Cafe Sonshine
Job Training

Real Job Experience Right in our Neighborhood
This community, which is comprised of 96% African Americans, also has a high unemployment rate, 42%, and a corresponding high poverty rate 40%. Related to this is the lack of educational attainment as only 39% of the adult community has graduated from high school. A recent survey we took of 100 teens at a local high school demonstrated that 82% of the teens were unemployed while 67% desired to work.

With such dismal statistics, where does an organization start to meet the needs and develop the assets that exist? We believe that one starting point is job training and job development with and for youth/young adults. Job training alone is not the answer. It teaches in a didactic fashion how to get a job, but falls short because it does not provide practical, hands on experience of getting a job and keeping a job. This is, of course, the simpler approach and the onus of economic self sufficiency through employment is placed upon the shoulders of the recipient. However, this approach does not do justice to the person being trained—it almost sets them up for failure!

Teens and young adults not only need employment training, but they also need employment opportunities that are nearby. What good does it do to be all trained to get a job if the jobs you are most qualified to perform take an hour to get to on public transportation?

Because of these needs and problems, we have developed a new model. A model that helps develop skills and employment opportunities that lead young people on the road to economic self sufficiency. Often, work skill sets that are assumed like a strong work ethic, showing up for work, consistency, proper motivation and the like are frequently missing and that shows up rather quickly once a teen or young adult is employed which then leads to unemployment. Our program enables us the opportunity to coach the trainees along in a supportive and yet rigorous work environment right in our community!

From a community development perspective, Cafe Sonshine is a win-win proposition for the community as it brings economic development into the community while also providing employment for community residents. And, from a job training perspective, it is also a great idea. Here is a real job right in our community! Coupled with the preliminary, on-the-job and off-the-job training, working in the restaurant will help them advance to a higher paying job and a high level job. We have seen it happen with our previous participants.