The Trellis Crew - Helping Young People Find Local Jobs
In recent years, the University of Chicago Crime Lab worked with the One Summer Chicago Plus jobs program and found a 43 person reduction in violent-crime arrests for Black youths who worked eight-week long part-time summer jobs, compared with a control group of teens who did not. In other words, researchers have found a much stronger and clearer correlation between violent crime levels and unemployment levels that between violent crime and race
Ibram X Kendi, How to Be an Anti-Racist
Part of the mission for the Trellis Crew is to help our students aged 14-20 find jobs in their community. We believe that in helping them secure local work, they can gain valuable employment experience, start to earn money and learn about financial management. We also help provide them with paid community service opportunities as we partner with other organizations serving the community.
Through these placements, we also believe that the students learn more about their important and necessary place in the community and help to change some of the negative [racist] narratives that students of color face.
Here are some of the stories of our students recent placements
Stevin doing a placement at Heights Vision
When I first heard about working with Doctor Downy I thought to myself that it was a great opportunity to learn about different fields that could help with my career choice. When I got interviewed with Dr. Downy, she basically showed and informed me the things I needed to do in the office and introduce me to all the staff. Once I started working I put all the effort to do everything I was told to do which was to scan charts. Scanning charts could get overwhelming because it is a repetitive job. Once I started working I showed respect and discipline. Doing my work and keeping things organized helped to give an impact and being hired. An important factor that helped me to get hired was being constant, repetitive, and being on time. The staff at the office are extremely nice and often make sure that people who work there are doing fine. Working in the office is a great opportunity and it provides an opportunity to learn something different. Also Zac is the best at providing help to the people who need it, without him I would’ve never heard about the job.
“Dr Downy” said, “My staff say he's the fastest worker of all the teen scanners.”
Veronica, Brandon and Kristiana packing treat bags for a Halloween party with the Fort Greene Conservancy
Kayla getting paid to do outreach for the Trellis Crew at the Ingersoll Houses