CHA offers summer jobs to residents ages 13-24! Explore below to read details about each program and note that each have age and/or educational status requirements.

Be Your Own Boss (BYOB)
Requirements: 9-12th Grade (rising sophomore through rising senior preferred)

During Future Founders' Be Your Own Boss program, you will work in a small group to build a startup solution to a problem you are passionate about solving. Through a mixture of virtual sessions, in-person team meetings, and field trips, you will be led through an accelerated entrepreneurial process with the guidance of real entrepreneurs, innovative business professionals, and Future Founders staff. From learning how to identify opportunities and find your first customers, to building prototypes and pitching your idea to investors, you'll walk away from this internship with a set of skills that will prove valuable for the rest of your life! Please note that this program combines virtual and in-person programming and Future Founders requires proof of vaccination to participate in the in-person days. Participants earn $16.60/hour for up to 120 hours over six weeks.

Chicago Housing Authority Intern Program
Requirements: Current College Student

The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) 2025 Summer Internship Program is an 10-week program that is designed to provide opportunities for college students (both undergraduate and graduate) to participate in a professional environment, building workplace skills and gaining valuable experience in preparation for future employment. Participants in the internship work a five day per week schedule of 40 hours per week excluding designated holidays. The hourly wage is $16.60/hr over 10 weeks. An unofficial transcript and resume are REQUIRED to apply for this program.

Day Camp Counselor in Training
Requirements: Age 15

The Chicago Park District and the Chicago Housing Authority have collaborated to provide teens 15 years of age with a summer opportunity as a Day Camp Counselor in Training (CIT).

Teens will gain leadership and financial literacy training skills, enjoy fun challenges and unique perspectives from guest speakers. They will also learn about using our parks safely all while keeping campers 6-12 years old active, engaged, and safe! Teens with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply!

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Teen League Counselor in Training
Requirements: Age 15

The Chicago Park District and the Chicago Housing Authority have collaborated to provide teens 15 years of age a summer opportunity to work with a citywide basketball sports league. Teens will assist in organizing games, scorekeeping, and managing equipment. Gain hands-on experience in sports programming and enjoy working with a supportive team!

This program runs July 7-August 22, 2025.

Hyde Park Art Center
Requirements: 18-24

In the summer of 2025, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside mural artist Dorian Sylvain to design and create a painted mural on the exterior of the Hyde Park Art Center building. Education is at the heart of Sylvain’s practice, with a special focus on young adults like you, between the ages of 18 and 24. You’ll join a group of 12 to 20 participants, developing your artistic skills and exploring your creative potential, all while collaborating with the Art Center staff. Open to both artists and non-artists.

Learn and Earn: Career Connections
Requirements: Ages 13-15

Join us this summer for six weeks of career exploration and summer learning! Explore career fields like cosmetology, arts and technology, culinary, coding, music production, and more through hands on projects and real-world experiences AND make meaningful connections to academic subjects like math and reading. This program meets four days a week from 10am – 2pm with in-person and remote options. It’s a fun way explore your interests, sharpen your reading and math skills, and earn money! Transportation will be provided.

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Summer Youth Employment Program
Requirements: Ages 15-24
The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) offers young people, ages 15 – 24, meaningful, paid work-based opportunities with a variety of industries throughout the city. Participants explore their interests, career pathways, build employability skills and financial literacy over the course of six weeks during the summer. Participants earn $16.60/hour for up to 120 hours over six weeks.

Become a Filmmaker
Requirements: Ages 15-24, female identifying youth

In this award-winning program, participants learn every step of filmmaking including story development, producing, camera operation, lighting, sound, casting, and editing. Youth will work in small groups supported by graduate film students to complete short film projects that will then be sent to festivals and competitions worldwide. During the program, youth will also be visited by industry experts and go on experiential field trips including a tour of Cinespace, the largest film studio outside of Hollywood. Participants earn $16.60/hour for up to 120 hours over six weeks.

Movie and TV Scripts 101: Screenwriting from the Pros!
Requirements: Ages 15-24

Designed to teach students how to write an original screenplay from award-winning screenwriters at DePaul University. Participants will analyze a series of films studying screenplay format, visual writing style, scene craft, story structure, character development and dialogue. The program culminates with each participant writing their own short movie/tv script and actors from DePaul’s Theatre School doing a table read of their work. During the program, youth will also be visited by industry experts and go on experiential field trips including a tour of Cinespace, the largest film studio outside of Hollywood. Participants earn $16.60/hour for up to 120 hours over six weeks.

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Next Level Photography
Requirements: Ages 15-24

Take your smartphone photography skills to the next level by learning how to operate a professional DSLR camera. In this hands-on intensive, you’ll master the technical foundation of photography, explore several major genres (nature, cityscapes, portraiture, street photography), and develop your own original style. Each participant will create a digital body of work that will serve as a portfolio for future free-lance work and be entered into a contest to win a professional-level camera package. Participants earn $16.60/hour for up to 120 hours over six weeks.

PeacePlayers Chicago
Requirements: 13-15

Join PeacePlayers Chicago for a transformative summer experience centered around fostering healthy relationships and unlocking the leader in you! Our program offers a unique blend of basketball, leadership development, career readiness, and peace building.

Participants earn a $600 stipend for their participation.

Summer of Code
Requirements: 16 to 24

Learn how to develop a mobile app (Apple) from scratch!

No prior experience needed. This program is designed for you to build a solid foundation in programming fundamentals using Swift as the language. You will gain practical experience with the tools, techniques, and concepts needed to build a basic iOS app from scratch. You will also learn user interface design principles, which are fundamental to programming and making apps.

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Past careers have included filmmaking, photography, culinary arts, cosmetology, basketball, entrepreneurship, and music production. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible to increase your chances of getting into one of your top choices. The most popular programs fill up fast!

Ready to Apply?

Contact information: YouthOpportunities@thecha.org and 312-786-6930.