Nats' Josh Bell helps Bowser kick off DC summer youth programs, reopen swimming pools
WASHINGTON (7News) — DC officially kicked off its summer program for young people today for the first time since the COVID pandemic caused the city to shut down just about everything last year.
Mayor Bowser appeared at the Edgewood Recreation Center with much of her cabinet today announcing the full reopening for activities from swimming pools (6 days a week) to the summer jobs program (13,000 young workers).
The city’s also working with the Library system to encourage summer reading. Appearing with the mayor was Washington Nationals baseball player, Josh Bell. He told the young people if they read for 20 minutes a day, they will have read a million word a year.
Bell also received a replica of the Nats' World Series Championship ring from Ward 5 activist Robert Brannum to give to one of the kids. He handed it at random to young Brayden Canada, who couldn’t believe his luck. Canada later told 7 News he’s a football and baseball fan, and saw Bell score a home run in yesterday’s game.
No DC United players were at the event, though team owner Jason Levian came and the team says it will offer summer youth free tickets to a game.
Today was also the first day of the DC summer jobs program. Young people from ages 14 to 24 showed up at work sites or computer screens around the city. DC Employment Services which runs the program said 13,000 young people received jobs this summer.
At a company called Fast Signs in NE, two 24 year olds learned how to make lettering for a sign project. One of them, James Lewis said he feels it’s going to be a good summer. He said he’s been part of the program every year since he turned 14, a decade ago.
The owner of Fast Signs, Howard James, said he got his first job with the DC Summer Youth Program in 1985. He said he’s hiring youth for the summer to “give back.”
