With the hope of curbing inner-city violence, city of Boston officials announced that more than 400 new summer jobs would be created for at-risk youth, reports the Boston Globe.  The jobs are to be funded with an over $600,000 donation from several of the city’s private foundations and nonprofits.

Though city jobs for troubled teens and young adults are down from last year’s 10,000 to 7,000 this year, the city is offering jobs at day camps, its parks and even has opportunities for its urban teens on organic farms.  The jobs provide an alternative to crime, and aid in developing crucial life skills, said Conny Doty, who was interviewed for the Globe piece, and heads the City’s Jobs and Community Services Department.  In conjunction with the jobs program, Boston public schools are offering a large number of summer courses for students who struggled during the academic year.