Michele Martin attended the U.S. Conference of Mayor's Workshop on
Using the Federal Stimulus to support youth summer employment on
February 25. These notes are from the 3rd breakout session.
Marketing and Outreach
Clyde McQueen, Full Employment Council, Kansas City, MO
Should have an elevator speech for all staff--give same message to everyone. Collective branding opportunity. Have kids wearing same shirts/colors, logo, etc.
Capture success stories to tell tale of summer employment--pictures, videos, etc. (GSETA could sponsor something)
Have kids work on projects that can leave a legacy in the community--i.e., building a gazebo, etc.
Find a champion in community who will be “face” of program.
Get LEOs and everyone else on message.
Elevator Speech--EVERYONE should have this. Everyone needs to be saying the same thing.
- Overall objective--”We want to place 1,300 youth, aged 16-24, into summer internships with quality jobs.” (They are focused on calling it an internship to emphasize developmental nature of activity)
- How? “We want to collaborate with nonprofits, businesses, FBOs to accomplish this.
- When?--timeframe
- What do you need?--i.e., quality work sites, etc.
Stakeholder Outreach
- Who are they?
- What do you need from them?
- How can they benefit?
Examples:
- One Stop Partners
- Job Corps
- TANF
- State, City and County Governments
- Housing Authority
- Head Start and Weatherization programs
- Junior Achievement
- Boys and Girls Clubs, etc.
- CBOs and FBOS
- Contractors
LEO Outreach
- Hold business sessions at City Council
- Make presentations to county commissions, Boards of Education
- State representatives
- Objective is to inform so that they can inform their constituents
- Ensure that they are aware of program guidelines--CRITICAL
- Have one pager outlining program requirements, websites, office locations, etc.
Business Outreach--have one pager
- Chambers
- EDCs
- Business Associations
- Private sector jobs
- Mentors
- Career outlook
Youth Outreach
--Have eligibility envelopes, one page description
- Schools
- CBOs
- GED/ABE sites
- TANF Mailing list
- YMCA
- Boys/Girls Clubs
- Community Colleges, Vocational Institutions, Camps
- Alternative Institutions
Marketing Tactics/Strategies
- Saturday work days
- Extended hours
- Outreach events--career fairs, joint events with CBOs/FBOs etc.
- Radio/On-site
- Spring break events
- Food
- User-friendly handouts
Staffing
- Everyone has an elevator speech
- Complete outreach training for staff
- Review do’s and don’ts
- Designate goals for each effort
- Designate outreach teams and team leaders
- Weekly feedback necessary.
Make sure staff understand that they can’t service own family members.
FEDS watching eligibility, is it meaningful work, nepotism and are they actually working?
Eligibility--can use free and reduced lunch lists as starting point, but will have to do WIA eligibility documentation.
Need to be pro-active in marketing successes--hire youth to document the stories, take photos, do video, etc.
Don’t scrimp on staffing--hiring program/adult staff is about getting money into communities too.
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