by Dulce Hernandez
Ruben Arroyo struggled to graduate from Rudy Lozano High School. “I lacked the motivation and didn’t have the right person at school to talk to and offer me support,” says Ruben. He dropped out his sophomore year and took a job at a local factory, thinking it would be a head start on his career.
He’d arrive early and work more than eight hours a day. He wanted to get a promotion but he wasn’t learning the skills needed for it. He began to realize that not having a college degree was hurting his chances of reaching his goals. He also realized a new career ambition: to work in the Information Technology field.
He decided to return to Rudy Lozano High School and graduate. Ruben is now a first-year student at Harold Washington City College. Getting there was a challenge.
No one in his family had gone to college. There was not enough money, education, or guidance to help him through the process. “It was hard to stay motivated because I saw my siblings not going to college either,” says Ruben.
He participated in the Escalera program, which informs students on the variety of colleges and programs available to them. That’s when he learned about La Casa Student Housing and was motivated to apply for their Career Internship Program (CIP).
The program allows Ruben to live at La Casa and have an internship in his field of interest.
“The CIP gives students an opportunity to gain relevant knowledge, professional development skills, and real-world experience that employers seek,” says Claudia Calderon, CIP Coordinator for La Casa. “It also promotes exposure to various fields and it helps students build their professional network.”
Students in the CIP program work 15 hours a week. They also receive a stipend with subsidized rent at La Casa. This unique opportunity is designed for low-income and first-generation students who are not able to forgo unpaid internships because of the financial constraints.
The program also allows students like Ruben to be mentored by staff while developing the skills they need after they graduate. It also gives students an opportunity to connect with other students who are the first to attend college in their families.
The CIP program is also part of TRP’s Vision 2020 plan to increase workshops and programming to build healthy communities. TRP also launched their Imagine More Campaign to raise $25 million to fund this vision.
Recently, Ruben became an intern of the IT department at TRP. This experience is allowing him to aim for new possibilities. “I am a hard worker and have a lot of people around me who have gone to college,” he says.
Meeting new people who have received their bachelor’s degrees makes Ruben feel motivated. Every day he is learning new things and he admits that TRP’s company culture gives him joy and hope for a better future.
He aspires to have the same drive his co-workers have and build healthy communities. “Everyone is doing their job,” he says, “but everyone still takes the time every day to show they care and I admire that.”
He is also using the TRP’s leadership model to be a role model for his younger siblings. “For a long time, I didn’t have someone I could look up to and that’s the key for success I learned at The Resurrection Project.”
This transformative experience for students could not be possible without the generous support of The John Buck Company Foundation, Chicago Tribune Charities – Holiday Campaign, a McCormick Foundation fund, and two anonymous donors.
If you would like more information on La Casa Student Housing or the Career Internship Program please call 312-880-1889.