Fresno launches job program for underserved young people. Here’s how to apply
If you live in Fresno and you’ve struggled to find a job, a new program may help you gain employment with the city of Fresno.
The One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps began accepting applications on Friday. People ages 16-30 qualify, and job opportunities range from administrative clerks and cyber security analysts to graffiti abatement, irrigation and custodian.
The new program targets people who come from underserved backgrounds and may be considered hard to employ. The program will help connect Corps members to services such as transportation and child care so they can successfully work at jobs that pay a livable wage.
Mayor Jerry Dyer launched the program Friday in partnership with the California Volunteers office, which provided $7.4 million to the city for the program. The program jobs will pay $17-$19 an hour. The goal is for internships to lead to fulltime employment.
“In Fresno, we believe that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow, but we also believe that they are the leaders of today. We need to invest in them now, not only for their future, but also for their present,” Dyer said.
“I want us to be known as a city that is considered to be ‘One Fresno,’ an inclusive, prosperous, beautiful city, where people take pride in their neighborhood, in their community,” Dyer said, referencing his campaign slogan. “But I also want us to be known as a city of second chances. We love our youth. We believe in them, we’re willing to invest in them, and we’re willing to give them a second chance in life so that they can be gainfully employed and work for the city of Fresno.”
Deputy Mayor Matthew Grundy said he himself is evidence that such programs work.
“Having been an individual that’s gone from homelessness to home ownership, I’ve seen where great programs focused on economic development lead to economic mobility,” Grundy said. “We’re here to say to you today, if you’re watching as a young person, that you matter, that you are valuable and that you are worth our every investment. We often say here that we are here to work for you, but now, today, we’re calling on you to say we want you to come work with us.”
Josh Fryday, California’s chief service officer appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, said the youth job corps program comes on the tail end of the coronavirus pandemic, which forced people to re-examine their relationship to work. The program not only provides jobs, but it provides jobs with purpose, he said.
“We’re giving young people in Fresno the opportunity to contribute to this community in a very real way to do something meaningful and purposeful,” he said.
The city is partnering with Career Nexus, a nonprofit working to help people find internships and jobs. Young people can apply for the One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps Program through the Career Nexus nonprofit. To see open jobs and apply, visit careernexus.org/interns.