SAN FRANCISCO—On Monday, June 6, the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) launched several programs which will according to their website “engage,” “educate,” and “employ” young San Francisco teens. According to the authorities, their goal is to provide the city’s youth with employment opportunities and safe, and fun activities.

The San Francisco Police Department has partnered with sf.citi (San Francisco Citizens Initiative for Technology and Innovation), SF Water, Power & Sewer, San Francisco Police Utilities Commission (SFPUC), and San Francisco Youth Jobs+ to hold the annual programs. Three hundred San Francisco teens ages 14 to 18 years old will be hired by the police department and placed in their various four programs.

Teens can participate in “The Garden Project” which is a 10-week paid program, which teaches youth land management training and that involves designing and planting gardens. Teens will also learn to clear fire trails in the Sierras.  Skyline College are also offering students the eligibility to receive one college credit by participating in their life skills education program.

Teenagers interested in the technology field can participate in the “Future Grads” program. It is an eight-week summer intern program in which its participants receive a stipend while learning. Teens work with corporate mentors and work in real world work environments to complete projects. According to a press release from the SFPD, past program participants have received employment with their mentor company after completion of their internship.

Teens looking to learn about various city departments can participate in “Project Pull & SF Works.” This is an eight-week paid summer internship program which places diverse San Francisco high school students in different city departments. The program helps students explore and learn about different careers such as: architecture, business, engineering, and science.

The SFPD has partnered with different organizations to bring forth two educational programs for teens this summer. SFPD has partnered with Mo’ Magic to present the “Community Safety Initiative” (CSI) program. This program offers summer jobs to underserved youth. Young people are provided with different employment opportunities in different career fields. Different employment opportunities range from culinary arts to medicine and law enforcement. Participants receive on the job training, classroom instruction and the program extends past the summer. Participants can continue to receive their training up to age 25.

The SFPD also has a program that provides young people a holistic view of the criminal justice system. The Youth Career Academy provides middle and high school students the opportunity to speak and learn from the members of the San Francisco Police Department, San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, Juvenile and Adult Probation, and the Superior Court. Students get to visit the agencies and participate in mock court to learn more about the criminal justice system.

San Francisco News spoke Lt. Troy Dangerfield of the SFPD who said that the annual summer programs provides teens a way to “make money.” Lt. Dangerfield further stated that it helps prevent from teens getting into trouble and causing mischief.

The SF Police Department will also provide other fun and free activities for the youth to participate in such as rafting, camping trips, swimming events and many more. To learn more information about these programs, other events and opportunities please contact the Department’s Youth and Community Engagement Unit at (415) 837-7245.

SFPD Launches Summer Educational and Employment Programs was originally published on San Francisco News