One of the things I’ve done this semester to feed my soul is to work with an amazing group of fellow HGSE students and an amazing group of guys from Haley House on a pilot program to develop Work Readiness skills.

The program is the brainchild of Jeremy Thompson, manager both of the Haley House Bakery Cafe and of their Transitional Employment Program (TEP), and Tracie Jones, head of HGSE’s G.I.V.E.S. student volunteer programs.

The Haley House TEP program provides assistance to those recently released from incarceration as they re-enter the world independently — through work experience in an environment designed to ensure safety and stability. TEP employees produce a range of baked goods and catering items including wholesale cookies, pizza dough, pie, and tea loaves. In addition to employment, participants are required to pursue education and can take advantage of additional tutoring and transitional support.  Our Work Readiness workshops are designed to supplement the core program by helping the guys to develop personal narratives, resume-writing skills, and communication in the workplace, as well as teach them how to utilize social media and other tips for job searching.

We met every other Friday afternoon this fall, and I can’t say there was anything I looked forward to more this semester than those afternoons — sharing, teaching, learning, laughing and crying.  And always hugs at the beginning and end!

I’m now working on becoming a “regular” at the Cafe – loving the terrific, giant chocolate chip cookies that they supply to outlets all over Boston and (my new downfall) the incredible Jerk Chicken items on the weekend brunch menu. At the Haley House Christmas Party, Jeremy tricked me into participating in a pie-eating contest.  And while there will be NO pictures shared of my face and hair covered in whipped cream and sweet potato pie filling, it did taste phenomenal!

On my trip over for brunch this last Saturday, Luis Contreras from the Work Readiness program gave me a tour of his kitchen domain. He also tried to buck up my confidence about speaking Spanish as I head off to Mexico next week, saying “you just have to try… and don’t be nervous!”   Thanks, Luis – I promise I will try 🙂

If you want to read more, HGSE published a nice article about the pilot program here.