By Leslie Vasquez, Mayors Innovation Project
While violent crime has declined recently in many cities, summer months can still bring seasonal spikes in violence that disproportionately affect young people. At the same time, summer school breaks can leave many youth without access to structured environments and supportive relationships that help keep them safe and engaged.
A growing body of research suggests that summer youth employment programs (SYEPs), particularly those targeted toward young people at greater risk of violence, can be a promising violence prevention strategy. By connecting youth to paid work, mentorship, and supportive services, SYEPs can help reduce violence while creating pathways to economic opportunities. While not a standalone solution, these programs offer cities a practical and cost-effective investment when compared to the steep social and economic costs of gun violence.
How can SYEPs be a useful tool for cities?
The costs of violence are felt across entire communities, from victims and families to strained public systems including hospitals, schools, and the justice system. Yet violence does not affect all people equally. Young men, particularly Black and Latino youth living in communities facing poverty, housing instability, and limited economic opportunity are disproportionately affected.
A growing body of evidence suggests that SYEPs can help cities address these risks. An integrative review of 13 evaluations of programs in cities including Chicago, Boston, New York, and Philadelphia found consistent evidence that SYEP participation reduces youth involvement in violent crime and contacts with the justice system while also improving employment skills and confidence, with some effects lasting more than a year after the program ends.
Importantly, the research suggests that these outcomes are not simply the result of keeping youth busy during the summer. The most effective programs combine paid work with mentoring, job readiness training, social-emotional learning, and exposure to long-term career pathways. Studies show these programs can strengthen factors linked to lower violence, including relationships with trusted adults, positive peer networks, and stronger connections to school and work. Research has also linked SYEP participation to improved job readiness, school engagement, and a greater sense of agency and future direction among youth.
For cities, SYEPs can also be a cost-effective investment. The average cost of a summer youth employment is estimated at roughly $3,338 per participant, compared to an estimated $15.6 million societal cost of a single gun homicide. While programs vary based on local goals, budgets, and capacity, cities seeking violence prevention outcomes specifically should prioritize outreach to young people at greatest risk, including those in neighborhoods with high violence, struggling schools, limited job access, and housing instability. Below are examples of how cities across the country have designed SYEPs to meet local needs.
Examples from Cities
Durham, NC: Durham YouthWorks
For more than 30 years, Durham YouthWorks has connected approximately 500 youth ages 14-21 to paid summer employment, career readiness training, and mentoring. Funded through partnerships between the city, county, and institutions including Duke Health, the program combines virtual and in-person workforce preparation with placements across industries ranging from senior care and clerical work to landscaping and health care. Participants complete job readiness and financial literacy training and can earn stipends up to $880 while gaining work experience.
Milwaukee, WI: Hello Summer
Milwaukee offers a broader example of how cities can build a supportive summer ecosystem around youth safety. Through Hello Summer MKE, the city connects young people and families with internships, jobs, camps, youth programming, child care, and enrichment opportunities through partnerships with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, libraries, museums, and arts organizations. The City’s Hello Summer website provides a one-stop-shop for summer planning. While not solely an employment program, Milwaukee leaders frame these opportunities as an important way to increase supervision, mentorship, and positive engagement during months when youth may face heightened exposure to violence.
Newark, NJ: Safe Summer Academy
Newark’s Safe Summer Academy, run through the city’s Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery, takes a more targeted approach by prioritizing youth ages 14-24 who have experienced violence or family incarceration. Participants gain paid experience in community organizing, event planning, and social justice work while developing professional and leadership skills. The program is embedded within Newark’s broader public health approach to violence prevention, which dedicates city resources toward addressing the root causes of violence rather than relying solely on enforcement.
Richmond, CA: YouthWORKS
Richmond’s city led YouthWORKS program explicitly frames youth employment as part of the city’s violence prevention strategy. Managed through Richmond’s Employment & Training Department, the program connects youth ages 16–24 with paid work experiences in city departments, local businesses, and community organizations while also offering financial literacy, work-readiness workshops, one-on-one career counseling, and apprenticeship exposure. For the 2026-27 cycle, participants can earn up to 100 hours of paid work at $19.18 per hour. The city also engages employers directly, helping businesses host youth workers, provide mentoring, and offer hands-on career exposure, expanding opportunities beyond city government.