As we celebrate our 15th anniversary, we are excited to check in on some of our alumni who are now Genesys Works staff members! We are proud to have six program alumni working in program, development, and marketing and communications. For 15 years, we have had the privilege of igniting the spark within local youth to pave pathways to career success and economic self-sufficiency. Our group of alumni staff members reflect on their return to Genesys Works and what it means to ignite the spark within our future workforce.
Melissa Flores Jaimes
Why did you return to work at Genesys Works?
I decided to return after getting to know an organization especially a non-profit and making those connections with students is very important. I am an alum of the program, so I know how important it is to have a mentor. Knowing that my mentor is available for support was very reassuring knowing I was a first-generation college student. It’s nice to give back to students in the same way and be useful as a long-term support. It’s not just a year-long relationship. It’s more than that–having a relationship beyond just an internship and making that impact.
What spark do you hope to ignite within our future workforce?
Recognizing that we’ve had 15 years of valuable work that shapes what we do at Genesys Works Twin Cities through our staff. There’s a lot of excitement and chants that helps the momentum and energy that we had all those years. I want to help move that passion towards the programming forward. I want to continue that enthusiasm and community feel for the future.
Amal Kayse
Why did you return to work at Genesys Works?
As a participant of the program, I really enjoyed my experience and grew a ton in valuable professional and technical skills. For others similar to me, I wanted to join the Twin Cities team to celebrate their stories and successes as young professionals. Genesys Works is a great place to showcase talent and technical capabilities along with career growth, working for a company that impacted me in a positive way was a no-brainer.
What spark do you hope to ignite within our future workforce?
I hope to ignite a spark in others through highlighting our Young Professionals who’ve gone above and beyond to make their internship experiences worthwhile. The hope would be to have students picture themselves as successful professionals that can achieve countless goals throughout one’s career, a spark that keeps me motivated.
Julie Vo McConnell
Why did you return to work at Genesys Works?
I decided to shift career paths after serving 5 years in program specific roles. After extensive research, networking events, and several coffee chats later, I landed with fundraising, which is a combination of relationship and project management, both skills I thrive in. I naturally thought of Genesys Works as I pivoted my career and there happen to be a Development Coordinator position open at the time. What better way to dive into a new career path than at an organization whose mission means so much to me as a program alum. It’s been the best three years since rejoining the team!
What spark do you hope to ignite within our future workforce?
I hope young people realize they already have what it takes to thrive and can achieve anything they set their minds to. Participating in programs like Genesys Works is a stepping stone to better understanding themselves, their passions, their goals, and more.
Swopnil Shrestha
Why did you return to work at Genesys Works?
As a first-generation college student, this was huge and my program coordinator was my biggest supporter through the whole process. In college, I was immersed in learning about our educational system, and more specifically, how our current system is inaccessible in so many ways for marginalized students. I finally had the language to speak about my own experiences growing up as well as the knowledge and tools to give back to the communities who made Minnesota home for my family as immigrants. I returned to Genesys Works because I am committed to disrupting the inaccessibilities that young marginalized learners face so that they have the same opportunities as their privileged peers to grow and learn expansively.
What spark do you hope to ignite within our future workforce?
Their only job is to grow and learn! I emphasize this to my students at every turn, from always asking what they like or don’t like about their work, ensuring their supervisor is prioritizing their growth and not just completion of tasks, to encouraging my students to make mistakes and be okay with not understanding things. For marginalized students especially, it feels as if there is very little room for patience and forgiveness, which than strips them of that space to learn and grow freely as much as their privileged peers. I want my students hold their workplaces accountable to creating space for their growth, wellbeing, and who they are as whole individuals.
Pa Jai Thao
Why did you return to work at Genesys Works?
As an alum of the program, I have gained so many opportunities through Genesys Works and have seen myself grow and develop with the program. I would not be where I am right now if not for Genesys Works and wanted to return to provide students the support that I was given as well.
What spark do you hope to ignite within our future workforce?
I hope that our future workforce will be motivated and encouraged to help each other out in anyway and all ways that they can. To continue to challenge themselves personally and professional and give back in all the ways they can.
Lily Yang
Why did you return to work at Genesys Works?
Genesys Works has such a strong mission that I resonate with because of my background. Mostly, I’m grateful to have had the chance to be part of such an empowering community. One that I feel has seen me grow even after my internship. Overall, I want to give back to those who have nurtured me as well as do the same for future generations.
What spark do you hope to ignite within our future workforce?
My former program coordinator, Julie, was the first adult in my life to believe in me and vocalize the potential she saw. Always having only received “tough love”, I never knew how powerful it could be to just have one person tell me they were on my side. That’s the spark I want to ignite in our future workforce; to know they are going to do so many great things one day, they just have to believe it first.
We are honored to launch local talent with a team of committed and student-centered staff members. We are grateful to have colleagues who come full circle and have chosen to make their impact on the future workforce with Genesys Works.
About Genesys Works
Genesys Works’ mission is to provide pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities through skills training, meaningful work experiences, and impactful relationships. We envision a future where all young adults are equipped and empowered with the knowledge and skills required to achieve career success, upward mobility, and a lifetime of economic self-sufficiency. We serve high school students and alumni through our comprehensive program continuum of an eight-week professional and technical summer training, year-long paid internships, college and career coaching, and college and career success support.
