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The DuPage Community Foundation Grant Helps Workforce Training

The Community Workforce Employment Training program was created through a unique partnership between 360 Youth Services and Loaves & Fishes. This program assists young people, ages 18-24, who are clients of the 360 Youth Services transitional housing program and who lack the credentials and experience necessary to be competitive candidates in the workforce. These youth face many challenges in their quest for self-sufficiency, including unemployment.

While enrolled in the program, time spent at Loaves & Fishes is referred to as an internship. During the internship, participants are evaluated on their attendance, punctuality, overall work quality, attitude toward work, responsibility, decision-making ability and many other work traits.

"Clients coming into the program learn the workings of a not-for-profit and once we get to know them, we expose them to work skills," said Jane Macdonald, director of nutrition and wellness at Loaves & Fishes Community Services. "This program gives us an opportunity to interact with young adults in a work place setting and we help them develop skills that are needed in the workplace. Plus, it's a positive environment for them."

These skills are sometimes basic social skills and learning to accept responsibility. "Nothing is taken for granted. We start at the beginning with responsibility," Macdonald said.

The skills that are taught come with grace from Loaves & Fishes. "We want them to learn here what is an acceptable reason for absence from work or tardiness," said Macdonald. Other work skills that are learned come from volunteering in the warehouse where participants in the program work with other volunteers stocking shelves, driving a fork lift and learning to follow directions. The program, just in its second year, is evolving and remains flexible to the needs of the participants.

The partnership with 360 Youth Services is a perfect fit for Loaves & Fishes Community Services as its mission is "to provide food and leadership in the community by uniting and mobilizing resources to empower people to be self-sufficient." Empowerment and self-sufficiency are keys to the internship program.

One of the clients participating in the internship program is 20-year-old Carson Sperber. Sperber, who moved into the housing program at 360 Youth Services in June, is working in the warehouse at Loaves & Fishes to learn some of the job skills necessary to seek employment. Sperber is finding the internship to be beneficial to him, right from the start.

"I'm gaining experience but more importantly, self-confidence because I have zero," said Sperber. "Everyone at Loaves & Fishes is super-friendly and being here has already boosted my confidence. I was afraid to ask questions and I have also struggled with perfectionism. I've learned that it's okay not to be perfect."

Sperber said that he has always connected well with teachers and adults. "I always looked

to them for support and encouragement as my home life was unstable. My parents divorced when I was eight and my mom has married four times, so I always received my adult support at school. I love school. If I could be in school for the rest of my life, I would."

Currently a student at the College of DuPage, Sperber has his sights set on the field of psychology. "I'd love to work in a mental health hospital," he said. "I want to be on the giving end rather than the receiving end." Sperber wishes to draw from his personal experiences to help others.

"Working in the warehouse at Loaves & Fishes has taught me that identity doesn't matter," said Sperber. "Everyone deserves a chance at success."

"All our programs are done in collaboration with others," said Matt Chicola, advancement manager at Loaves & Fishes Community Services. "We are trying to provide all the services to our clients under one roof."

As the summer comes to an end, Sperber is continuing his education and has been working as well. With school and work making his schedule busier, Sperber is able to work at Loaves & Fishes on Fridays. "It's a good set schedule with structure and responsibility. I really enjoy it and I'm grateful for the opportunity to meet new people. It has really helped me a lot."

About 360 Youth Services:

When housing is uncertain, everything in a young person's life seems seem to fall apart. At 360 Youth Services,

housing and support services are provided to young adults, 18-24 years old, who were previously homeless, and teenage boys, 13-17 years old, who are unable to live with their families. Support services including life skills, budgeting, counseling, art therapy and more are provided. For more information, please contact Debbie Carr, MS, CAADA, residential programs director at (630) 717-9408 or visit www.360youthservices.org. 360 Youth Services offices are located at 1305 W. Oswego Road, Naperville.

About Loaves & Fishes Community Services:

Loaves & Fishes is located at 1871 High Grove Lane, Naperville and provides multi-faceted programs, such as job search support, food assistance, skill-based classes and public benefit assistance, to low-income, west suburban residents. Learn more about getting help, making a donation, or volunteering at http://www.loaves-fishes.org.

About The DuPage Community Foundation:

The DuPage Community Foundation seeks to raise the quality of life throughout DuPage County by fostering philanthropy, connecting donors to area needs and building community

partnerships. Based on the American virtues of volunteerism and philanthropy, the Foundation fosters a legacy of support for the people of DuPage County by making grants to not-for-profit organizations working in the areas of arts and culture, education, environment, health, and human services. Since its inception, the Foundation has built its endowment to more than $60 million and

awarded more than $19 million in grants to not-for-profit agencies serving the residents of

DuPage County and beyond.

Established in 1986, The DuPage Community Foundation is a publicly-supported 501(c)(3) organization to which contributions are tax deductible. It was created to benefit the people of DuPage County and receives contributions and bequests into a permanent endowment from

individuals, corporations, organizations and foundations wishing to make lasting contributions to the people of DuPage. The earnings on these funds are then used, in accordance with donor wishes, for the Foundation's grantmaking and community leadership activities.

For more information about the Foundation, or to arrange future media opportunities, please contact Joelyn Kott, marketing & communications officer, at (630) 665-5556, extension 19,

or jkott@dcfdn.org.

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