John Hancock to fund 200 summer jobs for Boston youth

Banner Staff

Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis and John Hancock President and CEO John DesPrez held a press conference Tuesday to launch the corporation’s teen summer jobs initiative at John Hancock’s headquarters in Boston’s Seaport District.

Hancock has provided funds for 200 summer employment opportunities throughout the city, more than twice the 75 jobs the company funded in 2006, making it the largest corporate funder of summer jobs in the city this year.

“A summer job is a great way to learn life skills and have fun, but with thousands of teens needing employment, the city can’t do it alone,” said Menino. “That’s why I am so pleased we have corporate partners like John Hancock who make summer jobs for kids a reality.”

According to Davis, the summer jobs initiative dovetails nicely with the police department’s community policing philosophy, a focus he has emphasized since taking over as the city’s top cop in December 2006.

Over the past 14 years, the department and Hancock have worked together on the “Summer Of Opportunity” program, which offers 40 students the chance to work with a John Hancock mentor for a full year. The program, in which nearly 500 students have participated, starts with a 40 hour per week, six-week summer session at Hancock, followed by a 46-week internship and higher education workshops.

“Successful programs such as the Summer Of Opportunity are a crucial component to addressing youth, gun and gang violence. Police and community partnerships are the most effective way to reduce crime,” said Davis.

In addition to the Summer Of Opportunity program, the Hancock initiative offers internships for 35 English High School students, as well as a program that has placed 125 Boston students in paid internships with 40 nonprofit organizations throughout the city, both of which also provide weekly job and life skills training classes for participants.

“Not only are we helping to provide summer employment, the training will assist in getting the teens off to a terrific start as they begin planning for college and careers,” said DesPrez.