Program Overview
My Brother's Keeper Career Pathways program is a 5 week economic empowerment and career development workshop. Participants earn a stipend while learning life skills like managing personal finances, growing professional connections, and marketing themselves to future employers.
The current unemployment and employability crisis across The United States of America specifically as it pertains to those between the ages of 18-26 and throughout Cambridge specifically has provided reformed minded individuals with an unique opportunity to move from idea to action. This moment has furnished each of us with an opportunity to create meaningful and thoughtful programs that empower and engineer the identified participants between the ages of 18-26 to participate in a robust and strategically contextualized 5 week experience that allows for exposure, growth, and the acquisition of the first stages of the amassing of a toolkit that will allow for greater self-agency and advocacy.
Program Goals:
By the end of the program participants will be able to:
- Understand the occupational codes and how they impact career decisions
- Map and execute an effective career plan
- Articulate a grand understanding of the employability skill set
- Identify barriers for achieving career satisfaction utilizing self-awareness techniques
- Understand the power of personal finance and goal setting
- Strategize, map and design a personal finance plan for future success
- Command a basic knowledge of credit and how to leverage it to grow wealth
- Develop and manage a personal budget tracking sheet
- Build strong social networks that will help support personal and financial goals
- Create a personal self-care plan including identified resources for mental and emotional health
- Incorporate healthy practices that promote solid relationships and connections
- Design a plan for continuous learning & engagement opportunities through the Job Connector
Workshop Overview
| Career Development & Employability | Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurship | Self-care, Health & Wellbeing |
|---|---|---|
| Career Assessments | Financial Freedom and Economic Empowerment | What is self-care |
| Developing a Plan | Budgeting 101 | Mental and emotional health |
| Resume Writing | Credit 101 | Trauma: breaking the cycle |
| Interviewing Skills | Loans and interest rates | My hopes and dreams |
| Effective Communication | How to Create & Meet My Financial Goals | Substance abuse, addition, and exercise |
Workshop Schedule
| Date | Instructor | Workshop | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 12, 2021 | All | Orientation | 6:00pm - 8:00pm |
| January 14, 2021 | TBD | Career Assessment | 6:00pm - 7:00pm |
| January 14, 2021 | Ty Bellitti | Financial Freedom and Economic Empowerment | 7:00pm - 8:00pm |
| Date | Instructor | Workshop | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 19, 2021 | Tony Clark | What is Self Care? | 6:00pm - 7:00pm |
| January 19, 2021 | The Job Connector by MIT | Developing a Plan | 7:00pm - 8:00pm |
| January 21, 2021 | Ty Bellitti | Budgeting 101 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm |
| January 21, 2021 | The Job Connector by MIT | Resume Writing | 7:00pm - 8:00pm |
| Date | Instructor | Workshop | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 26, 2021 | The Job Connector by MIT | Resume Writing | 6:00pm - 7:00pm |
| January 26, 2021 | Ty Bellitti | Credit 101 | 7:00pm - 8:00pm |
| January 28, 2021 | Tony Clark | Trauma: Breaking the Cycle | 6:00pm - 7:00pm |
| January 28, 2021 | The Job Connector by MIT | Interviewing Skills | 7:00pm - 8:00pm |
| Date | Instructor | Workshop | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2, 2021 | Ty Bellitti | Loans and Interest Rates | 6:00pm - 7:00pm |
| February 2, 2021 | Tony Clark | My Hopes and Dreams | 7:00pm - 8:00pm |
| February 4, 2021 | TBD | Effective Communication | 6:00pm - 7:00pm |
| February 4, 2021 | Ty Bellitti | How to Create and Meet Financial Goals | 7:00pm - 8:00pm |
| Date | Instructor | Workshop | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 9, 2021 | Tony Clark | Substance Abuse, Addiction, and Exercise | 6:00pm - 7:00pm |
| February 9, 2021 | The Job Connector by MIT | Ongoing Services | 7:00pm - 8:00pm |
| February 11, 2021 | All | Participant Recognition and Celebration | 6:00pm - 8:00pm |
Meet Your Instructors
Tony Clark
Tony Clark is a graduate of Cambridge Public Schools. He has extensive experience in Education and Education Policy, from teaching college-level English Courses to working in the United States Department of Education. He is a compassionate social critic who has written and published articles that have examined race, culture, and education. Tony currently serves as a tenured professor of English Literature and Learning Communities at Bunker Hill Community College and is a volunteer member of a state task force committed to designing and instituting strategies to raise the graduation rates of Males of Color attending community colleges.
Ty Bellitti
Ty Bellitti is exceptionally proud to have been born and raised in Cambridge, and he continues to make his home here. He is an active member of the community and has a strong commitment to helping others and giving back to the neighborhood - including coaching, mentorship, and volunteerism. His years of experience in travel and real estate have helped him to build strong, diverse effective teams that honor the individuals and play to the strengths of each team member.
Sara Reese Monestime
Sara Reese-Monestime is a life long resident of Cambridge and graduate of the Cambridge Public Schools. She received her undergraduate degree in Communications and worked in the media and entertainment industry for 10 years. In 2010, she received her Masters in Education and has worked as a School Counselor for middle and high school students. Sara has a passion for working with young adults and has developed career advising programs, internships and collaborates with companies to develop mutually beneficial partnerships. She is a member of MBK Cambridge Task Force and brings her years of experience in work based learning initiatives and workforce development. She is currently the Career Advisor at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School and coordinates the Rindge School of Technical Arts Cooperative Education program. She resides in Cambridge with her two daughters and her husband.
Junardy Jean-Charles
Junardy joined the Job Connector with a passion to help Cambridge residents actualize their career goals. Starting from a career in mental health counseling, Junardy was drawn to employment counseling and workforce development to encourage tangible outcomes for clients.
Hector Acevedo
With a background in the nonprofit and public sectors, Hector brings a passion for social change to the Job Connector. With a firm belief in the importance of community building, Hector hopes to create opportunities for engagement and career advancement for Cambridge residents.
Ted Downing
Ted Downing is a lifelong Cambridge resident dedicated to helping the community he was raised in. Through the Job Connector, he strives to connect residents to the growing opportunities in the regional innovation economy.
