June 21, 2006 Kick-Off of 2006 Passport-to-Work Summer Youth Employment Program Thousands of City Youth Begin Work Monday, June 26th.   (Washington, DC) District government leaders will be joined by representatives from Verizon Washington, DC, the DC Chamber of Commerce and the Washington, DC Building and Construction Trades Council to kick off the Department of Employment Services’ summer jobs initiative.   Nearly 13,000 city youth, between the ages of 14 and 21, have applied for a job or work experience through the Passport-to-Work Summer Youth Employment Program. The six-week program will operate from June 26 through August 4, and is funded to serve 10,000 youth. High school seniors and college students are being referred to private, federal and non-profit organizations. Many younger workers will participate in skills development and education enrichment programs. Several new initiatives will be announced at the program opening.   What: Kick-Off of the 2006 Passport-to-Work Summer Youth Employment Program Who:   Stanley Jackson, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development; Anthony Lewis CEO, Verizon, Washington, DC; Gregg Irish, Director, Department of Employment Services; Barbara Lang, President, DC Chamber of Commerce; Jerry Lozupone, Executive Secretary and Treasurer, Washington, DC Building and Construction Trades Council; Barbara Childs-Pair, Director, DC Emergency Management Agency When: Monday, June 26, 2006, 10 am – 11 am Where: Verizon Headquarters 2055 L Street, NW, Lobby