Vanessa Shepard and Ariel Betances  Vanessa Shepard ended the summer without a fist fight. Ariel Betances made it through his first job. In July and August they worked weekdays at the Amos House Dining Hall.
They were among 84 teenagers that recently graduated from the Beloved Community Summer Jobs Program in Providence. The program sponsored by the Institute for the Study & Practice of Nonviolence trains youth, ages 14 to 19, in nonviolence theory, life skills and professional development. Students are placed in paid jobs to keep them off the streets. Shepard and Betances, both 15, chose to work at Amos House.
“The staff at Amos House is funny and cool,” said Shepard, who has always enjoyed cooking. "When you're in the kitchen there's always something to do and laugh at.” Laughing has not always been easy for the 10th grader at Mount Pleasant High School. Growing up in the city she always felt like she had to defend herself by fighting, especially after her brother was shot. “I don’t want to fight anymore. I can talk things out. The Institute taught me fighting isn’t the answer,” she said. Shepard credits Amos House with teaching her how to get along with people.
At Amos House Betances discovered that he is good at chopping vegetables and saving money. “I learned to be responsible, make my own money, and be independent,” said the 10th grader at Providence Career and Technical School. This summer also changed his outlook on violence. “I used to think violence was the main solution to conflict,” shared Betances. “I know in the future there are other things I can do, like talking to people and trying to be in their shoes.”
Both Betances and Shepard said their time at Amos House has not convinced them to enter the food service industry. But they are grateful for the lessons learned and hope other youth will work there. “They’re going to need job experience and when you come to Amos House you’ll learn a lot. I just like this place,” Betances said.
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