June 22, 2001

The MGH hosted the kickoff of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino's 2001Summer Jobs Program June 15 at a press conference under the Bulfinch Tent. The 2001 "Hire a Kid" Summer Jobs Program is an effort chaired by Mayor Menino and includes the Boston Private Industry Council and Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), Boston's oldest anti-poverty agency. The goal is to provide a job for every qualified young person who wants one, with an aim of employing 11,000 teens this summer. Both the MGH and BWH are participating in the program, and the two hospitals collectively will employ some 100 Boston students.

"Today we are appealing to businesses throughout the Boston area to help us employ our youth," said Menino. "Educating our children does not end when they leave the classroom. A summer job is an important part of a young person's development. We want to give every student in Boston the opportunity to have a job and be a part of the success of this program."

Ed Lawrence, chairman of the MGH Board of Trustees, welcomed the audience to the hospital on behalf of Partners HealthCare. Guest speakers included Rosario Rodriguez, a junior at East Boston High School who works in the MGH Pathology Laboratory.

For more information about the program, call (617) 542-WORK.

Left, Rosario Rodriguez (middle) with Mike Fredrickson, technical director of MGH Surgical Pathology and Cathleen Farrell, program coordinator for Pro-Tech. Bottom right, Mayor Menino at the press conference.