Summer jobs program a success story in Lynn

LYNN – Jason Brown is helping his family save money to move. Brendan Mannion is saving money to buy a car and Ramon Ramos just wants to earn some summer spending cash.Brown, Mannion and Ramos are among 250 local youth hired by the city in July to work summer jobs for seven weeks. Some of the teenagers work in offices and others in bakeries while Brown, Mannion and Ramos spend weekdays moving furniture in local schools.Youth Services Manager John Kasian said 550 teens lined up to apply for jobs at the summer’s start.”We hired close to 200 last year. We still have more kids who need jobs than who got jobs,” Kasian said.Brown and his co-workers will earn $2,000 to $3,000 this summer with their wages paid with a mix of federal, city and state money. The number of kids hired by participating businesses and organizations increased by 25 percent this summer, said Kasian.”That’s great in a tough economy,” he said. Brown did not let the long line of fellow teens applying for jobs keep him from filling out an application. His family wants to move out of Lynn and the money he earns moving desks, shelves and chairs in English High and other schools will help pay the mover.Mannion looked forward to playing baseball during the summer but his friends urged him to apply for a summer job. He has earned $1,400 so far toward his goal of purchasing a car.”I’m just hoping to save enough,” he said.Ramos and other teens work in two crews assigned to schools. They move furniture out of rooms, freeing them up for custodians to clean and refinish floors.”They save our backs,” said senior custodian Mark Raftery, “and they learn a work ethic and how to show up for work.”Representatives of the 30 businesses and non-profits organizations participating in the jobs program gathered in City Hall Wednesday morning to celebrate its success.Kasian hopes to increase program participation by businesses and organizations next summer.”If I have three attorneys this year. Can I get six next year? If I have two insurers this year, can I get four next summer? The idea is to have no one on the sidelines,” he said.