Year Up Atlanta

By Susan Mittleman

Atlanta, GA – On Monday, a group of 80 students will begin six-month, corporate internships. That may not sound like a big deal to some people, but just six months ago, these young adults never imagined crossing over the economic divide, let alone for working for top notch businesses. But as Susan Mittleman reports, their time at "Year Up" is preparing them not only for careers, but how to succeed in life.

Just over six months ago, 21-year old David Holyfield was quiet, depressed, had flunked out of college and couldn't find a job.

"I was at a point in my life, i call it the lowest point in my life."

His sister-in-law heard about Year Up and told him to check it out.

"Everything they said from support system, skills we'd be learning, breaking the opportunity divide, really stuck with me."

It also stuck with 23-year-old Denean Kitchings who had already become a statistic: single, a teenage mother of two, a high school and college drop out.

"I didn't want to be more of a statistic, I didn't want to be the same old.. the young girls I see on my street with 3-4 young children, not doing anything with their lives, I didn't want to be them, so I came to year up."

Year Up is a one-year program meant to bridge the opportunity divide by tapping
the potential of 18-24 year olds with a high school diploma or GED, who may not have the means to change their lot in life.

"They are challenged generally around their economic circumstances and the environments they come from," Kweku Forstall, is Year Up Atlanta's Executive Director. "But they are eager, have tremendous potential and here they are met with expectations but high support as well."

The nonprofit is one of eight education-work models around the country. Here in Atlanta, they choose 80 students every six months who are assessed on a number of risk factors, background checks and drug tests, as well as academic skills, willingness to work hard and the motivation to learn. Again, Kweku Forstall.

"We''re all about positioning them in spite of fact they don't have college degree, to fill entry level talent needs that employers have, and work their way like everyone else, up the ladder."

Year Up is divded into two six month segments. The first six months, students attend rigorous classes in internet technology, professional skills, business communication and life skills. They get a weekly stipend, based on a behavior management contract, meaning they can be docked pay for being late, or other violations.

After learning learn how to present their ideas and themselves. learning how to take computers apart and put them back together, they spend the next six months putting their skills to use, in paid, corporate internships - at one of the major companies who partner with Year Up. By the time they graduate, about 1/3 are employed.

When I met David and Denean they were in their 19th week, were finishing the first phase, and preparing for their internships- he at Siemens, she at Kaiser Permanente. Already, they both experienced profound transformation. .

"I'm on a cloud right now. I'm so high up i'm excited about life." David gained confidence and direction. "I grew a lot. *I'm not afraid to talk to people. I'm not afraid to network. Not afraid to stand up in front of a group of people and talk about things that are important to me."

Denean wants to work as a project manager and go back to school to become a pediatric nurse.
"So, I came to year up and life now I don't think it could be any better.. well it could be better, but it's improved so much. actually being able to take care of my child by myself without any help. I'm in school, I'm learning, so it's great."

On Friday, the 4th class will graduate from Year Up. Another group of students will begin the process in September.