Established in 1991, Chrysalis Enterprises provides a transitional jobs program to clients who face the greatest barriers to employment. Working with our employment social enterprise offers our clients the opportunity to gain real-world skills, build confidence, earn a paycheck, and develop the experience needed to find and retain long-term employment. Clients working a transitional job are in an important stage of their individual transformation, which is highlighted in the interview below:
We recently sat down for a virtual Q&A with James, a Chrysalis client who is a part of the Works program and was recently nominated as Employee of the Quarter for the Downtown Center BID.
Chrysalis: How did you find out about Chrysalis, and why did you decide to give our program a try?
James: Several years ago, a friend told me about Chrysalis. At that time, I was more or less unemployed, and I really didn’t know what I wanted to do. I didn’t know if I wanted to go back to school or stay and work. Those were pretty rough times, so I followed up on the suggestion of that friend, and I have been connected with Chrysalis ever since.
Chrysalis: When did you join the Downtown Center BID team?
James: It was pretty much a year ago. I was a floater at first, I was trying to find my way, where I fit in. Eventually, I settled in with the early morning Downtown Center BID team. In fact, it was right before the pandemic hit, and I’ve been there ever since.
Chrysalis: How does it feel to be part of the Works program?
James: My thoughts on the Works program are that it’s the best thing Chrysalis could have ever come up with. The Works program, to me, it actually gives you the opportunity not only to work but to develop social skills on how to interact with coworkers. It causes you to become positive and cheerful. You know my thing is, I say a prayer every morning and pray for a positive and cheerful attitude to go along with what Chrysalis expects of me, and it works. I get along with all of my coworkers and my supervisors.
It’s good for self-esteem, and it gives me a sense of belonging and purpose. That’s what I look for in employment. Not so much that it’s a paycheck or anything like that, but I have to like what I’m doing. The Downtown Center BID, even as a sweeper, it proves to be that for me.
Can you tell us more about your work background?
James: I’m 59 years old, so my work background varies. I’ve done everything from selling and delivering furniture to working in warehouses. I’ve painted, done some small carpentry, and I’ve worked on roofing. I was actually a desk clerk for Skid Row Housing Trust through Chrysalis and went on to become hired by them for two years until the position was dissolved. I’ve also worked as a janitor from time to time.
Chrysalis: How did your daily work routine change during the pandemic?
James: It didn’t change completely, because we always practiced safety, but there are now requirements of wearing a mask, making sure our equipment is disinfected, and making sure we continue to practice social distancing. It really didn’t disrupt our normal routine, though, but it did increase awareness.
Chrysalis: What do you like about your transitional job?
James: There’s so many different things I like about it. I like the people that I work alongside. We have various backgrounds, but we all have something in common – we fell upon hard times, things like incarceration, homelessness, and stuff like that.
I’ve been homeless. I’m considered homeless right now. But I know how it feels to attain employment and try to work through those personal issues. Things happen to you in your life – it takes a certain type of person to maintain a positive and cheerful attitude above it all.
Chrysalis: What makes you a great employee?
James: Well, to quote a friend of mine, he always tells me I have a big heart. I genuinely like people. I’m very concerned with how [my coworkers] feel, what [they] may be going through. I’m not what you call a superhero or anything like that, but I’m interested in people. When I come to work in the morning, if I sense a type of feeling in the air that’s leaning toward negativity and whatnot, I try to break the ice and make everybody laugh. At the same time, I let them know we have got to keep our focus. Just like my supervisor, Jason, always tells us, “Let’s go out here, let’s do our job, and go home.”
Chrysalis: What kind of outside job are you looking for?
James: I probably lean more towards a janitorial position, hopefully with the city. I already have an application on file with Metro transportation and, as a matter of fact, I need to follow up on that and see where it’s at as far as the hiring process. I’m also open to anything within property management as far as a desk clerk.
What has job searching looked like virtually?
James: My Employment Specialist, Erik, is awesome. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to see each other in person because of this pandemic, but I email him or text message him or make a phone call, and he’s always available. If he doesn’t pick up at the time that I call him, he immediately gets back to me. He’s always offering me services, he’s always offering me opportunities. It’s been a good Employment Specialist and client relationship.
Chrysalis: What do you like to do when you’re not working?
James: My favorite thing to do is take a nap. As we get older, sleep becomes fleeting, and when you can sleep, it’s good. I also really like to work out, I’m very physically active. Right now I’m doing calisthenics, a lot of bar work. I do that every other day, it helps me stay in shape because of my age, and it helps me a lot on the job.
I enjoy binge-watching streaming movies, and I’m into comics. I’m a kid at heart. I actually learned a lot while reading comics when I was a kid – I would come across words that I had never heard, and it would make me look it up to find out what the word was. Reading comic books definitely shaped me.
On top of that, I’m also very spiritual, so I spend a lot of time in prayer and meditation. I spend a lot of time studying my bible.
Chrysalis: Do you have an inspirational quote that keeps you motivated?
James: Yes. “Know your assignment. Assess the assignment. Execute the assignment to put it into effect towards completion.” When I’m sweeping up streets, I have a basic route that I do. Each street carries its own mini assignment. I assess it and figure out the best way to do it.
Sometimes factors change, like sometimes you have protests, riots, you know, civil unrest going on. But you still concentrate on the basics of your route. You have to change, and you have to be flexible. You have to have a positive attitude because you’re dealing with the public.
Chrysalis: What advice would you give to someone new to Works or Chrysalis?
James: Give it a chance. Attitude is everything. If you approach Chrysalis with a positive attitude, Chrysalis can work out for you. You have to come in with a willingness to work and a willingness to follow directions. Just remain open-minded – Chrysalis does the rest.
Chrysalis: Is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself or your journey?
James: Whatever it is that you’re pursuing, pursue it wholeheartedly and never give up.
I love my route, and I love working for the Downtown Center BID. I’ve worked for all the teams at one time or another, and on a scale from one to ten, the Downtown Center BID is actually past a ten for me. Once I got settled at the Downtown Center BID, I knew that’s where I belonged.
Chrysalis: Thank you for your time, James!