What’s happening?
Mayor Brandon Scott announced a plan to help youth who make money by cleaning car windshields at busy intersections. Ten selected young people will learn basic workplace skills at the Mayor’s Office of African American Male Engagement (MOAAME) for three weeks, then receive restaurant and hospitality training at a Hilton hotel in Fells Point.
Why did they choose these young people for the program?
Dubbed “Squeegee kids,” youth at these intersections have been a point of contention for years, according to WYPR. Faith Leach, the Deputy Mayor for Equity, Health and Human Services, said they are “the physical manifestation of poverty and the physical manifestation of a really bigger issue of disconnected youth.” MOAAME has identified 186 squeegee kids since 2020, and has been working since then to connect them with educational opportunities, mentorships, and jobs.
Anything else I should know?
Because Squeegee kids need quick cash, the city is working on a plan to offer daily stipends to “disconnected youth” who work day jobs across the city.
You can read more here.
