Obama Administration Makes Youth Employment a 2012 Goal

As the 2012 presidential election approaches, it is becoming painfully clear that the U.S. economy may be the topic helping voters decided which candidate to choose. Unemployment has remained relatively high across the nation, but some populations have been hit harder than others. The Obama administration has made progress in its attempts to stabilize unemployment, and job growth has been on a small but steady rise. But if stabilizing the economy is the greatest challenge for the 2012 election, then increased employment is the only solution.

While job growth has increased, the questions regarding who is gaining employment still remains. Today, the White House released a press release announcing the Summer Jobs Act to employ nearly 180,000 youth between the ages of 16-24 nationwide. The White House has been encouraging youth employment since 2009, and has worked with many private companies to ensure that young people received on-the-job training and paid internship positions. However, today they took an aggressive stance toward youth employment stating:

“America’s youth can’t wait for Congress to act.”

Obama is moving forward without Congress by proposing $1.5 billion to make sure that youth can be hired not only in the summer, but year-round.

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Ife

I’ll take college for one please. . .

According to a recent study done by Louisiana State University, there has been a rise in college and university enrollment.  The study assumes that young people are choosing to pursue college as an alternative to lingering joblessness in our tough economy. Getting a High school diploma may not be making the grade and it looks as if America’s youth are choosing higher education.

Research from The Pew Research Center showed that there is an increase in diversity which could lead to new conversations about diversity and university admissions and selection. The Government released number s showing a 6% increase in enrollment for minority students equating to an estimated 2.6 million minority students in colleges and universities around the nation. The largest jump has been with Hispanic students. The findings show Freshman enrollment of Hispanics in higher education jumped by 15 percent in 2008, compared to 8 percent for blacks, 6 percent for Asians and 3 percent for whites.

The research further describes the increase as the highest since the Vietnam war where students could avoid the military draft. 99 problems and college could solve them all?

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Christina Sanders

NAACP Hosts the Bev Smith Show!

This past Monday, NAACP’s CEO and President Benjamin Jealous had the opportunity to host the Bev Smith Show. During the show, Mr. Jealous along with Carmen Berkeley (NAACP Region 2 Field Organizer and Barbara Lee Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus), talked about Youth Jobs in America and the plan for Youth Job creation! They even gave insight on how we can help get Youth Jobs passed. Listen to the show here!

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Kirin Kennedy

CBC meets with Obama to discuss summer jobs legislation

In a meeting aides described as “frank but cordial,” members of the Congressional Black Caucus told President Barack Obama on Thursday that he has to do more to help African-Americans.

Members of the caucus have complained — both publicly and privately — that they aren’t getting enough from the nation’s first black president. Thursday’s hourlong session was their chance to make that case directly with Obama, and aides said they did just that.

CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said the group discussed direct job creation and work force training as well as areas where government can help “create jobs immediately.”
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The Editor

US Senate Kills Summer Jobs!!!

On Tuesday, Senate Republicans — along with some Democrats — defeated a measure to provide $1.3 billion for summer jobs for young people this year and a $1.3 billion extension of enhanced subsidies for poor families with children.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who introduced the amendment along with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), pleaded with her colleagues not to object.

“I have personally heard the stories of these young men and women whose summer jobs changed their lives across the country,” she said. “This amendment will provide $1.3 billion to create up to 500,000 temporary jobs this coming summer. It will invest in critical employment and learning programs that will help not only these young people but the businesses who hire them.”

partially jacked via

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The Editor