Youri A.

AMIkids Miami-Dade (North)

I was the oldest of three and my parents were not in good health and struggled to provide food and clothing for my family. The struggle coupled with my own internal teenage struggles made me feel trapped my reaction led me to being arrested. Looking back, I definitely feel remorse, but at the same time, I needed to feed and clothe myself and my younger siblings.

After being arrested for burglary, I was send to AMIkids. Surprisingly, the program gave me the supportive family structure I needed and helped me improve my education and a therapist to support me as I worked to overcome my issues. Most importantly, I was given a second chance to learn from my mistakes and how they were negatively affecting my life. I was provided tools and skills to equip me to find success for when I finished the program. The AMIkids and Ms. Danielle was my motivation to succeed.

Thanks to AMIkids vocational training, I was able to receive the ServSafe Certification for future food service employment and enrolled in the career group. I completed a professional résumé and received employability skills, including how to search for jobs, prepare applications, and succeed in interviews.

After finishing the program, I earned a job at a local restaurant and plan on attending college.