Question: What percentage of young people in Chicago were out of work during the summer 2010?

Answer: Approximately 30% of Chicago teens were out of work. This lead to idle minds and even more idle activities.

Let’s try to reverse this trend in 2012. What can you do?

For starters, try to allocate at least $100 per month in your business budget to pay a stipend to a teen worker for the summer. That’s not a huge sum, but they are more likely to be motivated to work because they are being paid. Second, speak to your colleagues to find out if they, too, can invest at least $300 to hire a teen for the summer.

This is what your $300 investment will get you:

1. Low cost assistance with your projects
2. An opportunity for you to mentor a young person
3. Your contribution to the preparation of the workforce of the future
4. Higher graduation rates and lower prison rates
5. Your assistance with helping a young person with his or her career and education choices

For the young person:

1. Discipline
2. Accountability
3. Responsibility
4. Interpersonal  and communications skills
5. A work ethic
6. Networking
7. Time management
8. Mentoring
9. Pay for work

As you can see, this is a win-win for all involved. Let me know if you have $300 to invest in a Chicago teen for the summer.  Also, if you have other suggestions and resources to keep teens occupied for the summer, please share.