Hundreds of area teens turned out Saturday at the Hillcrest High School field house in Country Club Hills to meet with job recruiters, skill trainers and volunteer coordinators as part of U.S. Robin Kelly’s annual Youth Opportunities Fair.
The event, organized by Kelly for a decade, aims to pair high school students with moneymaking opportunities for the summer or beyond, and a chance to earn volunteer credits or get trained in a career.
“I just want to do what I can to give back to the young people of my district,” Kelly said. “Hopefully they’ll find something here for them.”
She said 60 registered vendors and some 400 students registered for the day. From the moment the doors opened, young people were lining up at certain tables, eager to learn more.
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly talks to a League of Woman Voters member at an Opportunities Fair April 6, 2024, at HIllcrest High School. (Jesse Wright/for Daily Southtown)
For employers, it’s a way to get some young help. Amazon was on hand taking names as was Jewel-Osco, an employer with seemingly something for everyone.
Jim Enright, the manager of a Jewel store, said he’s looking to fill just about every position, from stocker to customer associate to managers. The store even had a baker at its table and, naturally, offered pastries.
“We’re just looking for qualified people to work in a retail environment,” he said.
Of course, not too many high school students have much of a resume, and Enright said that’s to be expected. He said he’s happy to hire for the summer, and if a student likes the work there are opportunities to move up the Jewel food chain. He said he started as a kid bagging groceries.
“It’s a great entry-level position for someone,” he said.
Enright said he’s manned tables before at jobs fairs for high school students and he’s always had good luck, and he expected more of the same Saturday. An hour in, he already had a line of people.
Kameron Younger with the Black Fire Brigade shows a student how to check a person’s pulse Saturday. The brigade offers emergency medical services skills training to youth who are interested in a career fighting fires or in the EMS. (Jesse Wright/for Daily Southtown)
“We’ve got a great turnout, and we’ve got a great location, right by the door,” he laughed.
Kelly said jobs are important for young people as it’s more than just getting a paycheck. She said she started work at an early age and it taught her responsibility and customer service, though she didn’t get much money out of the deal.
“My grandparents and my dad, we had a mom and pop store in New York City,” Kelly said. “I started working there when I was 8 years old and though I wasn’t always paid, I learned the value of hard work.”
Meanwhile, other booths offered volunteer opportunities. Many seniors are required to volunteer for credit and plenty of government offices, such as the county forest preserve and the library, had booths offering a chance to sign up.
One of those was the Matteson Area Public Library, offering a volunteering opportunity where students can volunteer on their own time and at home.
Youth Services Manager Susan Fulcher said typically her library can accommodate 20 to 40 volunteers at any given time due to space limitations. However, the library is offering Create for a Cause, wherein students can make crafts for various area nonprofits. These include chewy dog toys out of old clothes for an animal shelter or handmade greeting and holiday cards for care residents. This program can include up to about 100 volunteers.
A group of students learns more about the Y Saturday at a Hillcrest High School job and volunteer opportunity event. (Jesse Wright/for Daily Southtown)
“This is something they kind of do on their own time,” Fulcher said. “And they can do it at home.”
She said once the craft is finished and approved, the student gets credit.
And sometimes volunteer opportunities can transfer into paid work. Dominique Barksdale, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics coordinator with the Homewood Science Center, a newer nonprofit aimed at fostering an interested in science in kids, said they need summer volunteers for programming that targets every age group, from pre-kindergarten to high school.
“We need volunteers in our STEM program, doing garden cleanup and summer camp,” Barksdale said.
She said if students show up to volunteer, do a good job and show an interest in the work, there are paid summer positions.
“Our camps are full every summer,” she said.
Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
