Abstract
In Spring 2011, the Walmart Foundation funded summer employment opportunities for youth in five cities – Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, DC. A team from the Center for Youth and Communities at Brandeis University’s Heller School visited all five sites, interviewing administrators, partners, and employers and observing program operations. The study addressed the following questions:
- Who did the summer programs serve?
- What outcomes did they achieve?
- What supports and opportunities did they provide?
- How much was invested?
- What factors influenced the results?
This report summarizes the study team’s analysis of its findings and observations and includes selected illustrative examples.
Following the overview is a discussion of key themes and an outline of implications for the Walmart Foundation summer youth employment RFP for 2012.