Mayor’s Youth Employment Program (MYEP) – Charlotte, NC

Problem/Rationale: Charlotte is investing in youth to advance racial equity, social justice, economic opportunity, and upward mobility. Like many U.S. cities, school‑to‑career systems are misaligned with 21st‑century needs: 53% of U.S. jobs are middle‑skill (requiring education/training beyond high school but less than a four‑year degree), yet only 43% of workers are trained at this level (National Skills Coalition, 2019). The Mayor’s Youth Employment Program (MYEP) addresses this gap by providing equitable, solutions‑driven pathways into in‑demand careers.

Goals:

• Expand equitable access to paid work‑based learning for Charlotte youth, especially those from Title I schools and Corridors of Opportunity.
• Build social capital and career self‑efficacy through high‑quality internships, pre‑apprenticeships, and Job & Career Readiness Training (JCRT).
• Strengthen the talent pipeline for city departments and local industry across priority sectors.
• Innovate with virtual, hybrid, and VR‑enabled pathways to overcome barriers like transportation and limited employer bases.
• Improve long‑term economic mobility for historically underserved youth.

Project Summary: For 37+ years, the City of Charlotte’s MYEP has been the region’s largest producer of paid summer internships, offering traditional, virtual, and hybrid roles; pre‑apprenticeships; and a best‑in‑class JCRT. In partnership with Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC), students complete ACA 120 for one college credit, paired with City‑led workshops on job readiness, interview prep, professional development, and social‑emotional wellness. A first‑of‑its‑kind research partnership with UNC Charlotte’s Department of Counseling found statistically significant increases in participants’ career decision self‑efficacy after internships, affirming the program’s developmental impact.

MYEP recruits primarily from Title I high schools and the City’s Corridors of Opportunity—areas with the highest youth poverty rates and the largest shares of youth who are neither in school nor employed. Youth gain paid experience across 12–16 industry clusters, including Health Science, IT, Engineering, Finance, Construction, Public Safety, Agriculture/Food/Natural Resources, and Education. Interns are placed across City departments (e.g., Finance, IT, Housing & Neighborhood Services, Community Engagement) and with private/nonprofit partners, earning at least $10/hour for 150+ hours, with some earning up to $24/hour.

During COVID‑19, MYEP pioneered Virtual Industry‑Led Pathways—recognized by the Governor of North Carolina, Brookings, and Bloomberg Philanthropies—featuring industry‑specific learning, civic leadership, financial literacy, life skills, and executive access via live sessions. Teams completed capstones aligned with the Charlotte 2040 Comprehensive Plan (e.g., internship/job‑matching apps, clinic/pharmacy access proposals), using tools like the Quality of Life Explorer to ground solutions in neighborhood data.

Looking ahead, MYEP is expanding four Virtual Career Pathways (Healthcare, Finance, Skilled Trades, Innovation) and launching virtual‑reality simulations with a digital coach to standardize training and track mastery, transforming any Wi‑Fi‑enabled space into an industrial training facility. VR modules (e.g., automotive service) measure progress, time on task, and mastery by module, with instructor dashboards and downloadable reports.

Engagement Strategies:

• Deep public‑private partnerships across City departments, Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Schools, CPCC, UNC Charlotte, and local employers.
• Targeted recruitment from Title I schools and Corridors of Opportunity; emphasis on historically underserved youth.
• Hybrid/virtual pathways to mitigate transportation and access barriers; executive access via live industry sessions.
• JCRT (with college credit) plus City‑led workshops on professional skills and wellness.
• Mentorship, career development sessions, capstone projects aligned with the Charlotte 2040 Plan, and use of the Quality of Life Explorer.
• Upcoming VR simulations with digital coaching and analytics to personalize learning and document mastery.

Outcomes:

• 1,659 youth trained over the past three years; 765 completed immersive workplace experiences.
• 100% of interns earned above minimum wage; some up to $24/hour; standard pay ≥$10/hour for 150+ hours.
• 43 students received extended work offers following MYEP; 68 businesses hosted interns in the last cycle.
• UNC Charlotte study found statistically significant gains in career decision self‑efficacy post‑internship.
• State and national recognition for Virtual Pathways (Governor of NC, Brookings, Bloomberg Philanthropies).

Resources

• MYEP Website
• Charlotte’s 2023 AAC Presentation

Local Contact
Dawn Hill
Manager of Youth Programs and Business Partnerships
City of Charlotte
[email protected]