Source: St. Petersburg Times

Childs Park is a low-income, crime-ridden area of St. Petersburg. Even during good economic times, conditions and life there are mostly desperate, especially for teenagers and young adults during the summer months when school is out. Each summer, local leaders manage to keep many young people busy and out of trouble through the Summer Youth Internship Program.

Last year, the program was hard hit by steep budget cuts. This year, it is in much better shape thanks to the efforts of U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, a Tampa Democrat. She secured a $200,000 earmark for the program in the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill Congress passed last month. Officials intend to find 100 jobs for young people who otherwise might wind up in the streets, some getting into serious trouble with the law. Most of the jobs will pay $7.21 an hour, with private employers paying $3.60 an hour, and the grant making up the rest.

Flanked by St. Petersburg City Council members and others, Castor highlighted the urgency of the grant and the internships during a somber news conference in the aftermath of the recent death of an 8-year-old girl in the Bartlett Park area. "This could not happen at a more poignant time, with the terrible tragedy over the weekend," she said. "When young people have an opportunity to gain a little experience at a job where they're working all day, they're much less likely to get in trouble."

Over the years, the internship program has helped dozens of young people in Childs Park and Bartlett Park find purpose and lead productive lives. With Castor's concern, her clout in Washington and the support of local leaders, at least 100 more young people will be given opportunities to become successful.