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Forum on Memphis Young Adult Unemployment Outlines Crisis, Solutions That Put People Back to Work

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2013

Contact:
Dustin Summers, dustin.summers@younginvincibles.org, 202-534-3564
Colin Seeberger, colin.seeberger@younginvincibles.org, 214-223-2913

Forum on Memphis Young Adult Unemployment Outlines Crisis, Solutions That Put People Back to Work

Event Comes On the Heels of New Report Showing the Coming Years Will Be Pivotal to the Economic Future of Tennessee’s Young Adults

[MEMPHIS, Tenn.] – On Tuesday, July 16, Young Invincibles, in conjunction with the Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks Job Corps Center, will be hosting a public forum on local job training programs and the high rate of unemployment among young Tennesseans (ages 18 to 34).

This event is part of Young Invincibles’ national “Get the Facts about Youth Jobs” campaign, which will serve to both educate local organizations regarding the job market for young adults and afford community stakeholders the opportunity to discuss with the public what is working best to train young adults for careers. This latest event comes on the heels of a new fact sheet [http://jobs.younginvincibles.org/get-the-facts-about-youth-unemployment-in-tennessee/] by Young Invincibles on youth unemployment in Tennessee, which found:

• Tennessee has a lower young adult unemployment rate (13.3%) than the national average (16.2%); however, young adults in the state fare worse than their elders as the state has an 8.0% unemployment rate.
• While some have enjoyed marginally higher wages, a much smaller share of young people (ages 18 to 24) have a job today – (54%) compared to 2005 (63%). Studies show that lack of early work experience dims career prospects.

Representatives from Sen. Lamar Alexander, from the Greater Memphis Chamber, the Workforce Investment Network (WIN), The White House Initiative on Strong Cities, Strong Communities and Mayor A. C. Wharton’s office have all confirmed their attendance. Former national Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chair Naomi Earp will also be in attendance.

What: Public forum on Tennessee’s youth unemployment crisis and solutions workshop to address epidemic
When: Tuesday, July 16 at 10am-12pm
Where: Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks Job Corps Center (1555 McAlister Dr.; Memphis, TN 38116)

Forum participants will take a brief tour of the Center, and photographers and videographers are welcome. Participants will be available at the end for interviews, but if you would like to schedule an advance interview, please contact Dustin or Colin with Young Invincibles. For more information, please visit http://jobs.younginvincibles.org/

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Young Invincibles is a national organization committed to amplifying the voices of young Americans, aged 18 to 34, and expanding economic opportunity for our generation. Young Invincibles ensures that young Americans are represented in today’s most pressing societal debates through cutting-edge policy research and analysis and innovative campaigns designed to educate, inform and mobilize our generation to change the status quo.