Program Teaches Business, Technical Skills to Urban Youth

By Devika Rao

For the AJC

Tesehia Mosley, 23, works at The Coca-Cola Company as a Global Solutions Project Manager Intern. She is among the 62 interns who is placed in over 40 companies through Year Up Atlanta's one-year intensive training and education program that is allowing the disconnected urban youth of Atlanta gain a competitive edge in today's job market.

“The urban youth we work with either have a GED or, in addition, less than one year of college education,” said Kweku Forstall, executive director of Year Up Atlanta, of the 63,000 urban youth in the city. “We work on a high expectations-high support model that uphold our students to high standards and really push them to believe in their own potential.”

The organization, originally based in Massachusetts, is on a mission to close the opportunity divide by providing urban youth of big cities professional skills, experience and support in either desktop support / IT help desk or investment operations.

“This program shoved me out of my comfort zone and made me realize my own potential,” said Mosley. "[The teachers, counselors, mentors] strengthened the skills, integrity and knowledge I bring to my job everyday, but there is nothing easy about this program.  They make sure you see this as step up, not a hand out."

The rigorous one-year plan involves six months of classes such as business communications, life skills and technical skills. The classes go in-depth to teach hardware and software support along with courses like culture immersion and networking.   The second half of the year require the students to complete an internship with major corporations.

“Interns that come from Year Up Atlanta are very determined and dedicated to building a career out of this opportunity,” said Steve Cavanaugh, director of information technology at Printpack, Inc. in Atlanta, a partner of Year Up Atlanta since its founding. “And, this not only becomes an advantageous opportunity for them, but it also brings new perspectives to our company that allow us to continually become better mentors and managers.” Printpack went onto hire two Year Up Atlanta interns.

Once the students graduate, they are expected to be either employed or in school within four months. Of its first three classes, Year Up Atlanta has graduated 131 students of which over 80 percent are either employed or are in college full-time.

“Whether it is our business partners, our teachers or social workers, this organization is dependent on the community to engage our students to become productive members in today’s world,” added Forstall. “Anyone can volunteer as mentors or help with resumes, mock interviews or come as a guest speaker. As a community, we can raise the esteem and chance of opportunities for our youth.”

Serving youth between the ages of 18-24, Year Up has established nine locations around the country and has served over 1,000 students since it began in 2001.

In Other News: Atlanta Braves’ second baseman, Dan Uggla, took part in the Celebrity Servers Night at Morton’s Steakhouse on Aug. 29 in Buckhead to inaugurate his charity, Dan Uggla’s Diamonds in The Rough Foundation. The event raised over $70,000 for the charity which aims to provide opportunities, support and resources to children and families in-need.