Bank of America Connects Chicago-Area Youth to Workforce Success Through Paid Virtual Summer Leadership Experience
Chicago, Ill. - Bank of America today announced that five Chicagoland high school juniors and seniors selected as Student Leaders have started their summer experience of leadership, civic engagement, and workforce skills-building.
In light of the health concerns that remain in local communities, the program has been adapted to a virtual format, through which students will have the opportunity to participate in sessions that expose them to the vital role that nonprofits play in advancing community health, the importance of public private partnerships to advance social change, and a focus on building financial acumen.
The Class of 2020 Chicagoland Bank of America Student Leaders are:
• Jackelyn Campos, Des Plaines, 2020 Elk Grove High School graduate
• Tayiba Chowdhury, Rogers Park, rising senior at Lane Tech College Prep High School
• Magdalena Rivera, South Loop, 2020 Walter Payton College Prep graduate
• Kayla Triplett, Garfield Park, rising senior at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School
• Matthew Williams, Schaumburg, 2020 Schaumburg High School graduate
Chicago Student Leaders will participate in a collaborative, mentoring-focused project to educate community residents on the importance of voting and engage in conversations around democracy, social justice, civil rights and how to build a more diverse and inclusive society. Working closely with Student Leaders in Atlanta, students will support the East Lake Foundation, a nonprofit established to revitalize the East Lake neighborhood in Atlanta. Throughout the program, students will develop a digital plan for distribution throughout the East Lake community as well as learn critical personal finance skills through Better Money Habits®, Bank of America's financial wellness and education platform.
Bringing students from across the country together in order to discuss the role of citizenship and how cross sector collaboration creates community impact is a core component of the Student Leaders program. This year, 300 students will gather virtually for the Young America Together at Home program, delivered by the Close Up Foundation, which will include discussion of finding one's voice in order to effect change and pressing policy issues such as the economy, healthcare, the environment and immigration.
"Now more than ever, as we collectively navigate the challenges we face in our communities, we remain committed to supporting young adults of all backgrounds by connecting them to jobs, skills-building and leadership development," said Cara Pan, Market Executive, Bank of America in Chicago. "Creating opportunities for our youth to learn new skills and build a strong network is a powerful investment in the future of our Chicagoland community."
Now in particular, in the wake of significant job losses nationwide, the ability to earn a paycheck will be essential to many young people whether they are helping to support their families or planning for the future. As part of their Student Leader experience, each student will receive a $5,000 stipend to recognize them for their community achievements.
Recent estimates suggest that the number of disconnected youth - those who aren't in school and don't have a job - has likely tripled since last year and could be as high as 18 million. Without access to opportunities that build career skills, many young people may be left behind, leading to high rates of youth unemployment and hindering overall economic progress. In addition to Student Leaders, the bank invests in summer jobs for Chicago-area young people through its partnerships with Year Up, After School Matters, Urban Alliance and Girls Who Code, where students gain valuable workforce skills. This summer, Bank of America is connecting approximately 3,000 young adults to summer jobs through partnerships with nonprofits and local mayors and its own Student Leaders® program.