Jeffrey was homeless and needed help when he heard about Thrive DC. He needed a place that would enhance his skill set and give him a real chance at steady employment – something that would not just to sustain him but also help him reach his ambitions to be a manager.

He needed a place that would take the time to invest in him. There were lots of programs that were 6 – 8 weeks long, but it seemed like as soon as you started you were walking out the door.

That’s when Jeffrey heard about Thrive DC.

He was at Bread for the City when they gave him a referral to our Real Opportunity Training Program. At first he was unsure; while he wanted a better training program, Thrive DC’s was six months long and much more dense and challenging.

Ultimately though, the program was everything he was looking for:

“When I first came to Thrive DC, I was uncertain because I didn’t know a lot about the program. Now, Thrive DC is a place I would recommend. All the different programs Thrive DC has to enhance lifestyles are great and the staff is really professional. This has been an intense and gratifying program.”

Jeffrey is currently finishing his externship at Open City in Woodley Park and is under consideration for employment there. But after his time in the Real Opp program, Jeffrey also has a new dream.

“I want to return the favor for what Thrive DC has done for me. I’m working on getting my business license so that I can teach others about sanitation, knife work, and all of the skills you need when working in this industry. I want to be a food service consultant and train people in the private sector.”

When asked what he had learned through the Real Opp program, Jeffrey had just one thing to say:

“I have learned that you can always get what you want through hard work. You’re going to have challenges, but you have to work through them.”

“It was worth it.”

A Job Training Program That Works

Want more information on Thrive DC’s Real Opportunity Training Program? Click the link to learn more about our comprehensive program supporting people out of homelessness.

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“I’d never actually completed anything in my life before.”

The deck was stacked against Roxann. A high school dropout, she had turned to drugs and had spent time in prison. She found herself in transitional housing with no job – or prospects for a job. She wanted to get her life back on track, but the odds weren’t in her favor.

Fortunately, Roxann’s case manager knew about Thrive DC and suggested that she check out our Real Opportunity culinary arts training program. The thought of an intensive six-month program was daunting though: “I’d never actually completed anything in my life before” said Roxann.

It wasn’t easy for Roxann, beginning with creating her resume. “I never learned how to use a computer. It was so frustrating.” But Thrive DC’s staff helped her every step of the way. Learning skills in our kitchen was easier for Roxann, and at times more meaningful.

When the Real Opportunity participants helped serve the breakfast they’d just prepared, Roxann would look at who she was serving and think, “It wasn’t long ago that that was me.”

Finally, Roxann’s externship at Open City made her feel good about getting up and going to work. It gave her a sense of purpose, especially since she hadn’t held a job in over 15 years. The Open City staff welcomed her with open arms. She felt supported. And when Roxann, who is also a breast cancer survivor, needed time off for doctors appointments, Open City’s Chef Carlos made sure she could take the time.

Roxann has been drug free for three years and has high hopes for the future. When asked at her Real Opportunity graduation ceremony what was next for her, she took the question quite literally and said, “I’m leaving here to go enroll in night school to finish high school.” After that, Roxann plans to give back, to help those who are homeless and struggling just like she was.

“The more serious I got, the more people wanted to help me.”

Two years ago Kennie Brown’s father passed away, and then he lost his job. He was staying with his cousin, but after Kennie started spiraling downwards his cousin kicked him out. He became homeless.

“He saw me drinking all the time, doing drugs, and he wasn’t having it. He kicked me out when he saw I wasn’t serious about getting my life together.”

It was a year of staying in and out of the 801 East homeless shelter before Kennie heard about Thrive DC. A friend of his at the shelter told him about the Real Opportunity program, how Thrive DC would pay a small stipend while they trained you to be a chef.

At first Kennie was only interested in the money part, but once he got in the program he started to see the kind of opportunity it was.

“Seeing how serious everyone else was made me serious. At first I wanted to be a part of the program for the money, but after I saw how valuable the experience could be I wanted the program for myself.”

