Grand Rapids’ Mayor’s 100 Campaign Hits Critical Mass [Video]

Lynn Heemstra and Shannon Harris, of Our Community's Children, joined The Jojo Show this morning to talk about Grand Rapids Mayor George Hartwell's doubling of the number of businesses taking part in the Mayors' 100 Campaign.

The Mayor's 100 Campaign is hoping to have 100 area businesses in the program to hire and train young Grand Rapids residents in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.

Young people ages 15 through 24 years old who live in the city of Grand Rapids and complete the Leadership and Employment, Achievement and Direction (LEAD) pre-employment training are eligible for a Mayor’s 100 employment experience facilitated by Our Community's Children (OCC).

The reception will be tonight, Thursday (Feb. 26), from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Rockford Construction, 601 First Street NW in Grand Rapids.

The event will also feature comments from former LEAD student employees and current Mayor’s 100 Businesses that have participated in the program since its inauguration in 2010.

Our Community’s Children is a public-private partnership between the City of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Public Schools and community partners and manages the Mayor’s 100 Campaign and the LEAD Program.