NASHVILLE (AP) - As part of a plan to reduce violence, Nashville's mayor is pushing for employers in both the Metro government and the private industry to hire more teenagers for summer jobs.

Mayor Megan Barry's goal for summer 2016 is 10,000 youth jobs, according to WPLN-FM (http://bit.ly/1VxMMZG). The mayor's office heard youth hiring budget requests totaling more than $900,000, including requests for paid artist apprenticeships and language interpreters.

The Nashville Career Advancement Center made one of the largest requests - another 215 summer jobs for teens. The center usually places 50 high school seniors into departments like finance or information technology.

"One of the things we know is that you learn about work by working," said NCAC Director Paul Haynes. "With the recession, it's been difficult for a lot of our young folks to find that first job."

The Metro Parks department will also account for much of the expansi on. The department usually hires for about 100 seasonal jobs, mostly lifeguards, said Parks Director Tommy Lynch. This year, the department is adding 72 spots and is requesting even more for next year.

In the future, the work in the parks department could branch out, to mowing grass with maintenance crews or building woodland trails, Lynch said.