Teens and young adults in the Seattle area are learning the fundamentals of customer service through a FareStart job training program that has moved entirely online and is now offered in the summer, as well as during the school year. These and other changes are helping us reach a broader and more diverse cross-section of students.
“A lot of our summer students are coming from Auburn, Kent, Tukwila, Renton and Highline, expanding our reach beyond high schools,” said Rekha Bhatt, Senior Vice President of Programs at FareStart. “We are really excited to give more students access to our training.”
Summertime training is offered through Gifts of Hope, a local BIPOC-led nonprofit that connects youth and families in need with food, clothing, housing, counseling, classes and other resources. During the school year, high school students take a virtual class through a longstanding partnership with Seattle Public Schools (SPS).
The program used to include instruction on barista skills. But during and after the pandemic, when instruction moved online to accommodate the needs of students, it became clear that some barista-related skills could only be taught properly in person.
“There’s only so much you can do in a virtual setting to teach how to pull an espresso shot or how to smell or taste the nuances of a dark roast versus a lighter brew,” said Carman Wilson, FareStart’s Associate Director of Programs & Operations.
Last year, 78 students enrolled in the program, learning:
- Customer service skills: cash handling, point of sale, workers’ rights, food handlers test
- Durable life skills: time management, goal-setting, conflict resolution, self-empowerment, code-switching, diversity and identity, financial literacy
- Job readiness skills: resumes, elevator pitch, sending professional emails, mock interviews
The six-week program is available to young people ages 15½ to 21 who face substantial barriers to employment, such as being unhoused, justice-involved, or navigating substance use recovery. The goal of the program is to provide career-connected learning opportunities that support early intervention for young people and prepare them for long-term success.
Students in SPS’s alternative learning experience schools, Interagency Academy and Nova, earn credits toward graduation for completing the program. We’re working to expand the program by offering it at Cleveland, Garfield, Franklin, Roosevelt and Lincoln High Schools, though students at those schools don’t yet earn credit for taking it. All students receive a $750 stipend based on their weekly attendance once they complete the full program.
“We’ve seen continued excitement and demand from Seattle Public Schools, Gifts of Hope and students from all across the region,” Rekha said. “We’re excited for FareStart to help more young people gain valuable skills and build confidence as they finish school and prepare to enter the workforce.”
To learn more about our Online Customer Service Program, contact us at 206.787.1502 or enroll@farestart.org.
