VOICES – FreshMinistries: The Coach’s Kids at East Jacksonville Resource Center

The Coach isn’t easy on them.  He enforces a dress code and a code of good conduct.  He expects and receives respect. There are more than 40 youth crowded into the meeting room at the East Jacksonville Neighborhood Resource Center but when Coach speaks, you can hear a pin drop. 

“We need to clear up some of their misconceptions about work,” said Nathaniel S. Washington, known as “Coach” to the youth who are participating in the Summer Work Program at the East Jacksonville Neighborhood Resource Center, an initiative of FreshMinistries.  “Kids these days have lost the essential survival skills that are part of the good old fashioned work ethic.”

After nearly 58 years as an educator in Duval County Schools, “Coach” Nathaniel S. Washington, 82, has first-hand knowledge of what it takes to get and keep a job.  Since February, on two Saturday mornings a month, Washington has been helping area youth acquire some of those job survival skills.

“The coach keeps us in our place,” said Jasmine Baker, 15, a freshman at Mandarin High and one of about 40 students at the Resource Center on April 26.  “He doesn’t want to see the boys slumped over in their seats with their pants hanging low and he doesn’t like it when the girls’ bangles make noise, but he’s fair and he always feeds us refreshments after the meeting.” 

On April 26, students practiced filling out IRS paperwork with Shands Chaplain Florence Brannon, former IRS Instructor.  Then Realtor/IT Specialist Chuck Lee taught them how to navigate job hunting websites such as www.jaxjobs.com and www.careerbuilder.com. 
“Learn your Social Security Number by heart,” both Brannon and Lee reminded them. 

As participants filled out Employee Information forms, Coach Washington urged them to list honors, awards, school activities, offices held.  He asked them to list any and all skills and job preferences.  Most importantly, he wanted them to describe themselves in writing.  “I want to get to know you better,” he told them. 

Grades in school, attitude and appearance … all are factors weighed by Coach as he matches students with summer jobs.  “I can send them for the interview,” he said, “but they have to get the job and keep it.”

Currently, the program at the Eastside Jacksonville Neighborhood Resource Center is sponsored by FreshMinistries and several local churches including First Baptist of Oakland, Little Rock, Mount Olive AME, Jesus Christ Community Baptist and St. Luke Baptist.   By paying half of the salary earned, sponsors will offset the cost of employing youth 5 hours a day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks, from June 9 through July 19.  

“Our congregation is excited about helping.  We have several youth participating today,” said Alease Kelly, whose husband, Theodore Kelly, is associate pastor at Jesus Christ Community Baptist.  

A student at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and a talented vocalist who hopes to win a music scholarship for college, 16 year old Azschrielle Jackson is currently aiming at applying for work at the Bridge this summer, while Jakari Christian, a 9th grader at Robert E. Lee High School thinks he’d excel at customer service.  “I want to have a job and keep it,” said Jakari, 16, who dreams of someday becoming a motivational speaker and a “peace maker.”

For Philip Johnson, a 16 year old Junior in the pre-law magnet program at Wolfson High School, working as a counselor at the YMCA sounds like a perfect fit.  “I’m the uncle of seven and my mom has a daycare center,” said Johnson.  “I know kids!”

So far, according to Coach Washington, between the YMCA, the Bridge and Community Connections there are 18 job opportunities available.  “We have a lot more than 18 kids here,” he said.  “We need more sponsors and more organizations willing to hire youth.  These kids are eager.  They know I’ll be watching them, too.”