The Cookie Cart is a business in Minneapolis, but it's also a youth employment program where 15-17 year old teens gain more than just baking abilities.
Goodness Montgomery works at the Cookie Cart. She says, "I learned to get along with different people and take responsibility of my self and have better communication."
Matt Halley, the Executive Director says, "They get to learn and practice those interpersonal communication skills that serve them far beyond the Cookie Cart."
The training starts immediately. The kids have to pick up their own application and are told to use their neatest handwriting, bring it back and talk directly to a supervisor. Skills, experience and background don't matter a bit if there are open jobs and they meet the age requirement.
Halley says, "What we're really looking for as we're interviewing young people is motivation. Do they really want to be here?"
The kids also take classes during their shift in a room above the bakery, learning financial tips, career goals and how to make a great first impression.
Employee, Antoneils Davis, says "They are the ones that helped with my resume and put a lot of stuff on there."
Another employee, Beth Vang, says "There's a lot of classes they give us once you join like business, teaching how you talk to people, how you behave at a business. So I get a lot of those communicative skills and career ready skills."
For more information, check out cookiecart.org.
