MEDIA ADVISORY: City-wide Cleanup and TeenQuest Graduation Scheduled this Week
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31: Summer Youth Initiative Volunteer Day
WHAT: As part of the part of the 2019 Summer Youth Initiative (SYI) Volunteer Service Day, nearly 400 Genesee County teens will conduct cleanup and beautification projects in five local neighborhoods and at the site of the former James Lumber in Flint. The latter property will soon become a new facilities ground for the Genesee County Land Bank. Projects include cutting grass, raking/bagging clippings, disposing of debris and graffiti removal.
This is the sixth year the summer program has partnered with the City of Flint and the Genesee County Land Bank for what has become one of the largest cleanup efforts in the city. It gives the teens—who have been working for a variety of local employers this summer—the opportunity to make a positive impact in their community.
Summer Youth Initiative (SYI) helps coordinate the summer employment of Genesee County teens who have completed TeenQuest, a pre-employment and leadership training program. Both TeenQuest and SYI are made possible through the generous support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Ruth Mott Foundation, Hagerman Foundation, and other supportive funders. For more information, click here.
WHO/WHEN: Wednesday, July 31, 2019, 9:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m.
Schedule highlights include:
- 9:30 a.m.-11:30 am.
- James Avery, director of Education & Training at the Flint & Genesee Chamber, and teens in Summer Youth Initiative will be available for interviews at the site of the former James Lumber in Flint
- 12:15-1:45 p.m.: Teens and site leaders will convene at Bluebell Beach for a lunch celebration.
WHERE: Students will be leading beautification projects at each of the following sites in Flint:
- 2402 Fenton Road (Former James Lumber property)
- Burgess Street, near Sonny Avenue
- Tilden Street and Industrial Avenue
- West Holbrook Avenue and Chestnut Street
- Eastlawn Drive between West Dartmouth Street and Lawndale Avenue
- West Rankin Street, between Forest Hill Avenue and Lawndale Avenue
Following the morning cleanup, volunteers will meet at Bluebell Beach, at 5500 Bray Road, Flint.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1: TeenQuest Graduation
WHAT: On Thursday, nearly 20 high school students from Flint and Genesee County will graduate from TeenQuest. Administered by the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, TeenQuest is a leadership and pre-employment training program that prepares teens, ages 14-19, for the workplace by teaching them about soft skills, interview techniques and financial literacy.
As graduates of the TeenQuest program, the teens will be invited to attend a private job fair next year with employers participating in Summer Youth Initiative, SYI. SYI helps fund and coordinate the employment of TeenQuest graduates at area non- and for-profit organizations each summer.
TeenQuest and SYI are made by possible through the support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Ruth Mott Foundation, Hagerman Foundation and other ` generous funders. For more information, click here.
WHO: Teens and their families from throughout Genesee County
James Avery, director of Education & Training at the Flint & Genesee Chamber
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, 2-3 p.m.
- James Avery will provide opening remarks, followed by student speeches and the graduation ceremony
- Graduates and their families will be available for interviews following the graduation ceremony
WHERE: New Jerusalem Church, 1035 E. Carpenter Road, Flint
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Izzi Joseph
Flint & Genesee Chamber
(810) 600-4071
Cell: (810) 348-8108