OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Summer may be months away, but STEP-UP OMAHA! is making sure young people have jobs waiting for them.

The Empowerment Network has placed over 8,000 young people with summer jobs over 17 years ranging from the medical field to entrepreneurship.

The program is leading them to lasting careers.

“We have one of our interns who is now in school to become a pilot. He got connected with OPD,” said KrisShonda Levering, director of STEP-UP OMAHA!

Research by Science Magazine shows summer jobs help reduce violent crime among teenagers. It’s a pattern the Empowerment Network has noticed in the Omaha community.

STEP-UP OMAHA! is filling the void some employers may have in finding workers.

“They are able to hire them on in the long run. our interns are able to seek long-term employment through the connection that we make,” said Levering.

Every year STEP-UP OMAHA! sets a goal for how many interns they want to bring on.

In 2024, it was 700 and this year, it’s 1,000.

“You think about 1,000 kids, it’s like wow. To even get to that number, that’s amazing for the city. I’m definitely looking forward to because we want to lift the number after this summer,” said assistant director, CJ Carter.

STEP-UP OMAHA! is looking for volunteers for their onboarding day on January 18.

It will be at MCC North – CAET Building 24 Room 101 from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. They will need help scanning documents and assisting families with applications. No experience is required.

Applications for the STEP-UP OMAHA! program close on March 3.

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