“Ring the bell! Ring the bell! Ring the bell!”
This chant can be heard all throughout the KCB office when a homeless neighbor is connected to housing or when a Good Soil Industries (GSI) participant finishes the transitional employment program and starts a new job.
This bell that our neighbors ring during these celebratory moments is a ship bell that hangs on a bright, blue wall in our office. The ringing of the bell represents many things to our staff and neighbors, like new beginnings and God’s faithfulness. Now this symbol of hope was ringing again in celebration of our newest GSI graduate, David.
David was first connected to Good Soil Industries, our social enterprise landscape company that hires people with employment barriers, several years ago and rejoined the program last year. During his time at GSI, he worked hard and persevered despite the personal challenges he faced. He took pride in his team’s landscaping work, sharing pictures of it with our staff and showcasing it on social media for his community to see. His good work ethic and dedication to his job inspired all of us, making him the first one to earn the title of GSI Participant of the Month.
Seven months after being recognized as GSI Participant of the Month, David’s moment finally came! David graduated from the program at Good Soil Industries and was hired for full-time work at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). But of course, we could not let him leave without a proper send-off. Once he arrived at the KCB office from his last shift at GSI, the whole team, including his case manager from Rio Hondo, gathered around him as he prepared to ring the bell. But before he did, he shared some words of gratitude, thanking the staff who encouraged him and taught him new things, like planting sod and installing sprinkler systems. He then rejoiced over his new job, saying, “I knew I was going to get a good job, and I thank God for this opportunity.” As soon as he finished speaking, David rang the bell and smiled as the triumphant sound of the bell and cheers from the staff flooded the office.
***
Thank you to all who supported David’s pathway to a living wage – from our customers who hire GSI to our volunteers who support the team with sack lunches and devotionals to our LA Rise and Rio Hondo AJCC partners who contribute funding and case management services. You all serve an important role in helping those with employment barriers find work, stay employed, and build a better life.
Originally written for the KCB blog titled “Congrats GSI Grad, David.” You can find the source article here.