During these difficult times, we are especially grateful for our Genesys Works community.
We believe it’s more important than ever to uphold our mission by maintaining our support of our young professionals and to prioritize the health and safety of our students, partners, staff, and the Houston community. As a member of the Genesys Works community, we want to keep you apprised of our team’s recent efforts:
Social Distancing
Per public health and governmental recommendations, the Genesys Works team has been working remotely to contribute to the safety and health of the Houston community. To that end, we were thrilled with many of our corporate partners’ immediate response to embrace a “work-from-home” option for our young professionals. We are so grateful to partner with workplace supervisors in creating unique ways for our students to continue gaining valuable skills and earnings that they and their families rely on.
Prioritization of Relationships
We highly value our partnerships with companies, donors, high schools, colleges and universities, and other community organizations. Thus, we first and foremost opted for personalized communications with each of these stakeholder groups and individuals. Each of our program participants continues to receive personalized support from their respective program coordinator.
Curriculum Development
While some students are able to continue their technology roles remotely, students with hands-on roles are unable to complete their regularly assigned tasks. Our team has swiftly developed an exciting new curriculum to continue developing students’ professional and technical skillsets while they await their return to work.
Summer Training
As we look toward our summer training for the Class of 2021, we are creating plans to deliver training remotely if necessary. With the help of some of our dedicated partners, we will develop methods to virtually teach both our technical and soft skills curriculum, ensuring both a safe and engaging experience for our newest cohort of young professionals.
Event Updates
Our Breaking Through ceremony, originally scheduled for April 15th, has been canceled. We will keep you informed if and when we are able to reschedule that event.
In the coming weeks, we will determine the viability of holding the events we planned for this summer, including Mock Interview Day and our 40 Days/40 Ways Executive Luncheon series.
At this time, our second annual Ambassadors Luncheon is scheduled to go forward as planned, on September 17 at the River Oaks Country Club. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep you updated on the status of the Ambassadors Luncheon in the coming weeks and months.
We know that hourly workers and low-income communities will face a disproportionate impact from COVID-19 because of a lack of paid sick time and a safety net of resources.
While some Genesys Works interns adapt to working remotely in their internships, many are waiting to be called back to work when the crisis passes. With 83% of our students eligible for free or reduced lunch, a sudden loss of income can be an insurmountable challenge for them and their families.
We need your help to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on our young professionals. Your gift will help ensure that these young people receive the support and resources they need, now more than ever.
Right now, every day counts.
Spring remains a busy time for our program – college acceptances are rolling in, and scholarship applications are being finalized. Your generosity will help ensure that our young professionals continue to receive support through digital College-Career-Connection (CCC) sessions, as well as phone and video check-ins with staff to ensure they are receiving the support and guidance they need in these uncertain times.
While their health and safety remain our top priority, our mission of providing pathways to career success is more important than ever. Thank you for your support of the young people we serve.
Katherine Taylor
Executive Director, Genesys Works Houston
