was pleasantly surprised that representatives from business and education wanted to work together in addressing the skills gap. Susan Muha, executive vice president of Tri-C’s workforce and economic development division mentioned it was important for educators to make sure that students are prepared to land jobs. Muha also mentioned that, unfortunately, resources were limited. “Instead of serving 100, how do we scale these programs up to serve 5,000?” Muha said.

Ronald Register, president of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights school board stated, “Schools have to do a better job of exposing students to careers and instilling in them that they do have viable options, especially those students who may not be college bound.” Melissa Yasinow, a Cleveland Heights Council woman said, “Successfully tackling high youth unemployment by addressing the skills gap will require evolving strategies.” Michelle McCall, CEO and Founder of BOLD Guidance said, “Because of the skills gap, it is often difficult to find jobseekers with at least some of the necessary skills.”

The American Youth Business Center can help reduce the skills gap and the high unemployment among our youth ages 16-24 by providing employment and training for the community of Lakewood with quality, light industrial subcontracting services and youth apprenticeships on site.

Light industrial subcontracting services at the Center would employ youth ages 16-24 in a facility that typically has less environmental impact than those associated with heavy industry, and zoning laws are more likely to permit light industry near residential areas. It is the production of small consumer goods that may include manufacturing of clothes, shoes, furniture, consumer electronics and home appliances. Light industries also require only a small amount of raw materials, area and power. Last, the value of the goods is low and they are easy to transport.

Youth Apprenticeships at the Center exists for the sole purpose of preparing students academically and technically to successfully participate in the workforce. It integrates school-based and work-based learning to instruct students in employability and occupational skills defined by the American Youth Business Center of Lakewood. Programs provide training and paid-on-the-job work experience based on local youth apprenticeship guidelines, endorsed by local businesses and industries. Students are instructed by qualified teachers and skilled worksite mentors who also provide the knowledge and skills needed to progress within a youth support role. Areas covered include encouraging youth ages 16-18 in their personal, social and educational development.

Together, with a broad public consensus to support this effort, our community can successfully reduce the skills gap and unemployment for our youth.