By Tonya Whitaker
NDG Staff Writer
Life’s lessons make the best tools for teaching.
Just ask Patti Moore, and she will echo the sentiment. While working as a training manager in corporate America, she came across a situation that serves as the inspiration for helping youth. One day while at work, she noticed four young men step into her office for a job interview – dressed in tennis shoes and shorts.
“I told them to leave and come back dressed appropriately for an interview, like wearing a suit, tie and slacks and to leave their
friends behind,” she said.
They came back at a later time in the correct garb. The appreciative young men later thanked Moore for her valuable advice.
Now that her days of training adults are a distant memory, she uses those past experiences today to prevent the youth from becoming misguided adults.
As founder and executive director of Train Your Future, Moore oversees a handful of informative and educational sessions that prepares today’s teens now to success when they reach adulthood.
Moore said there are three components to the 2-year-old nonprofit organization’s basis: the Speak, Purpose and Real Knowledge (SPARK) summer leadership program, the Family Awareness Conference Tour (FACT) and afterschool seminars.
The second year of SPARK kicked off July 11 for 11- to 16-year-old boys and girls in the McKinney Housing Authority. Through the use of games and lessons that challenge conventional thinking, participants learn about the purpose for their lives and set realistic goals.
“We ask the kids what you want to do, what is your purpose and set goals to get there,” Moore said.
Other topics discussed in the six-week long series include effective communication, abstinence, anger management, non-violent conflict resolution and leadership qualities.
Moore said work readiness is a huge part of the series. She and her staff, which includes program director Cheneda Samuel, help teens with resume writing and the appropriate dress for an interview.
A fun, but serious portion of SPARK is financial literacy. Moore said this portion deals with helping teens understand the money traps that adults face, such as payday loans and not seeing the benefits of utilizing a checking account versus going to a check cashing store that charges over-the-top fees.
“Through the game, it is our goal to help them live within their means,” she said.
SPARK is the first level of the leadership series program. Once students complete SPARK, they advance to the next level of the program.
“Students look forward to returning and finishing the program,” Moore said. “After four years, they become trailblazers and can earn laptops once they finish the program. In addition, they can contribute to the program and go out to the community provide their testimony about the program.”
Although the impact the program has on the students is not seen immediately, Moore said parents have told her they have seen a difference in their child, including being more focused in school and earning better grades.
In addition to SPARK, in the fall, through its collaboration with Abba House, another nonprofit organization, the Moore’s organization will partner with Richardson ISD for power lunch sessions for boys and power puff lunch sessions.
In October, TYF will sponsor its second FACT conference. Last year’s event was held at Richland College in Dallas. Moore said the conference is an innovative way to reach youth and their families through educational workshops, seminars, panel discussions and a keynote speaker. Last year’s facilitators presented topic such as gangs, violence, effective communication, college preparation/readiness, sexually transmitted infections, parenting, self-identity and self-respect.
For more information on Train For Your Future, visit www.trainyourfuture.org or on Facebook at Train Your Future.
