STEP-UP (Summer Training and Employment Project to Unleash Potential), a collaboration between Contra Costa County and the City of Richmond to provide summer education and employment opportunities for 200 youth in West Contra Costa county, has received an award of $500,000 from the Bridges to Success program, sponsored by the California Department of Employment Development.
Research has demonstrated that providing young people with structured education and training opportunities during the summer months is extremely important to increasing their likelihood of success in school, particularly for those who are at risk of dropping out. STEP-UP will serve West County young people with a high risk for school failure by providing a year-long program that includes a paid summer work experience, training in job and life skills, case management, and academic and other support throughout the following school year. Summer placements and training will be offered in four areas, including: allied health, environmental restoration, information technology and the skilled trades.
Project partners include Doctor’s Hospital, John Muir Health, the Watershed Project, the Richmond and Contra Costa Housing Authorities, Kaiser Medical Center, the City of San Pablo, Supervisor John Gioia’s office, the UC Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science, and Rising Sun Energy Services, RYSE Youth Center and the Partnership for Children and Youth.
The Glen Price Group has worked closely with many of the partners on other projects, and was pleased to have the opportunity to prepare this application for funding.
