In his speech before the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Mayor Martin Walsh honored an inspiring job training graduate of Project Hope, a nonprofit that helps low-income women and families rise out of poverty. Jasmine Vigo had come to Project Hope after escaping an abusive relationship. She was struggling to support her four children on a part-time job making $12 an hour. Through Project Hope’s 12-week training for the healthcare industry, she learned medical terminology and industry norms, conducted mock resumes, and got resume help. After completing the program, Vigo earned a full-time job handling insurance claims, making over $18 an hour and benefits, plus weekends off to spend with her kids.
Vigo’s success shows what is possible when it comes to economic mobility, Mayor Walsh said:
That’s a great story. It’s about a resilient, hardworking Boston mother, and the unsung heroes at our nonprofits.
It’s also about the role the city – and development – can play in making these opportunities possible. Vigo’s training was funded by the Neighborhood Jobs Trust, which directs linkage fees from large-scale commercial developments to job training programs for Boston residents.
Walsh invited the business community to join the effort as active employer partners:
We want to repeat Jasmine’s story many times over, because a strong economy depends on a secure workforce. It’s the right thing to do, and it’s the smart thing to do.