Pathways is a nonprofit dedicated to assisting those in need, whether it be with education, financial literacy or health and wellness. One extension of Pathways is its P.O.W.E.R. program, which stands for promoting outstanding work ethics and responsibility.
Shion Fenty and her team of fellow career coaches work throughout the year in Central Virginia, recruiting individuals between the ages of 16 and 24 for the program.
Once a student has been recruited, the program then sets them up with counseling and assessments designed to help them determine a career path; helps them prepare for the GED, if needed; assists with vocational certifications; facilitates tutoring; and offers other help.
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fenty grappled with how to do her job in the face of growing restrictions and uncertainty.
With schools and churches closed and gatherings called off, Fenty took matters into her own hands. “Whenever I’d go to the grocery store and I saw someone, I said, ‘Hey, this is what we do, would you be interested?’ And I would recruit that way, 6 feet away.”
During the pandemic, in addition to the early recruiting challenges, Fenty and her team quickly recognized that the mental health of their students was suffering. She sometimes received calls at 2 or 3 a.m. from students in need of help and support. She realized that something had to be done to help them and began holding outdoor classes and meetings while incorporating social distancing measures. “They’re outside, they’re in masks, they’re super far apart,” she recalls. “We had a little megaphone.”
Noting the severity of the students’ declining mental health, Fenty recognized that in order for her work to be effective, “we’re going to have to shift gears and get these kids out in the open.”
