Frankfort pushes youth initiative with job shadow program

CLINTON COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Frankfort’s mayor has launched a two-pronged youth initiative involving a job shadowing program and youth lecture series in an effort on developing the city’s youth into leaders of tomorrow.

Mayor Chris McBarnes says a key element in helping local students prepare for their future is keeping options open for their careers.

“We will be reaching out to area businesses and organizations to ascertain their interest in hosting high school juniors and seniors for a couple of hours on a mutually agreed upon date so these students can see first-hand what some careers involve,” McBarnes said.

“In addition to allowing students to see particular occupations and businesses at close range, the format of our program allows business leaders the opportunity to get to know very capable and intelligent young people who they may want to employ one day.”

McBarnes also said he’d roped in two college interns to help him launch the new effort. Those two interns, who are working not for pay but for college credit, will be contacting businesses and organizations by phone and letter in the near future.

He said the program will not cost any money for the participating groups. It will simply demand a couple of hours’ time and information sharing with those shadowing them.

The job shadowing program is open to all Clinton County high school juniors and seniors from Frankfort, Clinton Central, Clinton Prairie and Rossville high schools.

Students will be required to give one hour of community service to Frankfort’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors program to participate. That program connects volunteers with seniors and physically challenged residents who need help with their yards and home exteriors.

Local juniors and seniors must have their own transportation to and from the locations where they will job shadow. The program is set to begin this summer or early fall.

The second phase of the youth initiative is a youth lecture series. It’s a quarterly program in which four selected leaders in the areas of business, non-profit, government and sports will speak to area youth on leading successful lives once they graduate and move into the work world.

Students in the job shadowing program will be required to attend at least one of these events later on this year.

For questions about the program, contact Mayor McBarnes at 765-412-8742.