Power Ties®

A project of the Young Leadership Council

Volunteer Brandon Roll leads the thank-you note workshop

A student participates in a mock interview

Volunteer Betsy Lopez leads a mock interview

Volunteer Lindsey Jakiel leads a mock interview

2014 Super Service Challenge• Who did you serve, and what did you accomplish that day?Our team volunteers with the YLC’s Power Ties project. Executed in partnership with Firstline Schools, the Power Ties program

consists of a series of four 1.5-hour workshops for 8th-grade students held in the classrooms of partnering schools. YLC member-volunteers are recruited to teach the workshops over the course of a few weeks, using a set curriculum that includes writing resumes and cover letters, understanding appropriate office behavior, and practicing general business and interviewing skills.

The Power Ties program caps off the workshops with a "career fair" and job site visits at local businesses. Then, students are treated to a business luncheon and motivational speaker. The goal of Power Ties is to help 8th graders with career-readiness skills, while exposing them to a diverse variety of possible career choices.

Our volunteer team of Brandon Roll, Lindsey Jakiel, Erica Washington, and Betsy Lopez volunteered at a Power Ties workshop with students from Langston Hughes Academy, which was held on October 18 th, 2013. Brandon Roll led the thank-you note writing workshop, which works with students to talk about the importance of thank-you notes in the interview process, and walks them through the process of writing a sample thank-you note. Lindsey Jakiel and Betsy Lopez volunteered as mock interviewers, interviewing students one-on-one and talking about interview skills. Erica Washington volunteered coordinating the workshops start and stop time, and letting teachers and students know when to move on to the next workshop.

• What is your team's plan for an ongoing relationship with the nonprofit? Our team plans to continue to volunteer with Power Ties during upcoming workshops. Brandon Roll is the volunteer project

leaders for Power Ties, and he will be keeping in touch with the rest of the team to let them know of upcoming volunteer opportunities.

• What would your nonprofit do if they won part of the prize money?We would use the funds to further the mission of Power Ties, reaching more students with essential job readiness skills. Prize

money would cover expenses from printing resumes and thank-you notes, and providing students with a portfolio to keep their new resumes and other workshop materials in. It will also cover expenses for the power lunch and transportation to job site visits.