


Mayor Shirley Franklin joined the students of the Mayor’s Youth Program and business and community leaders at a press conference today to officially kick off the 2008 Mayor’s Youth Summer Employment Program and announce a new partnership with Colgate-Palmolive’s EMPOWER youth entrepreneurial program.
Colgate-Palmolive has contributed to youth employment and development programs nationwide for the past 15 years, donating more than $2 million. This year Colgate-Palmolive has selected Baltimore and Atlanta to participate in a new initiative called EMPOWER, for “Entrepreneurial Mentoring Preparing Our World Through Education.” These workshops will showcase to students the benefits and rewards of entrepreneurialism. The EMPOWER entrepreneurial workshops will be created and managed by the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) and Atlanta Technical College, two local organizations who utilize entrepreneurships as a vehicle for change within the community
“The EMPOWER program has the distinct ability to take young people who are interested in entrepreneurship, provide them with mentors and nurture them as they pursue the education necessary to accomplish their goals,” said Mayor Shirley Franklin who launched the Mayor’s Youth Program in 2005. “This partnership between the Mayor’s Youth Program, Atlanta Technical College, Colgate-Palmolive and Kroger will prove to be invaluable to this group of young people who may not have had the tools necessary to start their own businesses and the confidence to know that they can be successful.”
Teens selected from the “Mayor’s Youth Program” will participate in the entrepreneurial program and will be paid a stipend of $100 per week and a part-time internship which pays $6.00 an hour for 25 hours per week. The program runs for six weeks and will provide 25 young adults the opportunity to participate in interactive and fun learning experiences which include field trips, games, and guest speakers.
The EMPOWER entrepreneurial workshops will be created and managed by the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) and Atlanta Technical College, two local organizations who utilize entrepreneurships as a vehicle for change within the community.
Legendary Baseball player Henry “Hank” Aaron joined Mayor Shirley Franklin at the kick off for the 11th Annual Mayors Cup Golf Tournament. More than 38 teams of private-public partners came out the Heritage Golf Club and have raised more than $100,000 for the Camp Best Friends and Mayor’s Youth Program Endowment Funds.

Mayor Shirley Franklin, Hank Aaron, Hyatt Regency General Manager Joe M. Hindsley, AWDA Director Deborah Lum and Chief of Staff Greg Pridgeon
We would like to thank our presenting sponsors,
American Golf, Arcadis/BPA- A Joint Venture, and UPS
Getting Ready for the World of Work
By Beth Mirza for SHRM.ORG
For the past three years, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin has sponsored a program matching Atlanta public high school graduates with paid internships in the metropolitan region. Called the Mayor’s Youth Program, the initiative gives the teens money for living expenses they’ll incur as they move on to post-secondary education. And the teens gain “real world” work experience.
Unfortunately, some participating employers reported back to the Mayor’s Youth Program that the students weren’t ready for office life yet.
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What could be better than helping kids to move forward with their careers and lives?
YOU Can Make a Difference!
06.17.2008 | Mayor Franklin Kicks Off The New Colgate Empower Entrepreneurial Summer Program for Atlanta Students
05.21.2008 | MYP Student Highlight, Jasmine Freeman
05.21.2008 | MYP Students Participate in "Super Saturday"
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