Fun Facts, Photos and Stats from Summer Jobs ’12

The Grand Rapids Community Foundation PR & Marketing Intern, Katelyn Sandor, created a Prezi presentation just for you with fun facts, images and stats to showcase the Summer Jobs ’12 program.

Check out what 250+ Grand Rapids area young people learned and completed this summer!

For those of you who are not familiar with Prezi, the slideshow is best viewed in full screen mode.

1. Click the link below

2. Click More on the Prezi screen and then click Fullscreen

3. Use the arrow keys on your computer’s keyboard or the left click of your computer’s mouse to navigate through the presentation at your own pace.

Click here: Summer Jobs ’12 Stats, Facts and Photos

Cheers of Jubilee

Adell Arndt, a Jubilee Jobs Summer worker, talks enthusiastically about her experience.

Checkout what three Jubilee Jobs employees had to say about their Summer Job experience.

“My favorite part about the program was the employability academy,” said Adell Arndt. “Dress for success was very helpful for me. The classroom dress code made me learn to be responsible for my appearance in class and on my work site. I also learned a lot on my work experience. At the Library, I learned that organization is a great responsibility and that it is very time consuming.  Also, when working with the public you have to be very polite and friendly.”

“While working with Jubilee Jobs, I enjoyed going on field trips, especially the trip to Craig Cruisers.  I had never been there before and was surprised to see how large it was.  The activities were fun and the food was really good.”

“The Staff at Jubilee Jobs were really nice.  I really liked Ms. Nicky, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Ruth and Mrs. Cheryl. Each one of them challenged me to strive for higher heights.”

*******************************************************************************************************************************

“The employability academy prepared us for work.” – Taylor Arndt

Taylor Arndt’s work assignment was at Westminister Meadows. “I really liked working there. The staff really liked me. They also made sure I was learning how to do new things and improve my skills. I thought painting was easy but they taught me how to do it correctly which involved me taking my time, taping boards and putting something on floors. I never really have to clean a lot at home, other than my bedroom, so I didn’t know how to clean anything like a janitor does.  They taught me how to sanitize and clean bathrooms with different chemicals.  I stayed very busy working this summer.”

The employability academy at Jubilee prepared youth for work. “During the class we learned how to act at work. The instructors showed us what not to do and how to continue to work safely and avoid unnecessary accidents. One of the activities we played in class showed us how to work as a team. They first split us into two groups. Then they made a pond out of rope and placed index cards with numbers in the middle out of order. The instructor then gave each team five minutes to discuss a strategy to touch each number without talking. This was really hard but when we put both teams to gather it was easy and fun.”

“I learned a lot this summer at Jubilee Jobs and would like to come back next year if I can. Thanks to the staff there, I now know how to manage my time and how to follow directions.”

*********************************************************************************************************************************

“What really caught me, during the training, was that our leader taught self-esteem and goal setting for the future.” – Jaqueia Sewell

Meet Jaqueia Sewell. “My work site was at Jubilee Jobs as an assistant to the administrative assistant. Working at Jubilee made me think about future employment and how important it is to have a good job. I really like the work that is being done at Jubilee Jobs. I enjoyed the different projects I was given by different staff members. I had to help a lot of people who came to Jubilee looking for help finding a job. This made think about how hard it is to find employment, so I really didn’t want to leave my job when my assignment was over. I wanted to continue my employment at Jubilee Jobs, so I asked if I could volunteer some times.”

“The employability academy was really fun. The instructor showed us how to dress for success and what professional appearance should look like. In class we learned a lot through interaction with other students about time management and team building skills. The instructor gave us examples of what the real work world was like to prepare us for our work assignment. What really caught me is that she taught self-esteem and goal setting for the future.”

“I would definitely like to participate at Jubilee Jobs again next year.  The Staff were very nice and helpful to me. While training to do different tasks on the job, I noticed how patient the staff was with me and that made me happy.”

Summer Jobs on Rapid Growth Media

Rapid Growth Media put together a lovely story about the Summer Jobs program here in Grand Rapids.

The photographer, Adam Bird, even took some very cool, very artsy shots of some of the youth workers at Comprenew. The piece, written by J. Bennet Rylah, oozes with honesty, gusto and heart. It really captures the goals of the Summer Jobs program and the impact these job opportunities are having on area youth.

Click here to read the article. Also check out this photo slideshow with more pictures and images of Summer Jobs.

Urban Fellows take on Health

These images are posters created by the Urban Fellows at Grand Rapids Urban League. The Urban Fellows are made up of 15 young men who have worked throughout this summer on ways to market, advertise and implement the Governor’s 4X4 health plan to their homes, neighborhoods and communities.

The posters were unveiled to members of the community during a luncheon at the Goei Center. The lunch was in honor of the Urban Fellows and the accomplishments they gained through their summer employment, sponsored in part by the W. K. Kellogg Youth Employment grant.

