Free tutoring program partnering with Goodwill to pilot student internships

CEDAR RAPIDS — Empowering Youths of Iowa — a program that helps Cedar Rapids students graduate high school — is partnering with Goodwill of the Heartland in a pilot summer internship program.

Five students were selected by Empowering Youths of Iowa founder Sarah Swayze to take part in the paid internship based on how they’ve demonstrated responsibility.

In the pilot program, students are working with a Goodwill career adviser, gaining workplace skills and exploring their career interests, said Amy Winslow, career services and development manager with Goodwill. Students also learn how to create a resume, apply for a job and practice their interviewing skills.

The internship is a total of 25 hours or can be doubled for students who are doing well in the program, Winslow said.

Some students are at Goodwill stores sorting merchandise, stocking selves, creating displays and working in customer service. Another student is working in Goodwill’s e-commerce department in Cedar Rapids, learning how to list items to sell online, market the item and package it to ship.

Twelve students graduated from high school this year with the help of Empowering Youths of Iowa, a free credit recovery program located at Collins Community Credit Union, 1800 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. During the 2022-23 school year, the program served a total of 134 students.

Last month, the Cedar Rapids school board approved $40,000 in funding for an annual eight-week program to support credit recovery for up to 60 high school students enrolled in online courses in the district.

Swayze, a retired teacher, launched Empowering Youths of Iowa in June 2021. Students come to class work at the center twice a week at a minimum, with many students coming every day. The only requirement of students to attend Empowering Youths of Iowa is that they — not their parents or the school district — have to want to be there and work, Swayze said. The program is available to juniors and seniors in the Cedar Rapids Community School District.

Swayze is grateful for the support the district has provided so far, saying Superintendent Tawana Grover “understands what we’re trying to do.”

Carol Gorman has parented two girls who graduated from Washington High School in May with the help of the program.

Gorman said Swayze told her daughter, “I know you don’t want to be here, I can see it in your face, but all I ask is you give me one day.”

“It took five minutes, and my daughter said, ‘Yeah, I’ll come here,’” Gorman said. “Sarah knows how to talk to kids, how to reach them. They can tell she genuinely cares about them and wants them to succeed.”

Parker Salee, now 18, also graduated from high school with the help of the program. Parker started with Empowering Youths of Iowa during the summer of 2021 because of a “tough” school experience, her mother, Susan Salee, said.

Although the Salees moved to Florida in December 2021, Susan said the structure of Empowering Youths of Iowa helped her daughter graduate. In the fall, Parker will attend Kansas State University to study kinesiology with the dream of being a dermatologist.

“Parker needed someone by her side that believed in her, kept her focused and motivated,” said Susan, calling Swayze a “life saver.”

Students can attend Empowering Youths of Iowa even if they are suspended from Cedar Rapids schools to get help academically and have a safe place to go during the day. Free lunch is provided to students daily and a food pantry is available to them as needed with the support of the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program.

Swayze said, however, that she also is paying for many meals out of her own pocket. Other staff with the program also donate to ensure students are fed.

“We need companies to step up and sponsor the program,” Swayze said.

Barriers to education for some students is finding find affordable child care so they can attend school. Swayze said she is searching for partners to help find a solution.

Swayze said the students who come to Empowering Youths of Iowa are “trying their best” and many of them struggle with their mental health.

“There are so many factors playing in to why these kids don’t fit in to the traditional school model,” Swayze said.

To donate, visit empoweringyouthsofiowa.com, mail a check to the center made out to Empowering Youths of Iowa, or stop by in-person. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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