Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
DEKALB, Ill. (AP) — Kimberlin Carter doesn't have to travel far to her job every morning, but the full-time, steady work she has now is a long way from the employment situation she previously faced.
Carter is one of several parents involved with Camp Power who were able to use their experience with the program as a tool to gain employment. Organizers said they have heard that a number of parents have been able to use their association with the camp to find work. The special summer camp is offered free to youth who live in the University Village housing complex.
"It's a blessing that I was able to use them as stepping stone to get where I need to be, to gain employment," Carter said.
Camp Power was founded in 2014 as an outlet for youth in the mostly low-income, 534-unit housing community. Organizers said it was designed to address child hunger, quell youth violence in the area and engage youth with community stakeholders in an effort to foster positive relationships with such groups as the DeKalb police.
Although Carter said she had previous work and some higher education experience, she said the connections she made through Camp Power were key to her landing a job as an activity aide at the DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center.
Lisa Cumings, one of the founders of Camp Power, said that it's not surprising that some adults also would reap benefit from the program that was particularly designed to, among other things, promote healthy eating habits and physical activity among children at University Village. She said that parents are often engaged with the camp experience — as onlookers, volunteers or employees.
"It really helped to instill some self-confidence. It gave them an opportunity to connect with key people in the community. It gave them a sense of purpose," Cumings said. "I think it just kind of jump-started some parents to really want to keep moving forward."
Carter, a mother of three, came to DeKalb about three years ago, in part because she has family here, but also seeking refuge from the gun violence and other struggles in her native Chicago. She had been on a path to becoming a pharmacy tech when she made the move here.
Her new home initially offered her only temporary work opportunities, such as being a bell-ringer for the Salvation Army during the Christmas season. Now, she works five days a week, in a job with benefits and a collectively bargained contract.
"It's a relief that I got something permanent and stable," Carter said.
She signed up to volunteer with Camp Power during the program's inaugural year. Although she had experience working in child care centers and nursing homes, Carter signed on to help pick up trash after the campers ate lunch each day.
"When you volunteer at any job, it sets the pace for you to have doors open for you, especially if you're a good worker, come on time, are willing to help and willing to learn," Carter said.
Her work ethic didn't go unnoticed, and last year she was hired as staff for the camp. She spent the summer as a mentor, engaging with the youngsters in various activities and - she would later discover - setting the stage for the camp to catapult her employment situation.
"Clearly, Camp Power has made some highly positive impacts on the children in University Village and the neighborhood," said Debbie Madeley, development director for Kishwaukee YMCA. "And the fact that parents hired to work the program were able to leverage the skills they learned to find local employment truly adds to the importance of the program."
The YMCA has been involved with Camp Power since its inception and this year took control of the camp as its administrator. The camp is now part of the Y's roster of programs, with support from a number of other community stakeholders - including the DeKalb Police Department.
"Camp Power staff are not only trained in running a program, CPR and first aid, but also learn customer service and other transferable skills, as well," Madeley said.
Carter said she applied for the county nursing home job in April and listed her work with the camp on her résumé. Also, she said, she was able to list some of the program administrators as references. Carter said she was asked several questions about her work with Camp Power during her interview.
This year, enrollment is down a bit in Camp Power. At first, the slight decrease puzzled administrators. But Cumings said that a deeper look into the issue revealed that some parents had started working, making them eligible for the state subsidy for child care.
With the subsidy - which requires parents to be employed or in school - parents are able to have child care for longer hours than what the camp operates. The additional hours of care are more accommodating to parents' work schedules.
Cumings said some former Camp Power families were able to enroll in the Y's traditional day camp program because of employment and receiving the state aid.
"I'll take that problem any day," Cumings said. "It shows that this is what we want. We want parents to be sustainable on their own."
___
Source: The (DeKalb) Daily Chronicle,
___
Information from: The Daily Chronicle, http://www.daily-chronicle.com
This is an AP-Illinois Exchange story offered by The (DeKalb) Daily Chronicle.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
