Greetings!
We've been exploring what makes internship experiences successful. What better way to find out then to ask some successful interns and the employers who mentor them.
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HOW INTERNSHIPS CAN CHANGE LIVES
Lessons Learned from Three Successful Internships
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"I didn't know what to expect going into this internship program with Olympus Academy. I've worked with interns before but I never worked with interns so young. Partnering with [Olympus] allowed me the opportunity to lend a "brotherly" hand to students who may not have been able to get employment with GameStop due to the stigma attached to teenagers who have started down the wrong path."
YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN SECOND CHANCES
Terrell Wyatt, the manager at one of our Game Stop internship sites, quoted above, told us that several of his colleagues at other stores were apprehensive about working with high-risk kids and the possibility of product theft.
"I always welcome new challenges," Terrell continued, "especially ones that help our young men. It seems there aren't enough programs tailored for males who want to change but aren't sure of the right approach or what direction to take."
Recently, we wanted to understand more about what makes a particular internship site successful, so we asked three employers at NYCID internship sites and their interns some questions. WOW! Here are some of their answers. You can read their complete responses on our blog - links below.
Jordan Baskerville & Dierdre Catalano
Terrell Wyatt is the rule, not the exception, among the successful supervisors. Like Terrell, Dierdre Catalano at Allstate Insurance in Westerleigh, believes these kids deserve a second chance.
She said, "I have worked with the YABC for almost 5 years now. I have employed many interns from a variety of demographic and educational backgrounds. My colleagues and I believe in the mission of the Learning to Work program, and consider it a privilege to have participated for such a long time."
These supervisors not only want the kids to have a second chance, they want their interns to succeed, and their interns know it.
TEACH, ENTRUST, AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE
"Ms. Fitzgerald has been a great ment or to me. She has opened my eyes to the other side of food and drink. You don't think about it much when you sit in a restaurant. You just want to eat. But being on the other side is a different story. I've learned so much about wine, how it's made, the different regions and, also, a lot about how different cheeses go with different wines," ACE intern Yamil Gonzalez told us.
Veronique Fitzgerald is the proprietor of WineLife, dedicated to all things wine, located in the heart of Stapleton. She told us, "The more he [Yamil] learned, the more initiative he had. He would then take ownership of different tasks without my having to follow up, which helped tremendously as my business continued to come together."
Terrell has had two quite different interns.
 "Throughout his internship, Ronald has always displayed a drive and desire to learn that was unprecedented. -- From the day I brought him aboard, Ronald has wanted more from me and my management team--."
But Steven,in the beginning, "seemed as if he was just there to make a few extra dollars --- He never did anything wrong, he did whatever was asked of him, but I wasn't too sure he was going to make it. In fact, he was almost terminated because of his tardiness. After I spoke with him, he quickly began to change. He came in on time, and became more engaged in discussions about product and what I expected from my interns and the rest of my staff."
Counseling Steven taught him about Terrell's expectations. Although supervisors are taught to counsel early and often, it's often a task that's avoided. But with interns, it's critical and, as with Steven, can be a turning point. Today, both Ronald and Steven have jobs at Game Stop, and both contribute to training new interns.
THE PAY-OFF BENEFITS BOTH THE BUSINESS AND THE STUDENT
All three of these businesses have had the opportunity to train and "test drive" potential employees before making a long-term commitment, and all three have hired interns who have become valuable part-time employees as they continue their schooling.
These supervisors love knowing they've helped change a young person's life for the better. That's far more rewarding than "free labor" for the duration of an internship assignment.
Benefits for the students? Let them speak for themselves.
"I love working there [Allstate]. -- I may want to go to insurance school, and this internship has given me incentive to graduate and go to college." Jordan Baskerville
"The most valuable lesson she has taught me is how to be responsible, how to carry myself as a mature adult. It is a great place to work." Yamil Gonzalez
"I learned the meaning of dedication and hard work and how to present myself at work. I learned how to keep my personal life from my work life." - Steven Pierre
"I never wanted to work or go to school until I heard of Olympus Academy and the internship program. So, I, Ronald Phillip, just wanted to say thank you to Ms. Green [his advocate] and the program for helping me be someone in life."
