New Haven Independent

City Hall’s hoping to find work for 1,400 young people as part of an effort to keep New Haven cool and youth engaged in June and July. At a “Summer Summit” Wednesday at the Hill’s Courtland S. Wilson Branch Library, Gwendolyn Busch of the city’s Youth@Work effort made the pitch for employers to sign up to hire teens or donate money to sponsor their summer jobs elsewhere.

Click on the video’s play arrow to watch her pitch; it’s hard to imagine how people would say no. (Contact Busch here or call 946-7173.)

Dozens of agencies that work with young people had representatives at the summit, which was organized by the City Wide Youth Coalition. They spent the day sharing ideas on incorporating the arts into their programs, working with faith communities, partnering with the private sector, figuring out what to do on rainy days.

A sampling of some of the programs being organized this summer:

• The Dixwell-Yale Community Learning Center is reprising its entrepreneurship and journalism camp for teens; a Youth Basketball tourney in Scantlebury Park from July 15-Aug. 14; and a Hill-Yale Youth Basketball tourney outside Roberto Clemente from July 21-Aug.13.

• The YMCA has a daylong camp for younger kids and a drop-in/ walk-in camp for teens.

• Parks & Rec and the USTA are offering junior tennis lessons at Wilbur Cross, on the East Shore, in Edgewood and McClain Parks, and at Clinton Avenue School and the Old Grant School. A city “Sports Camp on the Green” for ages 6 through 17 will take place July 21-July 25.

• “Catch the Reading Bug @ Your Library” for kids 6 months to 16 years old takes place at all branches from June 21-Aug. 15.

• Thousands of slots will open at Learning Academies, a Reading & Science Academy, and other programs in public schools across town.

Wednesday’s event began with the granting of awards to two supporters (pictured) of summer youth programs: Sarah Fabish of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and Hill Health Center’s Robert Windom, who for years has volunteered as a medical director for area summer camps

Contact the City Wide Youth Coalition here.