More than words
by Rachel Marder
Senior Editor
Features | 2/12/08
Posted online at 3:54 AM EST on 2/12/08
/ Last updated at 2:34 PM EST on 2/12/08
Gordon takes the youth on monthly site visits to transition options offered at colleges like Pine Manor in Chestnut Hill, Bentley College and Brandeis. She and Rosenbaum stay in touch with recent graduates, continuing to offer their support and occasionally asking them back for shifts and special store events, like visiting authors and open mic nights.
Erika Smith, Brandeis' TYP director, says she's met with More Than Words youth, and will continue recruiting from this pool. "Hopefully it becomes a long relationship," she says.
Kristin Carmichael (TYP), an employee at More Than Words for four months, says when she first started, all she knew was she "really into books." She didn't know that she would most enjoy working the register and arranging displays.
Initially, Carmichael was pretty shy, but she came out of her shell, gladly accepting feedback from her coworkers and excelling in group leadership, Rosenbaum writes in an e-mail to the Justice. Carmichael grew up in Bellmont and took the commuter rail to the bookstore, pulling 25 hour a week shifts through high school. She describes her high school experience as fairly "isolated," except for her love of reading and work at the bookstore. Today, she continues taking shifts every so often, and plans to study creative writing at Brandeis and pursue writing professionally.
"It has been amazing to watch her grow and find herself and realize how bright and capable she is," Rosenbaum writes.
The store's high standards encourage youth to pursue higher education and/or employment opportunities. The store's challenge is maintaining those high standards of responsibility and accountability for all employees, keeping it empowering and youth driven, yet never lowering the bar. "It's working … That said, there's always a kid [who] falls off," Rosenbaum says.
Thomas Pineros Shields, a researcher at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, concurs with Rosenbaum that the model of on-the-job entrepreneurial learning works for some, but not for all.
Erika Smith, Brandeis' TYP director, says she's met with More Than Words youth, and will continue recruiting from this pool. "Hopefully it becomes a long relationship," she says.
Kristin Carmichael (TYP), an employee at More Than Words for four months, says when she first started, all she knew was she "really into books." She didn't know that she would most enjoy working the register and arranging displays.
Initially, Carmichael was pretty shy, but she came out of her shell, gladly accepting feedback from her coworkers and excelling in group leadership, Rosenbaum writes in an e-mail to the Justice. Carmichael grew up in Bellmont and took the commuter rail to the bookstore, pulling 25 hour a week shifts through high school. She describes her high school experience as fairly "isolated," except for her love of reading and work at the bookstore. Today, she continues taking shifts every so often, and plans to study creative writing at Brandeis and pursue writing professionally.
"It has been amazing to watch her grow and find herself and realize how bright and capable she is," Rosenbaum writes.
The store's high standards encourage youth to pursue higher education and/or employment opportunities. The store's challenge is maintaining those high standards of responsibility and accountability for all employees, keeping it empowering and youth driven, yet never lowering the bar. "It's working … That said, there's always a kid [who] falls off," Rosenbaum says.
Thomas Pineros Shields, a researcher at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, concurs with Rosenbaum that the model of on-the-job entrepreneurial learning works for some, but not for all.
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Betsy
posted 2/12/08 @ 4:17 PM EST
This is a phenomenal article, and it sounds like an excellent program!!
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