Nearly 29,000 young people across Chicago were hired this summer through One Summer Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s flagship youth employment program.
That’s the message Johnson delivered last week during a community visit to the Hope Center Foundation in Roseland, where he shared the latest update on the program’s reach: 28,839 youth jobs filled—and counting.
“Expanding youth employment was a promise I made to the people of Chicago who wanted to see more of our young people with productive and safe ways to spend their summers,” Johnson said. “I am proud that when it comes to summer youth employment, we can tell Chicagoans in no uncertain terms: promises made, promises kept.”
Johnson made the announcement at the Hope Center Foundation, a new partner in the OSC program and a community nonprofit on the Far South Side. Funded by the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS), the Hope Center hired dozens of local youth this summer and connected them to training opportunities—including the CTA’s Second Chance Program.
For 18-year-old Ali Cooper, that kind of opportunity opened doors.
“I’ve always been interested in entrepreneurship, and One Summer Chicago has helped me build the confidence and skills to start seriously thinking about my future,” Cooper said. “None of this would be possible without strong leadership that believes in young people like me. That’s why I’m grateful for Mayor Johnson and his commitment to funding programs like this.”
Johnson sat down with 25 participants at the Hope Center to take part in a resume-building exercise, listen to their experiences, and hear directly about how the program is shaping their future. The visit was part of his broader push to deepen youth engagement and expand access to employment.
“The employment opportunities provided through One Summer Chicago are a vital bridge to valuable connections and learning that can inspire new paths forward and change young people’s lives forever,” said Maura McCauley, acting commissioner of DFSS. “With 52 agencies partnering on the One Summer Chicago program this year, the diverse range of work opportunities we are able to offer our young people is truly incredible.”
Launched this past March, Johnson’s 2025 expansion of the program aimed to add 1,000 more youth jobs to the lineup. That target followed last summer’s increase of 2,400 positions and the 4,000-job expansion during the mayor’s first summer in office. Taken together, Johnson’s administration has grown the program by 40 percent since 2023.
One Summer Chicago, a city-backed initiative, provides youth ages 14 to 24 with six weeks of paid employment and training during the summer. The initiative runs four main models:
- Chicago Youth Service Corps: Year-round employment for ages 16–24 focused on leadership development and civic engagement.
- Chicagobility: Summer learning and skill-building for ages 14–15 through project-based experiences.
- Summer Youth Employment Program: Work placements and career pathway development for ages 16–24.
- Safe Spaces for Youth Program: Community-based employment where youth plan and host peer-led events year-round.
The program operates through partnerships with dozens of city departments, community groups, and institutions, including After School Matters, the Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Public Schools, City Colleges of Chicago, and the Park District.
A final update on total youth employment numbers is expected at the end of the summer.
