Jasmine at work at her last Paid Work Experience
AGE: 25
POSITION: Production & Technology Operations Associate
EMPLOYER: CHICAGOMIDWESTMADE
Jasmine is a 25-year-old single mother with dreams of a career in I.T. She started her YJC story not as a client but as an intern, working as a data associate under our director of data management (who noted her adeptness with analytics and data entry).
The more time she spent at YJC, the more she learned about our services—like our financial coaching and career pathways program—which inspired her to enroll as a client.
Once she was officially a YJC client, Jasmine started working with our financial coach Lupita to track her spending, improve her credit, and pay off her debts. She’s already found success, paying off one of her debts completely and making progress toward the others. Jasmine is also enrolled in our savings match program, which is helping her grow her financial cushion.
She’s created career success for herself as well. After Jasmine’s YJC internship ended, we helped her secure a Paid Work Experience (PWE) with HAZ Cooperative Studios, where she worked as a marketing technician both capturing content and analyzing data. Now she’s expanding her toolkit and resume with another PWE at CHICAGOMIDWESTMADE, where she’s gaining proficiency in the software programs involved in print production. YJC has made sure Jasmine’s success wasn’t interrupted by barriers like lack of funds or need for childcare, connecting her with a gas card to get to and from work and a referral to Illinois Action for Children for childcare.
Jasmine isn’t resting on her laurels; she’s taking full advantage of her momentum and is already looking to the future, planning to enroll in I.C. Stars’s rigorous tech bootcamp in May.
In addition to all the training and concrete resources Jasmine has taken advantage of at YJC, she shares, “I’ve gained support, confidence, and resources that can help me. That makes me have a better positive outlook on life if I need support from some group. I can reach out to my career advisor for resources and also to Trevor, the work readiness trainer. In my most recent interview, I was told it was excellent and fantastic. I told them, ‘Thank you, Youth Job Center.’”
Jasmine is so grateful for her experience with YJC that she’s started giving back by volunteering at YJC fundraising events like the golf outing.
Jasmine’s coach Catrina says, “Jasmine is an extraordinary client who consistently goes above and beyond. … Her drive, resilience, and generosity make her stand out as a truly exceptional participant.” We agree and are excited to see Jasmine continue to flourish and build a strong foundation for herself and her child.
