It’s more then a job at Imprintable Solutions, Ink.
Geoffrey Rogers:
Here at Imprintable Solutions it is more than a business, it’s a family. Bringing the youth closer than before and helping them break down barriers. Tina, which is the owner, she doesn’t want to be called an owner, she wants to be called a leader. Because here at Imprintable Solutions, its more than just working and printing shirts, its family. Here is her story on GSL Show.
Tina:
So, we uplift brand new marketing efforts of other companies and organizations and we do it through printing, promotional produces, and decorative apparel. So back to the question, of barriers. So, we help young people overcome barriers to sustainable employment, education, higher education, or the trades. We do that, we work with a lot of organizations like Center for Youth, Rochester Works, Monroe BOCES, Rochester Rehabilitation, Urban League of Rochester, PathStone their Re-entry Program. So, their young people will come in and interview. We have an open hiring policy, so what that means is whoever sits before us is a young person who is going to get an internship here. And with that internship their getting to learn light manufacturing, their getting to learn processes, working with people different from their selves, and they also get to do some heavy lifting. So, whatever their next step is that is what we are working towards and working on. As a company, as a team, specifically for that young person’s needs.
Geoffrey Rogers:
What do you think you see in the future? I know we are going to speak with some of your youth here as well. And what do you think they might say?
Tina:
Oh! That’s their story to tell, not mine. So, I don’t know.
Geoffrey Rogers:
I spoke to you yesterday and you said that you had complications as well. You see yourself in these kids or?
Tina:
I would say yes. I would say yes. So, I was in some very similar situations, where I was homeless and lived on the streets for a year and I didn’t have resources or organizations that I knew of. I don’t know if they were around, I know I didn’t know they were their if they were. So, everything that I had to do, I did by myself. And I think when we talk about young people, we talk about our future. When I say our future, I mean I future for the world right. Young people are going to carry us up and carry us on. Umm, it would have been nice to have a support system and maybe I could have gotten from here to there a little more quickly, had a had different resources or other people believing in me or a team uplifting me. I think it would have looked a little different.
Female employee:
I think it’s fine. I like it, it’s like home. Everybody here is my age and stuff, so.
Geoffrey Rogers:
So, the atmosphere is comfortable?
Female employee:
Yeah, very
Male employee:
Experience here is good. Vibes are good, positive vibes, good energy. I mean everyone comfortable (inaudible), so. For experience, it’s good.
Geoffrey Rogers:
Do you think it saved you in some ways?
Male employee:
Um, depending on situations, yeah. And..
Geoffrey Rogers:
Do you think it saved you from getting in the wrong direction?
Male employee:
I was always in my, in my way. I was already trying to head in the right direction, so this way, it kinda gave me a step forward, so yeah.