New Effort Seeks to Connect Teens With Local Businesses

Getting a job requires experience.

But how do you get experience without a job?

It’s a conundrum faced by anyone venturing out into the workforce, including young people looking for their first job.

Now a new effort spearheaded by the Petaluma Youth Commission wants to make getting a first job for teens a little less challenging by alerting them to which local businesses are “youth-friendly” with a sticker on their window or door.

“A lot of my friends look for jobs but can’t ever get hired,” says Kathleen Dargie, a 17-year-old student at Valley Oak High School and a member of the Youth Commission. “A lot of them require you to be at least 18. It can be really frustrating for teens and we hope that this will help.”

So far, ten local businesses have signed on for the campaign, including Petaluma Market, Aqus, Acre, Bovine and Velasco’s. Dargie says she and others from the commission are continuing to search for other local employers willing to commit to hiring young people.

“We want kids to be able to walk through downtown and see which stores are open to hiring them,” said Dargie, who is herself seeking a part-time job. School career counselors will also receive a list, complete with minimum age, schedule and appropriate person to contact.

If you would like to participate in the effort, please contact Kathleen Dargie at kadargie@yahoo.com