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Katniss · 08-08-2013, 09:40 AM

Way back in the President Clinton days some of you may remember the “Welfare to Work” program. It so happens my organization was given economic incentives to hire some of the people who had been long term welfare recipients. I recall very distinctly that some of my colleagues not only were not interested in this program but actively discouraged others from using it. The standard “more trouble than it’s worth” and “you are just going to cause problems for yourself down the line” and “they don’t really want to work, are lazy, uneducated, etc. ” stereotypical lines were all trotted out. My director at the time even discouraged me from hiring a person off of this program. But I did.

As the years have gone by I have watched this woman arrive on time, after 2 bus transfers each way, often in the rain…every day. I have watched her struggle to learn computer systems when she had never had access to a computer before (she is an older woman and computers were not of her generation.) I have seen her come in and borrow various old textbooks off my shelf to read at home (Strunk and White grammar anyone???) I have seen her tackle any task given to her with calm and determination. Also note hardly any people outside a very few know of her background so as not to have her stigmatized when she started work years ago. All her “catch up learning” has been done quietly at home.

Yesterday I watched as she accepted the highest recognition award my center has to offer. She beat out many highly degreed candidates for the honor. What she doesn’t know is in a few weeks she will be given the highest award my entire organization has for employees in her field. This isn’t a “feel good” award as it must be earned and competition is tough and the nomination forms go through several different panels.

I'm not a Pollyanna. I know all stories don't end like this. But I also know if we don't provide opportunities where we can, then we will never have these happy endings....

Success looks good on you girl. So yeah, this makes me smile.

Katniss~~

08-08-2013, 09:40 AM	#15329
Katniss Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Dame, doll, twist, dish Preferred Pronoun?: Ladylike ones Relationship Status: ***** Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: We drink sweet tea here Posts: 2,903 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 6,654 Thanked 10,370 Times in 2,088 Posts Rep Power**: 21474851	Big smiles.... Way back in the President Clinton days some of you may remember the “Welfare to Work” program. It so happens my organization was given economic incentives to hire some of the people who had been long term welfare recipients. I recall very distinctly that some of my colleagues not only were not interested in this program but actively discouraged others from using it. The standard “more trouble than it’s worth” and “you are just going to cause problems for yourself down the line” and “they don’t really want to work, are lazy, uneducated, etc. ” stereotypical lines were all trotted out. My director at the time even discouraged me from hiring a person off of this program. But I did. As the years have gone by I have watched this woman arrive on time, after 2 bus transfers each way, often in the rain…every day. I have watched her struggle to learn computer systems when she had never had access to a computer before (she is an older woman and computers were not of her generation.) I have seen her come in and borrow various old textbooks off my shelf to read at home (Strunk and White grammar anyone???) I have seen her tackle any task given to her with calm and determination. Also note hardly any people outside a very few know of her background so as not to have her stigmatized when she started work years ago. All her “catch up learning” has been done quietly at home. Yesterday I watched as she accepted the highest recognition award my center has to offer. She beat out many highly degreed candidates for the honor. What she doesn’t know is in a few weeks she will be given the highest award my entire organization has for employees in her field. This isn’t a “feel good” award as it must be earned and competition is tough and the nomination forms go through several different panels. I'm not a Pollyanna. I know all stories don't end like this. But I also know if we don't provide opportunities where we can, then we will never have these happy endings.... Success looks good on you girl. So yeah, this makes me smile. Katniss~~