Student Ambassadors Pay It Forward in Recruitment

Genesys Works Young Professionals gain a lot from their participation in the program.  They gain IT and professional skills during summer training, have the opportunity to work in meaningful internships during their senior year, make lifelong friends and map out plans for college and professional careers.  At Genesys Works, they are also given ownership for the development, expansion and growth of the Twin Cities program and each day students pave the way for future Young Professionals by excelling in their internships and changing stereotypes about inner-city youth.



Young Professionals also play a tremendous roll in recruiting new students for the program.  Their knowledge of their classmates, their schools and their first-hand experience in the program leaves them uniquely qualified to seek out new students for the program and encourage them to apply, a role students take very seriously.



Over the years, a pay it forward culture has developed at Genesys Works - Twin Cities as students actively encourage others in their school to join the program.  For Tou Thao, Class 3 Alumni, it was fellow Central High School student Tou Moua from Class 2 who first introduced him to Genesys Works.  Thao saw Moua dressed professionally as he walked to class one day and began asking questions.  Moua knew Thao to be a harding working student, so he eagerly shared about his experience working in the IT department of Capella University, which sparked Thao's decision to join Genesys Works.  The next year Thao shared his experience with, Elvin Gateri, another Central student he knew to be hardworking and tech savy, continuing the tradition.


Class 3 students Tou Thao and Chue Thao present to future Young Professionals for Bring a Friend Night 2011

This pay it forward culture is already evident in Class 4 where Genesys Works Young Professionals are hard at work recruiting juniors in their schools. Lead Student Ambassador Stanley Wu leads the charge at Central High where he has been speaking in homeroom classrooms, creating video announcements and is constantly sharing about his experience in Genesys Works.  His hard work is already paying dividends in the increased number of applications recieved from Central. 

When asked why he was so invested in recruiting students for Genesys Works Stanley said, "Genesys Works can change students' lives. Many people were living in a bad place before they started Genesys Works. They came out like champions and feel like they accomplished something meaningful after the program. Even if some of them were already in a good place, they are now in a better place. All of us Young Professionals gained valuable skills over the summer. Even now, we're gaining skills and experience that most high school students wouldn't normally get. The more students that learn these skills and gain valuable work experience the better."

Current Student Ambassadors like Stanley Wu, center, use their communication skills to encourage classmates to join Genesys Works

Thank you, all Genesys Works Student Ambassadors and Alumni, for your hard work as we recruit Class 5 in the Twin Cities.  With your help, we cannot wait to welcome 200 outstanding students into the program this summer!

Philanthropy on the Front Lines: Ibrahim and Troy at Dorsey

We've written much about the Genesys Works Young Professionals on this blog--the obstacles they've overcome, the incredible commitments they make to success in school and the workplace, their accomplishments as they win scholarships and move on to college. Students like Ibrahim, currently an intern at Dorsey & Whitney, do the most they can to take advantage of the opportunity Genesys Works and its corporate partners provide.

What we don't always make clear is the amount of care and energy invested into our students' experiences by the people they work with. Ibrahim's supervisor, Troy Johnson, is an especially strong example of the influence an intern's coworker can have on him. Like a normal manager, Troy assigns tasks and gives trainings to Ibrahim. But he has also acted as a mentor, inspiring Ibrahim to think big about his career and motivating him to take risks in the workplace.

Young Professional Ibrahim Hagos has developed a strong professional relationship with Troy Johnson, his supervisor at  Dorsey & Whitney.

Wanting More for Minneapolis

By Joel Crandall, Genesys Works Program Manager

With recruitment season for the next class of Genesys Works Young Professionals in full swing, I am reminded how proud I am to be a Minneapolis resident. Genesys Works has historically done very well in St. Paul because of great partnerships both on a district level and with individual schools. When I joined the Genesys Works staff two years ago, one of my personal goals was to see the opportunity presented to a greater number of students in the Minneapolis Public Schools.

I have lived on the city’s north side for about nine years and have worked with high school students in a number of different capacities (coach, youth pastor, and mentor). I believe in students from MPS, and I care deeply about seeing them connected to opportunities that will change their lives, especially as it pertains to access to college and meaningful careers. Though these are a few of the reasons it matters to me personally, there are bigger implications as well.

Why it matters:

• Minneapolis is the state’s third largest school district

• The district is comprised of 70% students of color and 66% students eligible for receiving free and reduced lunch: key demographic groups we serve.

• Several existing Genesys Works clients are located in or near the district and would like to work more closely with students from Minneapolis.