Successful Draft Day

After 160 hours of training in technical and professional skills, 155 young professionals gathered on Draft Day in front of representatives from 40 corporate partners to learn of their internship sites. Our largest group to date, Class 5 will engage with, learn from, and provide support to teams in the IT departments of some of the Twin Cities' largest corporations throughout the course of the school year. The energy and enthusiasm of the students and corporate partners from the event is captured in the photos below.

 Young professionals gathered at the St. Paul Hotel to celebrate the completion of summer training and discover where and with whom they will be interning throughout the school year.

The crowd, young professionals and corporate partners, looked on in anticipation as Executive Director, Jeff Tollefson, prepared to reveal the student and client matches.

Representatives from new client Patterson Companies, Inc., in true Draft Day fashion, brought caps and jerseys to welcome their interns.

Medtronic continues its support by offering 20 internship positions, the most of any corporate client.

Medtronic continues its support by offering 20 internship positions, the most of any corporate client.

Capella University not only supported Genesys Works in designing the learning management system to guide students through summer training, but also continues their partnership with six new interns.

Young professionals with the highest ACHIEVER scores during the summer were honored for their excellent performances in each of their classes.

Genesys Works founder and CEO, Rafael Alvarez, congratulated young professionals, Jesus and Frank.

Genesys Works founder and CEO, Rafael Alvarez, congratulated young professionals, Jesus and Frank.

Students shared in the excitement of starting an internship at one of the Twin Cities' largest corporations and taking the first steps to paving a professional career for themselves.

Students shared in the excitement of starting an internship at one of the Twin Cities' largest corporations and taking the first steps to paving a professional career for themselves.

Draft Day was truly a remarkable day. The students and staff of Genesys Works wish to thank our 40 corporate partners for the tremendous opportunities you are providing to our latest class of young professionals. The success of our program is a direct result of the willingness of the Twin Cities business community to stand behind our urban youth and provide meaningful opportunities for career exploration and professional growth. For this, we are most grateful.

Students All "Suited Up"

A big part of being a professional is to look professional. As Genesys Works students prepared to be the youngest members of their teams at work, they were determined to make good first impressions that indicate professionalism and drive.

With support from Dell employees, corporate partners, community supporters, and program alumni, our clothing drive event, Suit Up, offered professional clothing to current students to help them build their business wardrobe. At the event, young professionals were guided by volunteer "personal shoppers" as they picked from a vast selection of suits, blazers, pants, shirts, and ties. Many left with an outfit suitable for their first day of work.

The success of this event would not have been possible without the hard work and contributions of so many. Thank you to all who contributed clothing and volunteered personal time! Your support is reflected in the confidence of our students as they donned their outfits from Suit Up for Draft Day and their first day of work.

You're Invited to the 2012 Genesys Works Breaking Through Ceremony

October 2 | 4:00 to 6:00 PM | McNamara Alumni Center, University of Minnesota

Please join us for Genesys Works’ annual Breaking Through Ceremony as we celebrate the important next steps taken by 155 low-income high school students on their journeys towards college and professional careers.

When you attend this event, you will:

• Hear uplifting stories of “breakthrough” moments and transformations. 
• Meet our latest class of young professionals, their families, teachers, and work colleagues. 
• Join hundreds of other leaders from the Twin Cities community and experience first-hand the powerful impact we can have on young lives when we connect motivation with opportunity. 

Produced entirely by our students, this may be the most inspiring event you attend all year and is not to be missed.

RSVP for this free event.