Applicant Stories

Russell D.

Russell, a 57-year-old returning citizen, was born and raised in Washington DC. He learned about Jubilee Jobs from his counselor at Blair Transitional Shelter. He has training and experience in construction and facilities maintenance and has also taught classes in facilities maintenance. Russell followed every step of the Jubilee Jobs process. He participated in the intake session with his Job Counselor, as well as attended resume, conflict resolution, and interview skills workshops. Pat Scherr, a retired hotel industry HR executive, leads the interview workshops.

At this workshop, Russell’s experience and personality stood out to Pat and she knew he would be a good match for a hotel job. Shortly after meeting Russell, Pat reached out to her contacts at the Crestline Hotel Group. Within a week, Russell had secured an interview and a facilities maintenance position with the Courtyard Washington at the Navy Yard.

Russell is very happy at his job. Initially, he was working with a senior engineer but now they are leaving him all on his own to “run the hotel” from 2:30 pm to 11:00 pm each day. Russell is the only engineer on the night shift. Furthermore, the hotel management may be sending Russell down to Atlanta to work in a hotel down there, which he is very excited about.

Melveon H.

It would be hard not to smile if you met Jubilee Jobs applicant Melveon Harp. His booming voice and perpetual enthusiasm are an absolute delight. Even though he’s been through hard times, Melveon will always tell you that he’s “good and blessed”. Melveon has worked in food service for most of his adult life. When Melveon came to Jubilee Jobs, his job counselor knew exactly where to send him. His experience, combined with his outgoing, cheerful personality, was a perfect match for our top employer partner, Harris Teeter.

Within a month Melveon was hired for a deli position at the Adams Morgan Harris Teeter. There, he also uses his resounding voice to make announcements of the lunchtime specials on the store PA system.

Recently Melveon reflected on his experience with Jubilee Jobs. “Let me tell you about Jubilee—if you’re in need of job search support, this place will help you. I tell everyone out there—do not doubt yourself, give yourself a chance, come on through Jubilee Jobs. They are here to HELP you! Even when I’m in the neighborhood, I stop by and see everyone. If it wasn’t for Jubilee opening the doors and giving me a chance, I don’t know where I’d be standing at today.”

Melveon greets people with “Yay yay!” and some Jubilee Jobs staff have adopted that to express joy. For Mevleon, we cheer “Yay yay!”.

Chico P.

Chico is an excellent construction worker with experience and skills in pouring and finishing concrete, flagging, carpentry and labor. Because of the pandemic and the economy he was laid off from his job in July 2020. Even with a high school diploma, driver’s license, and steady work history for the past 25 years he was not able to find a new job. He came to Jubilee Jobs on March 4, 2021. We quickly recognized Chico as an exemplary candidate for any job in the construction or housekeeping industries. Sure enough, he followed through with every possibility, including 8 applications and interviews. Nothing was too far – even Fort Washington, MD or Alexandria, VA.

Pat Sherr, expert professional in the human resources field and longtime volunteer with Jubilee Jobs, led Chico in a Zoom interviewing workshop. She helped him recognize the valuable experience and excellent work ethic which he brings to every job. Finally, April 6, after one month of daily crucial tasks in the job finding process, Chico was hired. The big smile we knew was on his face when he called to let us know brought joy to all of us. “Is Alexandria too far?” we asked. “Of course not, I just can’t wait to get back to work.”

Chico came to Washington, DC from Huntsville, Alabama. He is the youngest of 15 children with a mom and dad who gave him “a good southern raising. They taught me how to work, to be respectful of people, and to stay in school.” His mom was a missionary Baptist and he went to Bible study, Sunday school, and church regularly. He was wide receiver on his high school football team. When asked about what he was most proud of in his life, Chico said, “My mom caught cancer and I took care of her for 6 months before she died. It was the hardest thing I ever did but I am so glad I could care for her.” Once Chico starts his new job, we will continue to stay in touch to connect him with jobs in Washington, DC’s construction industry to use his extensive skills in concrete pouring and carpentry. He has many years of productive employment ahead of him.

Taylor T.

Taylor first came to Jubilee Jobs in February 2019, after her father told her about us since he was looking for work, too. She was 20 years old and needed a job to support herself and her one-year-old little boy. She was quickly hired at a daycare center, but the pandemic caused it to close. She has been working at Safeway since October 2020 and says she likes her job because “the people are so terrific.”

During this time, Taylor has been a member of Jubilee Jobs’ young women’s group, Becoming, which meets monthly virtually. The women support each other in setting and achieving their goals.

Taylor’s dream is to become a journalist, interviewing people with lives very different from hers. She would especially like to interview actress Regina King. Taylor says, “Regina King interests me because she is a good actress and also has a positive life.” Taylor plans to go to college to turn her dream of becoming a journalist into a reality.

Sam C.

Sam was well on his way in his dream career in the hospitality industry, building on his associate’s degree in Hospitality, Travel and Tourism. He worked in high-end restaurants and loved the work. Unfortunately it was also an environment that led to his struggles with addiction. Finally he found an excellent recovery program to give him the structure and a plan needed to recover from his addiction. After some months with support and accountability, he came to Jubilee Jobs to reenter the hospitality industry. This time he is aware of the debilitating disease of addiction and the importance of a community of support.

His first job through Jubilee Jobs was a temp position over Christmas where he earned some money and gathered confidence in living in the new life he found in recovery. Now he is working at Safeway, providing excellent customer service and kind, competent personal attention for customers. He enjoys his work and finds that it supports his recovery process. Sam is a regular participant at our month virtual Job Friends Dinner. He maintains close contact with his job counselor and knows he can count on Jubilee Jobs for his next career step.

Kenya M.

