FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2011   

Contacts: Brice Freeman, 410‐396‐1910, bfreeman@oedworks.com                   

Donnice Brown, 410‐396‐6727, dbrown@oedworks.com  

150 Baltimore Youth Spending the Month of May “Springing Into a Career” Through Job Shadowing Baltimore, Maryland (May 16, 2011) – More than 150 Baltimore City youth between the ages of 14 and 21 are participating in job shadowing experiences across the city throughout the month of May. The Baltimore Workforce Investment Board (BWIB) Youth Council’s first month‐long “Spring Into a Career” job shadowing initiative is being held in partnership with the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Department, Chick Webb Recreation Center, Department of Transportation, Department of Social Services, the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Maryland Port Authority, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Tooney Town Early Learning Center, University of Maryland Medical System, VSP, and several other local groups and organizations. For a complete list of upcoming Job Shadow Month activities and locations, please see pages 2‐3. Reporters and photographers are welcome; please call Brice Freeman or Kate Schmelyun at   410‐396‐1910 to arrange.    BWIB’s Committee on Training and Post‐Secondary Education recently completed a Talent Development Pipeline Study, which, among other conclusions, found a need for increased partnership between education and the public and private sectors in Baltimore to create more internship programs, work‐ study programs, and hands‐on learning experiences for both high school age and college age students, to accelerate their ability to gain work experience and to apply it in a meaningful environment. “The purpose of this job shadowing experience is to match students with area employers who are willing to pass on their expertise and help give a young person an opportunity to achieve successful entrance into their industry,” said Donnice Brown, youth services administrator for the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOED). She added, “Job shadowing experiences help employers prepare the future workforce by exposing them to industries where they have career interests.” Lori Frazier, vice president and branch manager for Susquehanna Bank and chairperson of the BWIB Youth Council’s Work‐Based Learning Committee, is very excited about, and supportive of, the job shadowing initiative. Mrs. Frazier shared, “We value the commitment and time of participating businesses and organizations. Their involvement allows us to reach as many students as possible.” Job shadowing allows young people to follow career professionals, observe their daily work routines, and see first‐hand the challenges and rewards of a specific career. They can learn about the work environment and ask questions about job requirements, necessary college or post‐secondary training, and growth potential.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011  10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Chick Webb Recreation Center, 23 N. Eden Street, Baltimore, MD 21205  9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Baltimore Dept of Social Services, 3007 E. Biddle Street, Baltimore, MD 21213  8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Manual Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, 3612 Falls Road, Baltimore, MD  21211  9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center, 2434 Belvedere Ave., Baltimore, MD 21215  10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Room 428, Baltimore, MD 21287 Wednesday, May 18, 2011  1‐4 p.m., Chick Webb Recreation Center, 23 N. Eden Street, Baltimore, MD   21205 Thursday, May 19, 2011  10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Baltimore Department of Social Services, 2000 N. Broadway, 3rd floor, Baltimore, MD 21213  10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Baltimore Police Department, 601 E. Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21202  11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Baltimore Clay Works, 5707 Smith Avenue, Baltimore, MD   21209  Time varies by department, Baltimore Department of Social Services, 3007 E. Biddle Street, Baltimore, MD 21213 Friday, May 20, 2011  9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tooney Town Early Learning Center, 909 E. 22nd Street, Baltimore, MD   21218  10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Baltimore Department of Social Services, 2000 N. Broadway, 3rd floor, Baltimore, MD 21213 Monday, May 23, 2011  10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office, 100 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 Tuesday, May 24, 2011  9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Baltimore Department of Social Services, 3007 E. Biddle Street, Baltimore, MD 21213  10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Maryland Port Authority, 401 E. Pratt Street, 11th floor, suite 1100, Baltimore, MD 21201  10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Chick Webb Recreation Center, 23 N. Eden Street, Baltimore, MD 21205

Wednesday, May 25, 2011  10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office, 100 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21201  12‐4 p.m., Safe and Sound Campaign, 2 E. Read Street, Baltimore, MD 21202  1‐4 p.m., Chick Webb Recreation Center, 23 N. Eden Street, Baltimore, MD 21205 Thursday, May 26, 2011  9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Baltimore Department of Social Services, 3007 E. Biddle Street, Baltimore, MD 21213 Friday, May 27, 2011  9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tooney Town Early Learning Center, 909 E. 22nd Street, Baltimore, MD   21218 In fiscal year 2010, the Mayor's Office of Employment Development served more than 23,000 city residents through our Career Center Network, placed more than 2,700 individuals in jobs, facilitated nearly 17,000 computer literacy training visits at our Digital Learning Labs, provided summer work opportunities to more than 5,100 youth, assisted more than 400 businesses through our Employ Baltimore strategy, and offered information, services and referrals to more than 4,000 displaced workers. In fiscal year 2011, how can we work for you? www.oedworks.com. Visit Baltimore City’s Website at www.baltimorecity.gov ###