For these young men, health is more than just a word, it is a way of life. “Health is the foundation to success,” said group leader Bryan McKissack. “We need good health of our minds, our bodies and our spirits.”

The different posters were created in small groups where the Urban Fellows had to work together, compromise, plan, build their strategy and implement their take on the 4X4 plan. Throughout the summer the group took field trips to places like Ferris State University, Davenport University, GRCC, WOOD TV8 and more.

Lita, a mother of one of the 15 young men said, “My son has learned so much about responsibility while in this program. All of the young man have grown so much. My son is walking with more stature, you can see how much pride he has in himself, and it is great for me to see that come out of him.”

Having goals in life was a topic talked about by the Urban League presenters. “A lot of parents don’t know what to say when their son says, ‘I want to be a professional athlete,’” explained McKissack. “But I hear, ‘I want to go to college,’ because you can’t get to that level of play unless you go to college.”

For more information on Urban Fellows, click here.

Working with your hands

Young people at Wedgwood Christian Services are learning what it is like to work in landscaping this summer. Along with getting their hands a little dirty, youth workers are also being trained in work responsibilities, job skills and how to obtain and keep employment.

About 25 young people are employed at Wedgwood as a result of the W. K. Kellogg Youth Employment grant. These workers are on the clock 20-25 hours a week and work with a supervisor in small groups of 3-4 whenever they are on the job. Work responsibilities include mowing lawns, edging, laying down mulch and sod, making tables and dog houses, and even washing cars.

Checkout what three Wedgwood employees have to say about their summer experience!

Become who you want to be

From working at John Ball Zoo to helping provide a program called Peace Club, young people employed through Steepletown Neighborhood Association are getting their fill of hands-on experience this summer.

Steepletown is a local nonprofit whose mission promotes “neighbor helping neighbor live with dignity and hope.” The faith-based group is employing around 35 young people through the Youth Employment grant this summer.

GR Summer Jobs chatted with a few of the young workers, two of whom have a very inspiring story.

Jaynescia W. and Charrise H. are cousins who were in desperate need of jobs when they applied for work at Steepletown. In fact, the girls had been close to homeless for quite some time. The 15-year-olds began working at Steepletown as a result of the funds from the Youth Employment grant. Jaynescia and Charrise were placed at Baxter Community Center where they supervise young kids, set up play time and activities, organize lunches and clean-up.

Jaynescia W., 15, says the one of the things she’s learned about while being on the job at Baxter Community Center is patience.

“I have learned how to have patience,” said Jaynescia. “We work with little kids and kids almost our own age, so we have to have patience. It was really hard at first, but I think I am getting better at it.” Jaynescia said this job experience has helped her learn how to handle responsibilities. “You don’t always like everyone,” she said. “But, you still have to find ways of getting along with others and getting the job done.” In the future, Jaynescia plans to attend college and open up her own cosmetology business. “After doing hair for a while, I want to go back to school and become a family and marriage counselor. I really want to help people, like others have helped me.”

Charrise H., 16, enjoys working at Baxter Community Center and hopes to one day become a doctor or a lawyer.

Charrise said the job at Baxter Community Center has been great for her. “This is my first time working and it really takes a lot of energy to work!” she said. “I am learning how to share my attention and be a leader. These young kids look up to me, especially the little girls, and I want to be a positive role model for them.” Both Charrise and Jaynescia are learning how fun working can be and also how to work together, compromise and manage their responsibilities. In the future, Charrise hopes to move to California to live with her father and attend California State University. Her dream is to become a doctor or a lawyer. “I really want to be a surgeon,” she said. “Or, I want to be the lawyer that talks about the people that aren’t guilty; I want to help the innocent.”

The jobs offered by Steepletown help the youth in a number of different ways. “It is like being in college,” said Dick Bulkowski. “In high school, everyone knows who you are and you are sort of stuck being that person. But in college, you can be someone new if you want. That is what it is like for the kids working at Steepletown. We are giving them a chance to become who they want to be.”

This is all about the experience

GR Summer Jobs Journal ’12 has been out and about all over Grand Rapids throughout the month of July. From baking to computer recycling, the job experiences for Grand Rapids area youth range all across the board.

It was an early day for our latest adventure with Bethany Christian Services. As a part of the Building Bridges Program through Bethany, about a dozen young people are gaining hands-on work experience in outdoor lawn care and maintenance. We met up with the young people at the start of their day, 8am!

What is Building Bridges? The Building Bridges (B²) Program, “pairs at-risk youth with professional team leaders to provide quality services at competitive prices. Additionally, the vision of Building Bridges is ‘Connecting Community With Opportunity’ by offering valuable employment experiences, community service opportunities, and leadership development to at-risk youth,” (Building Bridges).

Corey M. has made his way up to being a team leader for Building Bridges.