If you can get a pass to visit the National Gallery of Art, you may meet Kenya McMaster. She has been working as a cashier at National Gallery of Art for two months, earning $15/hr. Kenya says, “I love working for the National Gallery of Art. And I can take my little boy Messiah to visit too. He loves art and keeps asking me if he can come to look at the amazing pictures.” Kenya had been working in Alexandria, VA making $7.50/hr. Her cousin told her about Jubilee Jobs and on June 19 she graduated from the Jubilee Jobs Emerging Leaders program. She was quickly hired at the museum and now manages work and homeschooling for Messiah.

She was determined to get a job to provide for her two precious kids Messiah, age six, and Amoure age two. Kenya didn’t allow the pandemic to slow her down.

Margaret W.

Margaret LOVES her job working as a dishwasher at Bread and Chocolate French bakery and patisserie in Chevy Chase, DC. She loves her job because, she says, “I love the people I’m working with, especially my boss, Hamid. I live in SE Washington, DC and get up at 5:30 am to get to work on time. I can’t wait to get to work!” How many of us would be thrilled to take the two hour bus ride from SE Washington, DC every day, even if we had a great team of coworkers?

Margaret grew up in Norfolk, Virginia in a family with 14 brothers and sisters. She came to DC to find a job when she finished high school. She had a variety of previous work experience, but her most joy-filled employment has been at Bread and Chocolate.

What makes Bread and Chocolate such a great place to work? It is because of the remarkable spirit of the manager, Hamid. He has kept his amazing team working during the pandemic, with safety and health structures in place. His regular customers are as delighted as his hardworking staff to be able to stay open during this Year Like No Other. All would say Bread and Chocolate is an essential industry! 

Margaret brings joy to all of us with her enthusiasm for her work, her boss and co-workers.  Truly Bread and Chocolate is a place for Work for Sustenance, Dignity and Hope for Margaret and her co-workers. 

Jaz P.

Jaz is a member of the first Emerging Leaders cohort from our partnership with Ballou High School. Job counselor DeSean Lawson helped Jaz find his first job as a cashier at the Georgia Avenue Safeway, and encouraged him through the disappointment of a curtailed senior year and varsity football season. In September, Jaz will be attending John C. Smith University, majoring in Chemistry. He looks forward to reporting on his progress!

Thomas H.

Thomas is the Sanitation Lead at the Columbia Road Safeway. He spends his days circulating throughout the store, meticulously disinfecting every surface, cart and check stand. Thomas says that while the work is never-ending, it keeps him focused. He enjoys interacting with the customers and especially appreciates their gratitude for his work.

Carolyn G.

It was wonderful news when Carolyn received a call, “We want to hire you at Sibley Hospital.” We hoped she would be hired immediately. She has had substantial dietary and food serving experience, including serving in Prince William County Public Schools and has a current Servsafe certification. She also has 1 1/2 years of college and a special skill knowing sign language. However it took many weeks to complete the hiring process in these days. She had a video interview on her phone at the beginning and then provided a health review, copies of her high school transcript, a police report, and TB test.

She followed through with the complex steps for employment. Carolyn and her job counselor are now best friends! Now she is a nutrition services hospitality assistant, composing individual trays and serving seniors in their rooms, since the dining room is closed because of COVID-19. Carolyn enjoys the seniors, knows them by name, and brings joy and an attentive spirit along with their dinner. She is one of our essential workers crucial in this pandemic crisis.

Ever since he was given a kidney transplant when he was very young, Austin Lee knew he wanted to become a pediatric nurse. Through experiencing serious illness himself, he knew he wanted to devote his life to giving hope and healing to others, especially children. Right now Austin is working in a daycare facility, providing quality care for young children. He is a favorite with children and their parents. He is expanding his knowledge of this work by earning his Certified Child Care certificate. He also volunteers at Children’s Medical Center and in November received special recognition among 300 volunteers, being awarded the Volunteer Experience Award.

Austin plans to attend community college in the fall and then move on to a four-year university in order to become an RN. He will make a valuable contribution to the health care for children wherever he is.

Myeeka M.

”Currently I am an undergraduate student, majoring in Health Services, at Trinity Washington University, where I will be graduating this fall. I am getting married this summer to my best friend Keith and recently my fiance and I started our own organization, Father’s Initiative Training, to help bridge the gap of fatherless children in our area. I currently work at Jenkins Hill Child Development Center in Washington, a job I was placed at through Jubilee Jobs in 2014.

I first came across Jubilee Jobs in the summer of 2014. I distinctly remember thinking “why not I have nothing else to lose.” At that time, I did not realize how much truth would be in that thought. I started the Jubilee Jobs process and met job counselor Rev. Jacquelyn Conerly. With her assistance, I was able to build a better relationship with the Lord.

I mended the broken relationship I had with my father, I received a job that allowed me to buy my first car, bless my grandmother with a car, and get my first apartment all in the same year. I went to Jubilee Jobs looking for a temporary job, never thinking it was an opportunity that would change my life for the better. ”

Zulma O.

”Trying to compete in the job market as a mother is very difficult. I was unemployed for nine months, and the only experience I had was cleaning offices, where I had to stand for long hours. I was scared and I was stressed. At my son’s school I heard about Jubilee Jobs. I decided to attend the orientation. It was very long, but very helpful. I went to two interviews, and my Job Counselor, Christine was on top of everything. The next week Christine asked me if I was interested in an administrative position. This was the job I always wanted, but I did not know if I could do it. I got offered a paid internship at Jubilee Jobs! Now my work schedule is better and I have time for family. I can be there for my son after work to help him with school activities, something I did not have before with the long work hours. I feel lucky  and blessed. Jubilee Jobs is a bright light in DC.”