Kennie was just one of three Real Opp trainees to make it through a grueling six month program. But it paid off. He now has a full-time job at Jamba Juice, has a steady place to stay with his brother and a friend, is living clean, and is less than two months away from having enough saved up to move into a place of his own and being financially sustainable.

“The more serious I got, the more people wanted to help me. My advice to people who want to join the Real Opp program is to take everything seriously. This program can make or break you, but if you can do it the right way, you can be a success story.”

Anthony has lived in the District all his life, growing up in Mt. Pleasant when it was still a rough neighborhood. At 19 he was sent to prison for the first time, and it wasn’t until 2010 that he finally got out, experienced re-entry, and committed himself to changing his life for the better.

But with a prison record Anthony had a hard time applying for work, and without a job, eventually became homeless.

“I went to all the job fairs, and filled out hundreds of applications. But I couldn’t get past that one box: ‘Have you ever been convicted of a felony?’”

In 2014, Anthony found Thrive DC. With the help of the employment specialist, he enrolled in the Real Opportunity Training Program to become a professional chef. Despite being homeless when the program started, Anthony arrived on time every day and worked hard to make the most of his opportunity.

“Thrive [DC] has so much to offer. Why wouldn’t I take advantage of it all?”

Today, Anthony has found success as a full-time employee at a restaurant in Adams Morgan. With a consistent salary to look forward to, he is working with Thrive DC’s housing coordinator to find an apartment and become self-sufficient.

“This is just the beginning,” Anthony says. “There’s so much more I’m trying to do, so much more I want to do.”

Thrive DC has changed my life. I’ve been coming here for nine months and it has given me a new focus on hope and productive things to do. They have a women’s program that helped me get involved in interesting activities and get the support I need.  I was around positive and helpful people. I eat a good breakfast and dinner at Thrive DC and as a result of coming here, I’m a lot healthier.

The staff at Thrive DC make you feel that you have value. They consistently treat me with respect and dignity.  If I need personal items to take care of myself they never hesitate and people like Trenett, Rachel and Jessica have always been kind and helpful. I enjoy Terrence’s cooking. He cooks like he is cooking for himself and makes sure we enjoy and appreciate it.

Thrive also helps me find work. Having access to a computer through the Computer Lab enabled me to enroll in VMT which trains people to be nursing assistants.

At Thrive DC, I didn’t feel like they looked down on me. They have always looked for ways to help me. I have hope now. I have an outlet.  I had no place to go before Thrive DC.  Plugging into the programs here helped me live a more productive life and achieve my dreams.

I strongly encourage supporting Thrive DC, the organization is well appreciated and much needed.

Marvin had been a gardener at the U.S. Supreme Court for two years when a sudden change in management resulted in him losing his job.  The series of events that followed were rapid and devastating.  Marvin was nearing retirement age and instead of looking forward to that, he had to spend his savings to survive.  He lost his car, his home and with what felt like dizzying speed, Marvin found himself alone living on the streets.  He says, “I was green. I didn’t know anything about how to survive as a homeless person.”

While staying at one of the shelters in downtown DC, Marvin was befriended by a group of men who were also homeless. They took Marvin under their wing and brought him to Thrive DC.  Marvin says, “Thrive DC is where I really started to progress. I could do everything here… have a warm breakfast, take a shower, use the computer lab and get help from Jessica (Director of Social Services) and other staff and volunteers with the many different challenges I faced. “

With steady progress and much hard work on his part, Marvin got a job last summer and for the next six months he focused on achieving his next goal – finding housing so he can marry his girlfriend and start a new life with her.  After being denied housing on three attempts, Marvin received keys to an apartment in a transitional housing program.  He and his fiance have begun making plans for their wedding.

Marvin says, “I’d like for everyone at Thrive DC who helped me along the way to know I’m doing great. Thank you for all you have done for me!”