Genesys Works

Como Park High School student Jacob Johnson grew up in environments exposed to drugs and violence. He failed almost every class he took as a sophomore. Then, he heard about Genesys Works.

Something about the possibility of attaining a real, corporate job before graduating from high school, along with Genesys Works's message of empowerment and skill-building, changed his trajectory. He doubled up on classes during his junior year to ensure eligibility for the program, excelled during a summer business skills "Boot Camp," and earned the right to his professional job.

Now a senior at Como, Jacob works afternoons as an IT Technician at Medtronic, earning an income and expanding his resume with a position most high schoolers would only dream of. You can watch him tell his own story in the video above.

Now in its fourth year of existence in the Twin Cities, Genesys Works has inspired a paradigm shift in the mindset of over 200 high school students in the Twin Cities, and we want to recruit 200 more for 2012. Genesys Works students transform themselves in a rigorous summer training program in IT, communications, and professional skills. Those who finish emerge as Young Professionals, and they are placed in IT positions with one of our 40 corporate clients in the Twin Cities. They do meaningful work with great companies like 3M, Medtronic, Ecolab, and Travelers.

All told, our Young Professionals complete a 14-month, 1700-hour professional skills training, college access, and corporate internship experience that is absolutely transformative. Because they got a taste of the type of success that is possible for them if they stay on the right path, 100% of Genesys Works Class graduates enroll in college, and 93% remain on the path to college graduation. For 2012, Genesys Works plans to expand its services and provide training and jobs to nearly double the number of students it currently serves.

Your donation will change the path of a low-income high school student towards the economic mainstream.