Jobs for youth, help for communities

When two problems are put together to come up with a solution, government is working. Problem: Nonprofits are at a loss with many volunteers who are retired now choosing to stay home and safe during the pandemic.

Problem: Youth face fewer jobs this summer with some camps closed that used to provide employment and with other opportunities shrunk by the pandemic. Solution: ConnectiCorps.

This is a new community service program, modeled after the successful national AmeriCorps, that provides an avenue for young people to work and acquire skills with nonprofits in the areas of food security, housing and antipoverty assistance.

“Nonprofits across the state are on the frontlines of the COVID emergency, providing critically needed services to vulnerable people across Connecticut,” Gov. Ned Lamont said Tuesday in announcing the program. “The ConnectiCorps program is a great way to provide support to those nonprofits and to offer to our young people the opportunity for public service in these times of great challenge to our communities.”

It will be a national AmeriCorps program on the state level. Participants will receive a modest income, mileage reimbursement and be eligible for a stipend to help pay for their higher education or repay qualified student loans.

This is possible through a state partnership with the Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, which contributed a “significant grant” through its COVID-19 Response Fund. ConnectiCorps also will be funded through an AmeriCorps state and federal grant approved by Serve Connecticut, which is the Connecticut Commission on Community Service under the state Office of Higher Education. That’s a lot of collaboration and, as always with taxpayers’ money involved, transparency is imperative.

The initial focus will be on the greater Hartford region, given the contribution of the Hartford Foundation, and participants will live in the communities where they will serve.

We would like to see other philanthropic organizations step up to expand the focus to other regions, especially Fairfield and New Haven counties which have been particularly affected by the coronavirus.

ConnectiCorps will recruit 60 to 80 youth for parttime service — with COVID-safety training and personal protection equipment — at up to 20 nonprofit sites for a year. The experience gained and the community connection made can be pivotal for a young person.

Employment opportunities for Connecticut’s youth got another boost this week with the governor releasing an additional $2 million from the Coronavirus Relief Funds to expand the Connecticut Youth Employment Program, an ongoing initiative through the state Department of Labor, which already had $4.5 million allocated. The expansion of this state-wide program will give more youth jobs with community health agencies where they will support and educate populations disproportionately affected by the virus.

The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the economy, as well as public health. Establishing the ConnectiCorps and increasing financial support of the youth employment program are two positive steps by government to provide opportunity to youth while strengthening communities.

An ‘offer to our young people the opportunity for public service in these times of great challenge to our communities.’ Gov. Ned Lamont