Residents and youth urge Erie County Council to preserve Earn and Learn youth jobs in 2026 budget
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Summary
At a public hearing on the 2026 budget, youth participants, program leaders and community groups told the Erie County Council that the Earn and Learn summer employment program provides jobs, mentorship and safety and asked the council to maintain or increase funding and expand capacity.
At a public hearing on the 2026 budget, dozens of Erie County residents, youth participants and program leaders urged the Erie County Council to maintain and expand the Earn and Learn summer employment program, arguing it provides jobs, mentorship and keeps teens engaged.
"When you invest in us, you invest in Erie's future," said Myonna Ste Carter, a 21-year-old program participant who told the council that Earn and Learn offers work experience, interviewing skills and mentorship. Tawan Taylor, known in the transcript as "Mister T," introduced young participants and told the council, "I'm who I am today because of programs like that."
Program leaders described high demand and limited capacity. Dr. Wilson, identified in the transcript as CEO of GCAC, said the county program “can go against any program throughout the country” and reported that "over 300 people applied" for the program this cycle, urging the council to allocate additional slots and funding so more applicants can participate. Marybelle Martin, director at GCEC, framed the program as an investment in the county’s future workforce and asked officials to prioritize youth when allocating budget resources.
Speakers tied the program to public-safety and education outcomes. Youth speakers said Earn and Learn provides structure and prevents risky behavior; Marchel Hall and others linked participation to improved financial literacy, graduation prospects and career readiness.
Multiple commenters asked the council to restore or expand summer-job funding that they said was not used from earlier federal COVID-era allocations. Community leaders said summer employment funds are particularly important in neighborhoods without easy access to informal family employment.
The hearing closed with council members and the public arranging a follow-up Saturday meeting; a motion to adjourn was made and the hearing concluded. The transcript does not record a formal vote on the motion in this excerpt.
Reporting in this article is based on public comments recorded at the Erie County Council's 2026 budget public hearing (see provenance).