Before Genesis Bond-Hollingsworth was even old enough to participate, her grandmother stored a memory of Catalyst’s WIOA program in her mind for future use.
“She had gone to Catalyst for some kind of employment service, and she saw a flyer for the WIOA program. It stated that it started at age 14, and they offer different academic resources and a lot of different employment opportunities. Even though my sister and I weren’t old enough yet, she had saved it in her mind,” Bond-Hollingsworth said.
So when the time came, her grandmother unearthed the memory in the back of her brain and began to call employees at Catalyst, asking if the program was still available, and what they could do to participate.
The program, funded by a combination of WIOA and TANF funding from Richland County Job and Family Services, helps individuals with barriers to their employment and educational goals reach their full potential and achieve milestones.
“I oversee the WIOA youth program at Catalyst Life Services and have been a part of Genesis’ journey since she came to us. Genesis’ journey through our WIOA youth program is a testament to the mission of leveling the playing field for our community’s at-risk youth. Genesis joined the program as an 8th grader in 2019 and has since achieved remarkable milestones,” said Stephanie Jakubick, Assistant Director of Vocational Services.
For example, at just 16 years old, Bond-Hollingsworth was awarded a full scholarship to The Madeira School, a prestigious all-girls academy in McLean, Virginia through the combination of her academic success and strength of character.
She has shown a great commitment to her education – gaining valuable work experience through internships at the NAACP, refining her clerical skills during the summers. Through Catalyst, she was actively engaged in the “Bring Your A Game to Work” life skills classes, where she honed essential soft skills to prepare for her future career.
The staff members who work on this program work one-on-one with youth participants to reduce the impact of their barriers and provide educational and employment coaching to ensure participant success.
Bond-Hollingsworth’s grandmother saw that the program would be a good opportunity for her grandchildren to start working, while also having resources to aid the transition into adulthood and the workforce.
She also saw WIOA as a way to give back to themselves and the world around them, gaining comfortability in conversation and connection.
“She felt it would be a way for us to gain a lot of different employment skills that we need for the future, but also connect more with where we live now, because moving from Columbus to Mansfield, with their two very different dynamics, was an adjustment,”
“WIOA helped me be able to find people in the area and meet other people and not feel so alone in this. I’ve been able to learn more about myself and how I fit in between those two different dynamics as well as into the world itself,” Bond-Hollingsworth said.
Bond-Hollingsworth has just moved back to Atlanta as a second-year student at Emory University, studying political science on a pre-law track on their Oxford campus.
“It’s the smaller campus out of the Emory institution, but it’s also the only campus that’s dedicated specifically to first and second year students to have an opportunity just to hone in on those first two years,” Bond-Hollingsworth said.
Even now, staff members at Catalyst check in, asking questions like, “Do you need help with application processes?” or “Do you need certain practice courses?”
She reflects how much Catalyst assisted with the seemingly small, but important aspects of this time period, like making sure she had textbooks for school.
“It’s the small details that really matter that sometimes get overlooked. They were the first people who assisted me with this, so I wouldn’t be where I am without them,” Bond-Hollingsworth said.
As her education progresses, she hopes to participate in a post-graduate fellowship in which she can explore her passion for teaching before committing to law school full time.
While she was in Mansfield over the summer, Bond-Hollingsworth was able to work at the Mansfield Friendly House during their Summer Fun Program, discovering a love of working with kids, and an appreciation for their authenticity.
“They’re very in tune with what they want, and they also can differentiate between those who really care about them and those who don’t. They know right from wrong. They just need that nurturing and that love and kindness for them to be encouraged to do what they know is right,” Bond-Hollingsworth said.
To learn more about Catalyst’s WIOA program and how you can get involved, click here.
“Genesis has demonstrated incredible humility and gratitude for the services provided and hopes to motivate more young people to take advantage of similar opportunities. Her story exemplifies how the WIOA youth program can empower youth to achieve their educational and employment dreams,” Jakubick said.
Want to get in touch with Catalyst? Bob Nelson, WIOA Youth Service Coordinator (419-774-2200 or nelson@catalystlifeservices.org) is there to provide direct access for anyone interested in learning more about WIOA.
