THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 18, 1994 TAG: 9408170038
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By MIKE KNEPLER, staff writer
LENGTH: Long : 113 lines
DON'T PAY much attention to his grungy Michael Jordan T-shirt or dusty slacks.
``This isn't me,'' said 15-year-old Dion Williams, who is learning some lumber yard skills this summer. ``I like to dress up.''
Williams, in fact, already knows what he'll be wearing 10 years from now when he's a successful businessman, working in his office.
``I'm wearing rust pants, white shirt, tie with a little bit of rust to match my pants, and black shoes with tassles,'' Williams said. ``With a briefcase in my hands.''
Williams, participating in the Park Place Academy's jobs program, is learning the workaday-world possibilities beyond inner-city Norfolk.
The program matched Park Place teens with businesses and other work settings, such as Old Dominion University, the Norfolk Senior Center and South Hampton Roads Habitat for Humanity.
For example, Tamarra Hays worked in an office, Vernon Boyd at a print shop, Deon Ridley at a furniture store, Hamza Khabeer for a general contractor and Kennette Winstead at a hardware store.
Like many of the teens, Williams had doubts. He thought the work would be boring, just something to pay him a few dollars while he went through the motions.
``Then, the first week, I started liking the people here. They were treating me nice,'' said Williams, who worked at the Yukon Lumber Co. in Ghent. ``I started think, `I'm going to give this a try. They gave me a chance, so I'm going to give this a chance.' ''
Within a month, Williams learned names of several varieties of wood as well as a few lumber yard skills. His eyes ignited as he recited his knowledge to a visitor.
Tamarra Hays also brightened as she described her experiences.
``Two months ago, I wouldn't have believed that I would have employers who said they were proud of me, that working would feel this good and that I'd have a sense of responsibility,'' she said.
She offered her assessment with a slight shyness, her hand partly hiding her mouth as she talked of pride and responsibility.
``I'm not used to it, I guess,'' she explained. ``I don't know how to handle it because I've always been put down.''
Until now, Hays said, the only time she ``felt accepted'' was by a youth gang she ran with in San Antonio, Texas, a few years ago.
This summer, Hays worked for two employers: first, she spent a few days with CCG Systems and then seven weeks with the Habitat for Humanity non-profit housing program.
But Pam Nelson, CCG's owner, was so impressed with Hays that she already has offered the teen a part-time job at $5 an hour when school resumes in September.
All this put Hays on a high. She thinks more about her future.
``I used to feel, `I don't care.' Now I feel there's things worth fighting for,'' she said.
Other teens say they are learning constructive approaches to anger and frustration.
``I'm learning to cooperate with other people,'' said Vernon Boyd, who hopes to carry his new attitude to school this year. He wants to improve his grades, he said, because he hopes to become an architect.
Boyd, 14, learned the importance of working out differences with his employer, Fleet Printing, in Ghent.
During the first week of work, the company's owner discovered Boyd slouching across a counter while talking on the telephone.
Some words were exchanged, and Boyd punched out for lunch at midmorning.
Boyd said he calmed down after discussing the situation with his mother. He then realized that his employer was correct.
Meanwhile, Boyd is proud of earning money for the first time and contributing to his mother's household expenses.
Deon Ridley, 14, said he, too, has made his mother proud. He opened a savings account.
Ridley works at Decorum furniture store in Ghent where he's had a variety of assignments. They include unpacking shipments, assembling furniture, working on a computer and arranging displays.
``You have to come with a lot of energy and be prepared,'' he said after learning that staying up late and skipping breakfast will make him sluggish on the job.
For Hamza Khabeer, 17, his summer at Brush Works, a contracting company, was a good match because he already plans a career in construction. He was able to improve his skills.
At Colonial Hardware, Kennette ``Neda'' Winstead got a quick lesson in customer relations when confronted by an angry shopper.
The man did not believe his bill totaled $500. He demanded that the young cashier add the numbers again and again. Meanwhile, the line of shoppers continued to grow.
``I was so mad, I wanted to hit him in the face,'' said Winstead, who noted that she once had a quick temper.
This time, she turned the problem customer over to a more experienced cashier.
``I went into the bathroom and started fussing, and I was loud, too,'' Winstead said with a chuckle. ``Everybody heard me!''
As for her customer, his bill remained at $500, and he later apologized, Winstead said.
And Winstead, the mother of a one-year-old son, became philosophical about the business adage that ``the customer is always right.''
``They're still always right,'' she said. ``But you deal with them just like you do with a kid. You don't holler at a kid. You don't fight a kid. You talk with them. You try to work it out.''
Winstead looks forward to other summer jobs but now wants to improve her school grades.
Winstead, who once suffered a leg wound in a drive-by shooting, wants to work as a medical assistant and have a nice home when she grows up.
``I don't want to be another statistic,'' she said. ``You know, keep my grades up, keep my life straight, and I'm going to reach my goal.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color staff photo
RIGHT: Kennette Winstead, 14, says working at Colonial Hardware has
taught her to have a good attitude.
by CNB