The Baltimore City States Attorneys Office has expanded it's youth outreach by launching Project 17.
The program is an effort aimed at curbing chronic absence and truancy through employment. It's a further attempt by States Attorney Marilyn Mosby to assist in preventing Baltimore's youth from entering the criminal justice system.
Monday, city leaders along with educators and students from Renaissance Academy and Frederick Douglass High Schools joined Mosby in announcing the initiative.
The pilot program will include students currently enrolled in Renaissance Academy and Frederick Douglass High. Initially, 60 students from those two schools will be chosen by their respective administrators to participate.
Eligible students will work part-time for a partnering local small business in return for improvements in attendance and academic achievement. In exchange for the student fulfilling their obligation, the employer will afford the participant the opportunity to continue working
Officials say Project 17 is made possible and funded by the ReCAST grant, designed to assist young people in the communities impacted by the events of 2015. The grant was awarded to the States Attorneys Office in December 2017.
Currently at least 10 businesses have agreed to take part in Project 17.
