* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Clarke
At the request of: Baltimore City Peer to Peer Youth Enterprise Coordinating Group
c/o Ms. Odette Ramos
Address: 3100 Harford Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprise Coordinating Group
FOR the purpose of requesting the inclusion of a $3 million line item in the 2008-2009 City budget for the Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises Investment Fund to expand the number of individual Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises in Baltimore City.
Body
WHEREAS, According to Robert Balfanz, a researcher for the Center for the Social Organization of School at Johns Hopkins University, "failure to graduate from high school has become a ticket to the underclass." Between lower tax contributions and higher social programs use, each high school dropout can be expected to cost at least $200,000 more in public funding over the course of his or her life than if he or she had earned a high school degree; and
WHEREAS, According to KidsCount Data book in 2007, 32.6% of middle school students and 42.6% of high school students are absent more than 20 days within the school year, and there is a direct correlation between attendance rates and drop out rates; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that we implement new solutions for the crisis endangering our young people; and
WHEREAS, Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises hire young people to share skills and knowledge with other young people, with the paid peers entering the knowledge-based economy and positively affecting other young people; and
WHEREAS, Over 20 after school and out-of-school groups have Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises with very positive outcomes, with the paid peers having high graduation rates, high college enrollment, more involvement to improve their own communities, job skills and job readiness, and thus ultimately retaining youth leadership in Baltimore; and,
WHEREAS, The Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises has full support from Dr. Andres Alonso, CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools; and
WHEREAS, The Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises Investment fund will leverage public dollars with private foundation and corporate dollars to create an on-going stream of funds for Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises citywide; and
WHEREAS, the City Council Education Committee fully supports Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises and the plans for an Investment Fund to expand the number of Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises citywide.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body requests the inclusion of a $3 million line item in the 2008-2009 City budget for the Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises Investment Fund to expand the number of individual Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprises in Baltimore City. .
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the CEO of the Baltimore City Public School System, members of the Board of Estimates, members of the Peer-to-Peer Youth Enterprise Coordinating Council, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the Council.
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