FOR ASSIGNMENT: Friday, July 27, 2012; 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

CONTACTS: Brice Freeman, MOED, 410-396-1910, bfreeman@oedworks.com Ernest Dorsey, Youth Services, 410-396-6722, edorsey@oedworks.com

Mayor Rawlings-Blake to Acknowledge Business Engagement in 2012 YouthWorks Summer Jobs Program GBC CEO Donald Fry joins Mayor to recognize “Hire One Youth” employers and further their involvement Baltimore, Maryland (July 23, 2012) – Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and her Office of Employment Development are hosting a luncheon to acknowledge more than 80 employers that joined the 2012 Hire One Youth initiative and hired more than 275 city youth as part of the YouthWorks summer jobs program. Employers and participants will have the opportunity to network with one another and share their experiences. A Hire One Youth employer and employee will speak about the benefits of the program. WHO: Hire One Youth employers and selected Hire One Youth/YouthWorks participants are invited. More than 150 people are expected to attend. Mayor Rawlings-Blake, Donald Fry, president and CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee and chair of the Mayor’s Hire One Youth Leadership Team, and Karen Sitnick, director of the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, will be in attendance. WHEN: Friday, July 27, 2012, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (program portion to begin at 12 p.m.) WHERE: Baltimore Museum of Industry, 1415 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD 21230 BACKGROUND: YouthWorks is Baltimore City’s summer jobs program, which places young people between the ages of 14 and 21 in six-week summer jobs with private sector, nonprofit, and city and state government employers throughout the city. To widen the positive impact of YouthWorks in 2012 by creating more summer job opportunities with local employers, Mayor Rawlings-Blake created the Hire One Youth campaign and formed a leadership team comprised of members from the business community to champion the effort. Hire One Youth will continue to expand business involvement in hiring older youth and young adults in year-round jobs, as well as future summer employment opportunities. YouthWorks is operated by the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development with the assistance of employers and workforce partners, and with financial support from a variety of contributors. YouthWorks 2012 began June 25 and will run through August 3. It is part of Baltimore City Super Summer, a partnership between the City, Baltimore City Public Schools and nonprofits to ensure that every child has access to learning, meals, reading and other fun activities during the summer. Visit www.youthbmore.org or call 211 for more information about Baltimore City Super Summer. ###