CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Newsletter) β GardHouse, a Charlotte-based nonprofit that develops college students of color for employment, not only helps students secure internships but also make livable wages to keep affordable housing.
Currently, in Charlotte young people between the ages of 18-24 account for 9% of the population experiencing homelessness according to Mecklenburg Housing Data. GardHouse is making impact by providing gainful employment while fulfilling the needs of local employers in the process, one student at a time, according to a news release.
βOne of the hardest things to do is to focus on school and youβre on the verge of being homeless; You cannot do both,β said Jonathan Gardner, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Founder and Executive Director of GardHouse. βThe average college student has trouble finding the right internship, yet alone a paid internship in their field of study. Couple that with wondering if youβre going to be able to make enough money to continue to pay your rent; itβs a recipe for disaster that leads to abandoning their degree. Our interns have a 100% graduation rate. Thatβs impact.β
βBeing a GardHouse intern has brought pleasant surprises which have made a profound effect on my personal as well as professional life. While navigating college, my stipend has been crucial in covering my tuition and accommodation expenses,β said Tyler Jackson, GardHouse Intern at Profound Gentlemen. As I searched for an off-campus apartment, the stipend has been a great help in covering my rent. Aside from the economic advantages, this internship provided me with guidance from a business owner, chances to connect with seasoned professionals, and career growth events that enhanced my leadership, career development, and soft skills. Aside from monetary compensation, working provides opportunities for personal growth and the acquisition of essential abilities for achieving success. My life has transformed significantly since starting this internship. Interning at GardHouse provides minority college students in Charlotte with an unparalleled chance to succeed.β
GardHouse has welcomed over 30 interns into its 2023-24 cohort. The organizationΒ partnersΒ with Charlotte-basedΒ businesses andΒ nonprofits, such as the Latin American Chamber of Commerce and 100 Black Men of Charlotte, to provide paid 10-week internships atΒ roughly $20 an hour.Β Since its 2019 inception, GardHouse interns have performed more than 3,500 internship hours. The organization also offers financial literacy workshops for students throughout the academic semester led by corporate partners such as Truliant, Wells Fargo, and Commonwealth Charlotte.
