It’s a startling reality. Across the United States and here in Dallas, young people are experiencing Depression-era levels of employment.

But one local program working to address the problem got a bright and shiny boost today. Just in time for the holidays, leaders from JPMorgan Chase & Co. presented Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings with a $175,000 gift to the Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program. Mayor Rawlings, who leads the innovative initiative, said the money will fund 50 paid summer internships in the high-growth areas of healthcare, technology and energy for teens who attend Dallas public and charter high schools. It also will support work-readiness training, an essential step for youth entering a professional workplace. Most students who participate in the program will be first-generation college students.

“The reported 40 percent decline in summer youth employment in the U.S. over the past 12 years is unacceptable,” said Mayor Rawlings. “We’re working to reverse that trend through the Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program. Chase’s gift of $175,000 will go a long way in making a difference in the lives of the teens who will have paid internships next summer.”

Elaine Agather, chairman of JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Dallas, revealed that only 26 percent of teens held paid jobs in 2011 and 2012 – and that young people from low-income and minority families have been hit the hardest by this crisis. According to the Building Skills Through Summer Jobsstudy funded by Chase, teens from families that earned less than $20,000 were nearly 20 percent less likely to be employed than teens with family incomes of $60,000 or more.

"The sad fact is too many young people can’t find summer jobs. And, as a result, they’re missing out on critical opportunities to be personally and professionally successful in the future,” said Agather. “The Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program is a proven model, and we've seen thousands of students blossom as a result of their professional work experience. JPMorgan Chase is delighted to partner with Mayor Rawlings and other businesses on this powerful initiative.”

Counting today’s gift, Chase has donated a total of $500,000 to the Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program over the past three years to support 150 interns. Nationally, in 14 cities across the country, Chase has created jobs for 50,000 teens and learning opportunities for another 50,000 young people.

Today’s announcement also kicked off the student registration drive for the 2016 edition of the Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program and, although summer is months away, the deadline to sign up at mayorsinterns.org is Jan. 31, 2016. To qualify, students must be a current sophomore or junior at a Dallas public or charter high school and have the ability to work in the U.S. by June 12, 2016. In addition to being 16 years of age by June 12, students must have a 3.0 (85) cumulative GPA by Jan. 31, a solid attendance record and a letter of recommendation from campus leadership. They must also attend a full day of professional training.

If students meet the requirements, they will participate in a highly competitive, real-world Job Fair with employers set for April 8. If chosen for an eight-week internship, they’ll work full-or part-time positions from June 13 through Aug. 5, making a minimum of $9 per hour. The program concludes with a celebration luncheon at the end of the summer. The Mayors Intern Fellows Program is facilitated by Dallas nonprofit Education is Freedom.

Dallas ISD superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa strongly endorses the program.

“The opportunity for a 16- or 17-year-old, who likely has not spent much time in a professional work environment, to get eight weeks of immersion is life changing,” said Dr. Hinojosa. “It takes them beyond the classroom, helps them understand the importance of education and opens their eyes to the array of careers out there if they get their college degree. I thank Mayor Rawlings, JPMorgan Chase and all the other supporters for making this possible.”

Three students greatly benefited from last summer’s Chase-sponsored internships. North Dallas senior Kaitlin Contreras wants to be a pediatrician and learned a great deal working in the social services department and interacting with parents during her internship at Parkland Hospital. Skyline senior Jesus Gamez worked at Chase and gained networking, communication and teambuilding skills. And, Skyline senior Nigel Wilson shadowed physicians, positively influencing his career aspiration to become a pediatric neurologist.

They strongly encourage their peers to sign up by the Jan. 31 deadline.

Since the Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program began in 2008, more than 1,400 students have participated. The 2015 program was the largest to date – 1,790 Dallas public high school students applied for internships, 1,075 qualified for the Job Fair, and 350 students were hired by 94 businesses and 124 nonprofits, who paid a total of $687,072 in salaries to the students.

Modeled after the prestigious White House Fellows Program, the Intern Fellows Program prepares motivated teens to become the leaders of tomorrow. Founded in 2008, the Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program introduces high school students to careers and employment opportunities in industries and companies where they have expressed interest. The students get exposure to a variety of fields, including technology, healthcare, law, finance and accounting, education, the nonprofit sector, advertising/marketing/public relations, engineering, manufacturing and hospitality, and many more.

Mayor Rawlings closed today’s program urging businesses to plan now to hire or sponsor an intern (or several) in their workplace or at a nonprofit. The push to sign up businesses will begin in early 2016.

To learn more, go to mayorsinterns.org or call 214-871-0783.