ST. LOUIS — After the Ferguson protests in August 2014, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis began looking for a way to help their community in crisis.
The organization saw a growing problem. Urban League staff members were finding countless men who weren’t working and were unable to support themselves and their families.
So, they came up with a solution. The Urban League developed a program to help economically disadvantaged men in the St. Louis metropolitan area to find jobs and keep them.
They call it Save Our Sons.
Since its founding in 2015, Save Our Sons has helped more than 450 men find jobs.
One of the program’s youngest success stories is already making big strides just six months after graduating.
“I was kicked in and out of school, getting trouble with the police, fighting, gang activity,” said Venterias Johnson.
But then he found the Save Our Sons program.
All it took was Johnson walking through the doors of the Ferguson Community Empowerment Center to completely change the course of his life.
In only a short matter of time, he got his GED and had found five different job opportunities.
Now, he’s working full-time at Nature’s Bakery.
“First, I was a packer getting paid $11 an hour. A month advanced, I became a machine operator getting paid $13.75. And a couple weeks ago, I got my license to become a forklift driver, and I’m doing all of this at the age of 17,” said Johnson.
Venterias will tell you he has been so successful, in large part, thanks to the classroom community at Save Our sons and his mentor, Jamie Dennis.
“I never had a father figure in my whole life. He’s more like a father figure than a mentor to me. He calls and checks up on me,” said Johnson.
Dennis says he’s there for whatever anyone needs. He teaches them how to apply for jobs, but perhaps most importantly, he empowers them to become more self-confident.
“We just want to build them up. We just want to dote on them and pour love and resources,” said Dennis.
Those close to him say you can see the difference that’s made for Venterias and just how proud he is of all the hard work he’s doing.
“Who you know a 17-year-old getting paid like $1,500 every two weeks, $1,600 every two weeks. It ain’t stopping nothing. It’s only the beginning for everything,” said Johnson.
Johnson has already started saving money and depositing it in a 401K.
“I’m starting my retirement early. Who you know, 17, already start their retirement?” said Johnson.
But Johnson isn’t stopping there. He said he hopes to become a supervisor at Nature’s Bakery in the next two years and then apply to college.
5 On Your Side is raising money to help the Urban League continue its mission to serve the community.
You can call 314-444-5155 between four and 6:30 p.m. tomorrow to make a pledge.
