NEWARK -- Mayor Ras Baraka arrived at the Summer Youth Employment Program kick-off at the Essex County College gymnasium Monday morning to welcome the hundreds of kids waiting to get a job.

The Summer Youth Work and Enrichment Program began Monday with the support of roughly $2 million in funding, offering summer opportunities for 2,600 children in the state's largest city.

The participants gathered this morning to attend orientation for the program, which officials said is part of the effort to get more members of the youth employed in the city.

"We know the importance of keeping kids connected and engaged in some kind of structural opportunity," Baraka said. "About how important it is to make sure our kids are engaged in the summer time."

About 1,500 students are hired to work every summer with the approximate $1 million investment from Newark and its employment office, Newark Works. But the extra private funds donated this year helped boost that number to $1,905,000, and is allowing for 2,600 participants.

City officials said the program aims to help educate and offer Newark kids and teens opportunities to learn the importance of working and experiencing the workforce. Baraka said when he walked into the gymnasium and saw the hundreds of adolescents patiently waiting for their information, he felt confident the program will be successful.

"While we have a myriad of challenges in the city of Newark that we try to overcome daily...there's work that we can do everyday to prevent the things that we see happening," Baraka said.

Newark Collegiate Academy student Alonzo Eley, 16, came out to Essex County College Monday for his orientation and to find out his assignment. He said he was not sure what he would be doing this summer, but he would like to work at a recreation center.

"If you have A's, they usually give you applications if you want to work during the summers," he said. "I've been doing it since eighth grade, and I'll work for the whole summer."

Baraka also thanked the companies that donated money to the program, including Foundation for Newark's Future, Citi Foundation, PSE&G, Wells Fargo, TD Bank and Bank of America.

Baraka said giving kids the opportunity to work, get paid, and be around adults to be properly mentored will set them on the path to success. He added that this program is an example of several departments in the city coming together, with the involvement of NJIT, Essex County and Rutgers students as well.

"We are doing the right thing today, making sure these young people have meaningful employment and are partnered with adults in their life that are going to make sure that they stay on the right trajectory to success," he said.

The number of youth employed every year is expected to continue to rise, Baraka said.

Erin Serpico may be reached at eserpico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @erin_serpico. Find NJ.com on Facebook.