MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON LAUNCHES ONE SUMMER CHICAGO ONLINE APPLICATION FOR 2025, SETS AMBITIOUS HIRING GOAL

Mayor Brandon Johnson
Mayor Brandon Johnson

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON LAUNCHES ONE SUMMER CHICAGO ONLINE APPLICATION FOR 2025, SETS AMBITIOUS HIRING GOAL

Mayor Johnson aims to add up to 1,000 additional positions for young people with the goal of increasing youth summer employment for three consecutive years

CHICAGO – Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) announced the launch of the 2025 One Summer Chicago (OSC) application portal, marking another major expansion of the City's youth employment initiatives. This year, Mayor Johnson aims to connect an additional 1,000 young people to paid opportunities and life-skills development programs, bringing the total number of jobs to nearly 29,000.

“After two consecutive years of expanded youth employment, I am proud to announce that we are aiming to give one thousand more young people a paycheck and a purpose this summer through One Summer Chicago,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “We believe in our young people and we want to see them thrive. Our vision is simple: we will keep fighting until every young person who wants a job in Chicago can get one every summer.”

One Summer Chicago is a collaborative youth employment program that partners with local businesses, nonprofits and city agencies to provide paid work experiences for young people ages 14-24 over six weeks during the summer.

Last year, 27,793 young people were employed through the One Summer Chicago (OSC) program during the summer of 2024, representing a 12 percent increase from the previous year and a 39 percent increase since Mayor Johnson took office. Across all OSC partners, participants completed 2.935M hours of work experience and project-based learning. Youth earned nearly $41M in wages.

“Last summer, I was an intern in the Basketball Skills and Management Camp – which was way more than just basketball. We learned what really goes in to running a sports program,” said Rodrick Winston, a participant in One Summer Chicago through After School Matters. “Thank you to Mayor Johnson for fighting to fund these programs – they really make a difference for Chicago teens as we figure out our future.”

The top 10 communities with the most hires last year include three West Side and six South Side areas, with Austin leading the way at 1,672 hires.

The City of Chicago is proud to have employed 183 young people directly, 70 of whom were employed through the Laborer’s Trainees Program.

“Completing the Laborer Trainee program secured me a full-time spot working for Streets and Sanitation as a laborer,” said Dereon Wiley, a graduate of the Laborers Trainee Program. “I am truly grateful to Mayor Johnson for my job and to have the opportunity to work for the City. It provides me with a steady income to support myself and my family while allowing me to contribute to the well-being of my community. Every day, I take pride in keeping the streets clean, ensuring safe and sanitary conditions for everyone.”

One Summer Chicago Offers Three Key Programs:

Chicago Youth Service Corps (CYSC): Employs youth ages 16-24 year-round, focusing on leadership development and civic engagement.

Chicagobility: Engages youth ages 14-15 in project-based learning and skill-building experiences.

Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP): Provides job placements and training opportunities for youth ages 16-24 to build skills and gain career experience.

The Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) manages the program, with direct support from the Mayor’s Office of Education, Youth, and Human Services (EDYHS).

“Giving young people the opportunity to work is key to creating pathways to future employment,” said DFSS Acting Commissioner Maura McCauley. “DFSS is grateful to all of the nonprofit, corporate, and public sector partners who make this possible for Chicago’s youth.”

For more information or to apply, visit OneSummerChicago.org.


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