Read their individual stories on our blog:
If you'd like the rewards of having an intern at your business, give us a call. It will change someone's life - maybe yours.
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| March 2010 Headlines |
 Welcome, Amy Lavelle. Amy has joined us as Development Associate, so you'll be hearing from her frequently. We're delighted to have Amy on board. ******
Want to Help? The Auction Committee is getting organized and we'd love to have you volunteer with us. The auction is our major fundraiser and we can use people to help solicit auction items, journal ads, organize the event and a myriad of other details. For more information or to volunteer, contact our Development Associate, Amy Lavelle, at (718) 947-4121.
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The NY Center Training Institute Our Training Institute recently completed a five-day Divorce & Family Mediation Training for 22 people from diverse backgrounds and a two-day basic conflict resolution training for new NYCID staff.
One theme that consistently appears in the evaluations - participants want more.
As one person said, "I would highly recommend this training for any attorney - whether you're interested in mediation or not. The communication skills will make me a more effective fact gatherer from my clients, a more effective negotiator with my adversaries and a more effective advocate before tribunals of every kind. For the practitioner, either as mediator or advocate, this training is indispensible."
We think so, too -- and not just for attorneys. That's why we provide the basic course for all our full time employees.
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NYCID's ACE Program was featured in a recent news article about effective GED programs. People wonder why they've never heard about the NY Center. When reporters write about our programs, which they often do, they focus on the benefits of the program - after all, that's what's important. But, we would like you to recognize that it's your contributions that make much of this possible when you see NYCID programs in the paper. You can read about ACE and find a link to the Advance article here.
****** NYCID's ACT in the news More recently, the Staten Island Advance published an article about the ACT (Assisting Children through Transitions) class offered each month by NYCID's Training Institute. (WHEW! NYCID was recognized this time - No complaints from the Board about this article!) You can read that article here. ******
Spotlight Series The Mediation Spotlight Series this month did a bit of administrative housekeeping and spent some well deserved time just mingling, sharing stories and enjoying each other. We were delighted to see some mediators who haven't been active for a while, like Kevin Moran and Ellen Burns, and some new faces.
If you're a fallen-away mediator, please know that you're always welcome to join us at the Spotlight Series and maybe you'll decide to mediate more often, once again.
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| Yes, We're Hiring
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Do you know someone who'd like to work for us?
Program Assistants
- part-time positions open working in elementary after school programs.
Candidates must have some college and experience with elementary-aged
children. Salary $8-$10 per hour. Send cover letter/resume to Robert Busan. |
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Please help us expand our circle of friends. Use the "Forward email" link below to send this newsletter to someone you think would be interested. Your friend's address is protected. We don't keep it and won't use or sell it. |
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| ON MY MIND
Dom's Wanderings |
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President Obama places great importance on preparing workers for 21st Century jobs. Business research shows employers continue to struggle with an ill-prepared workforce, finding that new hires lack crucial basic and applied skills.
And, in a survey conducted in December for Corporate Voices by Public Policy Polling, American workers agree with employers that new workers are not prepared to enter the workforce.
How could they be? Junior High and High School are when kids learn their work ethic. But, most have little exposure to the world of work.
Summer jobs for high school students are rare or too often fall into make work, do-nothing, unsupervised jobs.
After school jobs other than fast food chains hardly exist.
Many young people don't know what an engineer or a secretary or an insurance salesperson really does.
Yet, we find students thrive when they participate in internships. They love working on real life issues. Work motivates them.
You can help prepare kids for 21st Century jobs.
If you'd be willing to have a student shadow you at your job and talk with him about how you prepared yourself for your position - your education and work experience - we'd like to talk with you.
If you'd be willing to invest some time in supervising an internship, we'd like to talk with you.
If you have a short-term project that students can help with where they can see your business in action and practice some workplace skills, we'd like to talk with you.
I look forward to your call.
Dominick
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| Our Calendar |
ACT Classes Helping separating or divorcing parents understand how to help their children cope with the changes.
Tues. March 9
10am -1:00pm
or Saturday, March 2010 am - 4:30 pm or Saturday, April 17
10 am - 4:30 pm
Spotlight on Mediation to be announcedSave the date!Annual Auction
June 9, 2010
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