Using Empowerment to Land Employment

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-08-23 19:21:00 UTC
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In 2007, Frank Kelly was dubbed Esquire's "Best Dressed Real Man." Today, he's working to get homeless people back on their feet by using empowerment to find employment.

In addition to being a 32-year old director at Johnson & Johnson, Frank Kelly is one stylish guy. Esquire Magazine named him "America's Best Dressed Real Man" in 2007. Since that time, he has taken on a second gig as a motivational speaker, spreading the word about how to leave a lasting impression while achieving your goals. His own goals changed, however, after giving a talk at a Miami-area homeless shelter. Since then, he is on a mission to change America's misconceptions about homelessness through his program, Project Vacant Streets. 

There's no secret formula to the success of Kelly's program. Kelly selects participants from Community Partnership for the Homeless in Miami, which shelters 900 individuals each night. From there, Kelly facilitates the "transformation" of each individual, working intensively with each participant to tweak their resume, hone their interview skills, update their appearance, and identify strengths and talents. For each of the nine participants in Kelly's rigorous program over the past two years, this transformation has led to a job. 

But if you ask me, the most impressive part about Frank Kelly is his personal investment in the program. He personally shops with each individual, edits their resume, and works his personal connections to land job interviews. He is proof that there are no shortcuts when it comes to helping another human being. 

 

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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