Report on the Benton Harbor Summer Youth Employment Program and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Program Overview

The City of Benton Harbor has initiated its annual Summer Youth Employment Program for the current season. The program is financed through federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and is designed to provide structured, positive engagement for local youth during the summer months. Approximately 25 young people are employed annually, offering them foundational work experience and a source of income.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The program directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its structure and outcomes:

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   The initiative promotes productive employment for youth by providing paid work experience. Participants learn the fundamentals of professional responsibility and earn a wage, contributing to their economic empowerment and fostering early integration into the formal economy.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   Youth crews are primarily tasked with the maintenance and cleanup of city parks. This work directly enhances the quality of public green spaces, contributing to a cleaner, safer, and more vibrant urban environment for all residents.
3. SDG 1: No Poverty
   By providing an hourly wage of $10, the program offers a crucial source of income for young people, enabling them to purchase necessities such as school supplies and reducing economic strain on their families.
4. SDG 4: Quality Education
   While not formal classroom instruction, the program imparts valuable life skills and work experience that complement traditional education. Testimonials from program alumni confirm its long-term positive impact on personal and professional development.
5. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   The program provides accessible employment opportunities for youth, who may otherwise face barriers to entering the summer job market, thereby promoting inclusivity and equal opportunity.
6. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   The program exemplifies a successful partnership between a municipal government (City of Benton Harbor), a federal funding source (CDBG), and a local educational institution (Benton Harbor High School) to achieve shared community development objectives.

Operational Details

• Participants: Approximately 25 students.
• Work Schedule: Monday through Thursday.
• Primary Duties: Maintenance and cleanup of city parks.
• Compensation: $10 per hour.
• Recruitment: Coordinated through Benton Harbor High School.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

The Benton Harbor Summer Youth Employment Program serves as a critical tool for both youth development and urban improvement. It successfully addresses key SDGs by providing decent work, enhancing community spaces, and reducing inequality. While the program’s expansion is limited by CDBG funding regulations, which cap service-related expenditures at 15% of the total grant, its continued operation provides tangible benefits to the youth participants and the wider Benton Harbor community. The positive long-term feedback from past participants underscores its value as a foundational experience.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the Benton Harbor Summer Youth Employment Program addresses or connects to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 1: No Poverty – The program provides paid employment to young people, allowing them to earn money for essential items like school clothes, which directly contributes to poverty reduction for them and their families.
• SDG 4: Quality Education – While not a formal education program, it provides valuable “work experience” and helps youth “understand what work is about,” which aligns with the goal of providing relevant skills for employment.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The core of the article is about a youth employment program that provides jobs, work experience, and wages to young people, directly addressing the goal of promoting productive employment for youth.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The work performed by the youth involves “cleaning up at city parks” and “contributing to a cleaner and more vibrant Benton Harbor,” which directly relates to the goal of improving and maintaining public and green spaces within a community.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

1. Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty. The program addresses this by providing an income (“$10 an hour”) to young people, helping them afford necessities.
2. Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. The program provides “a little work experience” which is a form of vocational skill development.
3. Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training. The program directly tackles this by employing “about 25 young people” for the summer, moving them out of the “not in employment” category.
4. Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces. The youth crews contribute to this target by “cleaning up at city parks,” which helps maintain these public spaces for the community.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• For Target 1.2 & 8.6: The wage paid to the youth, specified as “$10 an hour,” serves as a direct indicator of the economic benefit and contribution to poverty reduction.
• For Target 4.4 & 8.6: The number of participants, stated as “about 25 young people,” is a key indicator for measuring the program’s reach in providing work experience and reducing youth unemployment. The city’s desire to “hire more than 25” also points to this number as a key performance metric.
• For Target 11.7: The activity of the youth crews, who are “cleaning up at city parks,” is a direct, observable indicator of efforts to maintain and improve public green spaces, contributing to a “cleaner and more vibrant Benton Harbor.”
• For Target 4.4: The long-term impact is indicated by qualitative feedback, such as testimonials from past participants who are now “grown-ups” and recall the program as a “great experience.” This serves as a qualitative indicator of the value of the work experience provided.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wsjm.com