On November 13th, the Tempe Chamber was honored with the Youth Advocate Award at Tempe Coalition’s 3rd Annual Celebrating Champions for Youth event. The award recognizes the success of the chamber’s Career Ready Tempe program and its impact on reducing youth risk behaviors in Tempe.
Last summer, the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the City of Tempe, launched Career Ready Tempe, a program connecting low-income high school students with work-based learning experiences. This pilot workforce program helps tackle barriers to employability for income-eligible youth while also allowing employers to create a robust talent pipeline.
In its first year, Career Ready Tempe had eight student participants paired with these Tempe Chamber business: Tempe Elementary, Arizona Tax Advisors, Bullock Training & Development, Landings Credit Union, Printing Specialists, Wilson Electric Services, Special Moments Catering, and Remitter. The eight weeks of summer internships culminated in a celebration ceremony where student participants walked away with new workplace skills and the dedication to taking the next step in their education.
Looking ahead to 2020, Career Ready Tempe will be opening up business applications to additional industries such as advanced business services, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing services. Contact the Tempe Chamber office to learn more.
