Where Leonard Lives Matters
opportunities. While he hoped that his job search would be a quick and easy process, it didn’t turn out that way. Leonard felt like giving up along the way, but Jean encouraged him. After six months, Leonard’s persistence paid off and he was offered a full- time position as a custodian—a position that offered better pay and health insurance benefits. “I’m really glad Jean was there to help me and make it work,” Leonard said. So are we, Leonard.
Leonard is a resident at St. Luke’s Plaza in St. Louis. He came to the St. Luke’s community center seeking help from his RSC, Jean. Leonard was struggling financially with only a part-time job. He was paid poorly and didn’t offer receive health insurance benefits. Over the next few weeks, Jean worked with Leonard to design and draft a resume and cover letter, and to practice interview skills. Jean also helped Leonard find and apply for new job
Where Shalimar Lives Matters
Shalimar thanked Pam for helping her manage her income last summer, teaching her the importance of saving and prioritizing expenses. “Now I look at those sunglasses, that shirt, that milkshake . . . and I think, that’s one hour of work!” Shalimar also had a positive influence on her family, who she claims never understood the importance of saving money. This year, they will go on their first family vacation because Shalimar encouraged everyone to make monthly contributions to a family vacation fund. She is also encouraging her younger sister to be responsible with money. Shalimar told Pam hopes her sister can also enter the internship program when she turns sixteen.
Shalimar is sixteen and lives in Ship’s Cove, an NHPF property in Fall River, Massachusetts. One day Pam, the Ships’ Cove RSC, ran into Shalimar in the lobby. Though Shalimar had been an intern the summer before, Pam hadn’t seen her in several months. Shalimar reported that she has been very busy working her full-time job, while also attending college. She’s currently in a certificate program to become an interpreter and plans to continue her education towards a bachelor’s degree in business management. Shalimar told Pam that she’s working hard to achieve her goal to buy a house someday, and because of her internship with Operation Pathways, she understands the planning and effort needed to make her dream come true.
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OPERAT I ON PATHWAYS F I SCAL YEAR 20 1 6 ANNUAL REPORT
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