Back in 2006, a couple of business professionals at AAA of Arizona made a surprising observation.
High school graduates applying for the most basic, entry level, office positions were lacking some basic computing skills. So the company created a program called, AAA Cares. The goal being: Take a select group of motivated, business recruits and get them ready to pass one of life's milestones--getting that first, real job.
Each spring semester about 25 deserving students in the Glendale and Deer Valley Unified School Districts along with a very dedicated group of volunteers learn just how valuable the words "go to work" can be. And the road to a fulfilling career, isn't always so straight and smooth. "Not everyone goes to college right away," AAA Cares co-founder, Suzanne Eden says. "Some of our students are already raising families. So they're facing a lot of challenges"
The AAA Cares program meets those challenges the way any successful business would--through effective preparation. Over 18 weeks, the kids have worked with some advanced Microsoft products. "They're working with spreadsheets, putting together numbers--all those types of things,"Michelle Stockdale, a CSAA Insurance Group analyst said. "They'll definitely take those skills with them, for sure."
The program gives students a feel for what is appropriate in business--from clothes, to communicating, to corporate culture. Then, there are weeks spent writing their resumes and developing interviewing skills. Everything building towards getting their first foot in the door.
If we can get these kids an edge, they can get a better job rather than working at the fast food places," Angie Jones, an organizer and mentor in the program says. "They can actually know what it's like to work in a business environment."
The program was an eye opener for Trey West, a Senior at Sunnyslope High School. "Just coming here has opened my eyes to a lot of different things. What's appropriate and what's not appropriate in a business setting. For Karla Ortiz it was just as overwhelming. "It's life changing. I don't know where I would be without them right now, " Ortiz said.
Karla Ortiz was a new mom when she graduated from the program five years ago. She earned a summer internship at CSAA Insurance Group, and then was hired full time based on her performance. A couple of years ago she proudly added one more achievement...that of AAA Cares Mentor. "It opens your eyes," she tells students in the program. "It shows you that you don't have to settle for anything, you can do whatever you want to do."
The kids and their mentors meet every Tuesday for about three hours. The latest class of business, savvy candidates will be "graduating" May 12th. Currently, the program is only open to Juniors and Seniors in the Glendale and Deer Valley Unified School Districts. Interested students should look for applications at their school's guidance departments in October.