The B² program is just one of the many different job opportunities sponsored by Bethany Christian Services. Roughly 70 young people are employed through Bethany as a result of the Youth Employment grant and placed in different groups and organizations all over the city.

Corey M. was hired as a part-time seasonal worker for B² and now works as a team leader.

“As a team leader, I help build up the team and get people working together and cooperating,” he said. “The fact that you learn all types of skills is really great. We learn how to use a mower and how to handle a weed whip. I’ve even learned how to drive the truck pulling the trailer!” But for Corey, it isn’t all about the money and that is what he is trying to instill in his team. “But this job shouldn’t be just about making money. It’s about the experience and it’s something that will give us a fighting chance to get a job over someone else in the future.”

This is 16-year-old Alonte’s first job experience.

The youth with B² work part-time and are on the clock Monday-Wednesday from 8am-4pm. Program leader, Justin Beene said, “these employees are really competing for a handful of year-round part-time positions with us. We are looking for young people who want job experience and who also want to continue working after this summer opportunity is over.”

Even with the excessive Grand Rapids heat this summer, the outdoor maintenance crew has been out and about all over the city mowing lawns, trimming trees and weed whacking at local businesses and residential homes.

“I found out about this job opportunity from Eastern Church,” said 16-year-old Alonte. “The pastor had me fill out an application and I decided to go through Bethany Christian Services for help. I had an interview and I got this job. I am looking forward to really succeeding here.”

For more information on Bethany Christian Services and youth career opportunities, click here.

Staying active in the community

The Other Way Ministries organization is employing 11 youth workers through the Youth Employment grant this summer.

Young people  working through the Y.E.S. program, which stands for The Youth Employment Service program, range in age from 16-18 and work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays for a total of 12-15 hours per week.

In the afternoons, the youth are often required to attend employment workshops which cover things like positive workplace relationship building and money management classes. On Fridays, the workers are rewarded with fun outings like a bowling day or a trip to Michigan Adventures. Program leaders say the fun days, “really help improve team bonding and skill building.” To get a job with Y.E.S., young people apply through The Other Way Ministries.

Nicole T. is 16-years-old and she will be a senior in High School this fall. Her time with Y.E.S. this summer has, “really helped personally because it has given me the opportunity to see what it is like to work for someone else, to have a boss and to finish the tasks I am assigned to.”

“I think that what I have learned through my experience in this job, is that teamwork makes things so much easier,” said Nicole T.

“Working by yourself can be complicated, but working in a group makes things much easier and it all goes by so much faster.”  The 16-year-old went on to say, “I think this job has helped me on a personal level because it has given me the opportunity to see what it is like to work. To see what it is like to work for someone else, to have a boss and to finish the tasks I am assigned to.” Nicole said she feels “the Y.E.S program is good because it helps kids stay active in the community.”

The Youth Employment Service (Y.E.S.) is a program sponsored and cared for by The Other Way Ministries. For more information click here.

Summer Jobs on TV

Diana R. Sieger is the President of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. In conjunction with 24 Hour News 8 and Connecting with Community, Diana is talking Summer Jobs on air and online. The video spot features young workers, sponsored by the Youth Employment grant, from Comprenew, Breaktime Bakery and The Other Way Ministries.

Playing it C.O.O.L.

Aliyah, 17, is spending her summer working at Alphabet Soup Daycare in Grand Rapids.

“We help get snacks ready and clean. We also help in the different classrooms and sometimes do office work if needed.

Last year I worked with Believe 2 Become through United Methodist Church and before that I worked with Upward Bound.

Through my job at Alphabet, I am learning more about responsibility. Having a job takes a lot of responsibility. You have to be on time, work hard and get things done; that is what I am taking away from this job.

I will be attending GVSU in the fall and then I hope to go to Cooley Law school after that. Not hope, plan. I plan to go to Cooley, I will go to Cooley!

In the future I hope to be a social worker or a defense attorney. I want to work with at risk youth to help them to achieve their goals.”

Kamilah, 17, is working as an office assistant at Painting By Jeff.

“For two years through Project C.O.O.L. I worked at Hope Community through Grand Rapids Housing Commission. I was the office receptionist, so I answered phones, did filing, faxing and other things. Project C.O.O.L. helped me find the opening at Painting By Jeff.

I was so used to going to work at my old location, that it felt really different coming here. But I think that is a good thing. All jobs are different and I am learning how to adjust to new guidelines and how other businesses run.

For me, the Project C.O.O.L required workshops are the most rewarding. There are usually speakers and I feel like they are always so inspirational. They can relate to every single person in the room and when I leave those sessions, I am always thinking about what they had to say and how I can apply it to my own life.

In the future I want to be a photojournalist. I would love to work for National Geographic so I can travel the world. I am also interested in fashion photography. I love pictures and I love traveling, so I think that job would be the best of both worlds.”