Ypsilanti program funded with stimulus money teaches life, job skills
It’s hard to get and keep a job if you don’t know life skills such as how to shake hands and the importance of being on time.
That’s why a program in Ypsilanti is teaching young people the most basic job and life skills with $70,000 in federal stimulus money.
Washtenaw Community College’s Harriet Street Extension Center pays 45 disadvantaged young people $7.50 an hour to spend half the day working and half the day studying a job readiness program.
“It helps me getting into the world,” said Rodjay Bryant, 18, who spent a recent morning doing landscaping cleanup at the Ypsilanti school district Administration Building.
“This helps your work skills and gives me a better idea what to expect in the workplace.”
Site supervisor Malik Raheem said the biggest lesson is to learn to get to work on time every day.
“You can’t say ‘I’m tired this Monday,’” he said. “We teach them you have to prepare yourself Sunday evening for work on Monday.”
During their half-day in class the students, ages 14 to 24, work on software skills, reading, writing and how to deal with the real world in general.
On a recent Monday morning instructor April Davis drilled students on the elements of an introduction: “eye contact, firm handshake and a smile.”
Some of them were sheepish as they shook her hand.
“Your eyes are closed!” she admonished one young man. “Let’s try again.”
Meeting in a classroom in Perry school in Ypsilanti, the students were asked to draw and color a picture of their “dream house.”
“It’s to keep our imagination alive, I guess,” said Kayla Curry, 20. “If I can draw it, I can imagine it. And if I can imagine it, I can achieve it.”
Anthony Williamson, supervisor of the Harriet Street Extension Center, wishes the program were longer than six weeks.“But we’ve seen the kids make progress from the very beginning,” he said.
Students said the program benefits are greater than the six hours’ pay they receive for each day.
Tyshawn Taylor, 16, said the training has taught him “to get the job done.”
“Don’t just half do it,” he said.
Photos by Melanie Maxwell of AnnArbor.com: Top: Students do landscaping work at the Ypsilanti Public Schools Administration Building as part of the youth employment program.
Bottom: Christopher Tooson, 15, looks over an inspirational card during class at Perry School.
Diane Brandt is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at 734-623-2530 or news@annarbor.com.
Comments
Xtreme
Wed, Aug 12, 2009 : 8:24 a.m.
From my understand of this program, the participants receive academic enrichment in math and writing, resume writing, and basic office skills. Some of the older participants are considering WCC in the Fall, so these classes will help. The work experience goes beyond the eye contact and handshake, it teaches accountability, integrity, responsibility, and fosters a sense of accomplishment and esteem. The pay they EARNED enforces being a positive citizen in society.
Angil Tarach-Ritchey RN, GCM
Sun, Aug 9, 2009 : 8:02 a.m.
This is a program that ought to be a required class in every high school freshman or sophomore class in America. Kids don't necessarily come from a household with a good work ethic and somehow they need to be taught some of the most basic skills that we would all assume they know. School systems are doing a very poor job preparing kids for the real world after high school. The regular school format is to work independently, no talking, no group work. Then they get out in a job and are expected to work in a team, or group setting. They leave high school not knowing how to fill out an application, write a resume, interview, or have a professional appearance. Schools should be teaching how to open a bank account, balance a checkbook, get and apartment or house, pay bills, establish credit, establish a budget, start a retirement plan, and understand taxes and insurance. They need skills in time management, conflict resolution, marriage and parenting. I am not suggesting that parents shouldn't be the primary teachers for all these skills. But we all know that all kids don't have parents able or capable of teaching these skills. What happens to those kids? Whether a child comes from a home where they are taught these skills ot not, they should also be learning these in school. Repetition can only enhance retention of what has been learned at home, and kids who haven't learned these skills will only benefit themselves and society by being prepared for the world post high school.
Good2catchu
Fri, Aug 7, 2009 : 10:20 a.m.
How is it societys responsibility to teach handshaking and punctuality, they are characteristic that show integrity, anyone can pretend to have respect, time will show the true measure of success, I'm sure good intention are meant. Why is it needed surely the problem lies in the high schools. How do students graduate? Its poorly reported of the good efforts of those involved.
Patti Smith
Fri, Aug 7, 2009 : 9:49 a.m.
I teach in the inner city and yes, many students DO need to learn what comes naturally to many of us. I grew up "knowing" that I had to be on time, shake hands, whatever. But today, a lot of kids are raising themselves, being raised by parents who raised themselves and, as Stonequist points out, are caught up in generational poverty. How do you get out of poverty? Education and skills are a darned good start. My department (spec. ed.) has a summer program similar to this, where we get the kids jobs and teach them these sorts of things. The difference in the kids is AMAZING. By the next summer, they are mentoring new kids in how to write resumes, what to do during "down time" at work and so on. And yeah, we do need additional programs because we teachers don't usually have time to teach this sort of thing throughout the day. You see, the MEAP doesn't reward folks who can shake hands...only those who can color in the correct bubbles on the answer sheet. Me? I happily support this sort of thing and, when I think of it, thank God/Nature/the Sun/whatever that I was raised to know how to shake hands and make eye contact. Unfortunately, not everyone was so lucky.
Stonequist
Fri, Aug 7, 2009 : 8:19 a.m.
Some of the kids in this program come from generational poverty and truly do need help with what those from more privileged backgrounds may consider basic knowledge. My guess is that more than learning how to shake hands, they are being exposed to another life they may not see within their own family. They might start believing that they can make it, even in this economy. This seed of hope (along with those hard skills that the GREAT staff at Harriet Street is teaching) can be transformative. I am honored that our tax dollars are helping equip teens for the future -- wish we would do that more.
sottovoce
Fri, Aug 7, 2009 : 8:11 a.m.
Without minimum wage, there's a race to the bottom, and nobody wins (except top fatcats). For those who think this is a joke, not everyone can rely on their parents (or their parents' friends) to get them their first job. Why not be practical and less narrow-minded? These people need help, and this program provides it.
Top Cat
Fri, Aug 7, 2009 : 7:40 a.m.
Consider these young people another casualty of the minimum wage laws in this country. The minimum wage has been successful in creating unemployment among those with the least skills and most in need of a start. So instead of addressing it, we borrow more money from China and create make work projects. Hopefully the young people will learn something of value from the experience.
SpamBot1
Fri, Aug 7, 2009 : 6:57 a.m.
I think shaking hands and being on time are EXAMPLES of two employability skills that the program works on. I'm sure there are many more. And yes, it's disappointing that these skills are not already in place, but they are not, and instead of complaining about a $1000 investment in each kid, I'm pretty excited about the fact that there are 45 kids in Ypsilanti that are A LOT less likely to be on financial assistance for the rest of their lives because they have learned some basic job skills.
Andy
Fri, Aug 7, 2009 : 5:44 a.m.
My tax money is teaching people how to shake hands and be on time??? You have got to be joking, is this some sort of spoof story? If not, what an embarrasment to our education system and the parents of these young adults.