(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser kicked off the application period for youth and employers who want to participate in the 2019 Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP). Beginning at 12 pm today, District youth ages 14 to 24 and employers may apply online for MBSYEP 2019 at summerjobs.dc.gov. Applications will be accepted until Saturday, February 16, 2019. This year marks the program’s 40th anniversary and to commemorate the occasion, Mayor Bowser kicked off the application period at the Newseum, the former site of the Department of Employment Services and host employer to MBSYEP participants.

“From a young age, Mayor Barry understood the importance of financial responsibility, independence, and a strong work ethic, and for 40 years, the SYEP program has embodied those values,” said Mayor Bowser. “Coming into office, I was happy to build on Mayor Barry’s legacy by expanding the program and creating new opportunities for more young Washingtonians to find their pathway to the middle class. “

Established in 1979 by Mayor Marion S. Barry, MBSYEP is a locally-funded initiative that provides young people in DC with six weeks of enriching and constructive summer work experience through subsidized placements in the private and public sectors. The program partners with hundreds of DC employers who are uniquely positioned to provide relevant training and guidance to DC’s youth in order to help them develop the positive work habits and job skills necessary to secure future employment.

MBSYEP strives to provide District youth with the opportunity to:

• Earn money and gain meaningful work experience;
• Learn and develop the skills, attitudes, and commitment necessary to succeed in today’s workforce;
• Gain exposure to various exciting career industries; and
• Interact with dynamic working professionals in a positive work environment.

In 2018, nearly 11,000 young Washingtonians participated in MBSYEP, working more than 1.3 million total hours. In recent years, the program rolled out CareerEdge and JabaTalks, new technology platforms that allows participants to use their mobile devices to complete professional development sessions, practice job interviews and connect with employers.

In 2015, Mayor Bowser expanded the program to include District residents ages 22-24. In 2017, the same year the expansion became permanent, 1,000 DC youth ages 22-24 earned more than $1.8 million in wages through the program. Many of these young people came from Wards 7 and 8.

Additionally, in 2017, MBSYEP launched the Mayor’s Opportunity Scholarship, a pilot program designed to support MBSYEP participants in their post-secondary endeavors. Seventy-three recipients of the inaugural scholarship received a total of $150,000 for college, training, and military programs.

MBSYEP 2019 will begin on Monday, June 24, 2019 and will end on Friday, August 2, 2019.