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Home My WebLink AboutCRA-R-25-0025 BackupLIBERTY CITY TRUST Liberty City Community Revitalization Trust May 6, 2025 James McQueen, Executive Director Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency 819 NW 2nd Avenue 3rd Floor Miami, Florida 33136 Re: 2025 Youth Employment Program (YEP) Request for Funding Dear Mr. McQueen: Thank you for the opportunity to be considered for funding by the Southeast Overtown Community Redevelopment Agency ("CRA") . The Liberty City Trust is a quasi -public government organization created through the City of Miami Ordinance No. 12859 in 2006. Our office and contact information are as follows: Elaine Black, President/CEO c/o Charles Hadley Park 4800 NW 12th Avenue Miami, Florida 33127 Telephone No. (305) 329-4707 Email: eblack@miamigov.com The mission of the Liberty City Trust is to provide oversight and facilitate the City's revitalization efforts and activities. Our focus is housing, commercial and business development and improving the quality of life of the residents in which we serve. The Liberty City Community Revitalization Trust ("Liberty City Trust") is requesting $75,000.00 to support the 2025 Youth Employment Program ("YEP") which is designed to create pathways to employment, reduce poverty, and empower youth to become active contributors to their community. This program will employ 23 students from the Overtown community at the rate of $15 per hour. Present and Past History In 2015, the Liberty City Trust established a summer youth employment program ("YEP") to assure gainful employment and work experience for students ranging between the ages of 14 to 18. Students work for eight weeks in June through August in a variety of entry-level jobs in the nonprofit arena, private sector, and City of Miami Parks. For the past 18 years the Liberty City Trust has been committed to ensuring the residents of the Liberty City and surrounding areas thrive in having quality of life and benefit from opportunities offered through trusted sources that serve the community wherein they live. James McQueen, Executive Director Page 2 of 2 May 6, 2025 The YEP program has employed over 700 students, which provided (1) income to low- income families, (2) job experience, and (3) an outlet to keep youth out of trouble while school is out for summer recess. The goal of the YEP is to continue providing students with summer employment opportunities, combined, or integrated with building their individual strengths, targeting at risk youth by incorporating youth development principles for career development and workforce readiness. To date, the Liberty City Trust employed 60 youth from the Overtown community between 2022 and 2024 from prior funding through the CRA. Program Impact on Participants from Prior Years The YEP program serves as a testament to the importance of community -driven initiatives in empowering young individuals and preparing them for successful futures. Last year twenty (20) students were employed and received biweekly pay in the amount of $600.00. Their work experience was enhanced with 2 hours a week of classroom training that provided life skills and competencies. The Life Skills Coach was assigned to work with and evaluate each intern in: • Improving their employment, social and financial management skills. • Gaining a better understanding of human relations in the workplace. • Self Esteem • Resume Writing • Public Speaking • Writing skills • Job Search and Career Planning The program succeeded in imparting crucial life skills, fostering job readiness, and promoting community engagement among the participants. All 20 participants received their evaluation with a rating of 4 for meeting the work maturity skill independency with no supervision. Many reported improved confidences, communication skills, and a better understanding of career pathways. Several participants expressed a newfound sense of responsibility towards their community, and some even secured part-time jobs because of the program. The overall impact on the students of Overtown was positive. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at (305) 329-4707. We thank you in advance for your consideration of this summer youth program initiative for 2025. Sincerely, SQaige q. Rael¢ Elaine H. Black President/CEO Attachments LIBERTY CITY TRUST Liberty City Community Revitalization Trust Program Details and Coursework We believe that the program is consistent with the mission and interest of the Liberty City Trust. The YEP will serve multiple purposes by preparing youth for the workplace. The program activities will implement workshops on job readiness, career exploration, financial literacy, life skills, and opportunities to continue education and social growth as indicated below: The workshops for the FY25 period will be as follows: Coursework Calendar June 9, 2025 - June 20, 2025 Orientation - Introduction to the program, worksites, and supervisors. June 23, 2025 - June 27, 2025 Self Esteem - Interns will learn about self-esteem through various exercises and assignments. June 30, 2025 - July 4, 2025 Resume Writing - Introduction to the fundamentals of resume building. July 7, 2025 - July 11, 2025 Speaking - Confidence in Speaking. Interns will work on speaking in public and create a 90 second elevator speech. July 14, 2025 - July 18, 2025 Financial Management (Guest) - Interns will learn the basics of managing their finances; from starting a bank account and depositing checks to using online banking and income taxes from a Finance Expert. July 21, 2025 - July 25, 2025 Writing, Application Completion and Answering written questions - Interns will review their YEP application and other applications. July 28, 2025 - Aug. 1, 2025 Job Search and Career Planning - Using all skills from the previous weeks to help the students define their career path and learn to use online job services to apply for a job. LIBERTY CITY TRUST itulization Tzust PROPOSED BUDGET REQUEST LIBERTY CITY TRUST 2025 YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM Applicant Agency: Project Name: Tentative Start Date/End Date: Liberty City Trust 2025 Youth Employment Program June 9, 2025 to August 1, 2025 Salary - $55,200.00 Summer Interns - a temporary summer position which will provide program participant with the opportunity to work 20 hours per week for 8 weeks at the rate of $15.00 per hour. FICA Taxes/Unemployment (Fringes) $ 4,225.00 FICA will be paid for all salaries: 555,200 x .0765 - $4,222.80 Uniforms - $ 1,380.00 Summer Interns are provided with 5 Uniform T-Shirts to wears and bags. The cost of shirts is $12.00 (23 interns x 5-Tshirts x $12.00 per shirt). Payroll Fees - $ 1,780.00 Fees to process payroll Workshop Facilitator - $10,000.00 A temporary summer position for 8 weeks. This position will manage, and conduct curriculum implemented for program participants, as well as interfacing with worksite supervisors, monitoring, planning, evaluating, creation of a pictorial of the participants and follow up on progress during the program. Background Checks - $ 2,415.00 All program participants will go through a level II background check and drug testing. Drug testing and background check are mandatory for employment. Total Budget $ 75,000.00 LIBERTY CITY TRUST Liberty City Community Revitalization Trust saggiligrail. morwitti -