Learn2Work:
Workforce Development and Economic Self-sufficiency
Understanding the need to empower homeless parents with essential employment skills, a positive employment experience, and an increased sense of self-worth to serve as the foundation for long-term employment stability, we developed the Learn2Work Program, which provides a supportive work environment that ignites the desire within each intern to successfully support their family and make a difference in their community.
The Learn2Work Program also provides “soft-skills training” (such as communication and interpersonal skills) and job-placement support to every intern. Interns gain job-skills in a supportive work environment (either retail or culinary) that empowers them to implement personal career plans and work through employment issues that are the basis for any employment success. The goal of the Learn2Work Program is to provide a supportive work environment that ignites the desire within each intern to successfully support their family and make a difference in their community.
Interns discover that work is valuable, work allows them to give back to society, and it builds their self-esteem. We have learned that our internships can literally transform our intern’s relationship to work.
The families who are living in our shelters will be the source of the 25-35 interns per year who will gain real world experience as they operate our retail store and prepare and serve our meals as they Learn2Work!
Learn2Work includes two initiatives: the Hope Chest Retail Program and a Culinary Skills Program.
The Hope Chest is a nonprofit children’s resale store that sells affordable, gently used children’s clothing at 397 Market Street. We launched the Hope Chest in 2012 to provide retail sales and customer service internships, employing three to four interns at a time for up to 20 hours a week. Our interns learn the basics of retail sales, including inventory maintenance and control, stocking and stock rotation, sales, and marketing. In addition, they learn the importance of customer service. Interns are engaging in meaningful work, being mentored, receiving one-on-one career support, and being taught basic job skills.
Taking full advantage of the magnificent kitchen at our newest shelter location on Fletcher Street, we are teaching homeless parents the basics of institutional kitchens and commissary food preparations as we prepare them to serve as cooks in local universities, hospitals or nursing homes, as well as preparing food in high-end restaurants. Participants also receive certificates in ServSafe and MA Food Allergen Training."I worked as an intern at Hope Chest and loved it. I made good money and they taught me so much. They have a finance program and teach you how to budget and save money so you can move forward in the outside world. They helped me get back into school and find a job."