Work At It

Work At It (WAI) was founded to help at-risk youth and young adults from different class backgrounds and a broad spectrum of Jewish communities—including those in Chasidic, Modern Orthodox, or culturally Jewish communities—gain the skills they need to live meaningful, productive lives. Jewish at-risk youth and young adults who are not in school and not employed are particularly marginalized given the premium placed on education and achievement in the Jewish community and the broader world.  Unlike many traditional, one-time crisis interventions, WAI accompanies its clients from the process of intake and needs assessments, through obtaining employment and supporting them to ensure their success. 

Many of WAI’s clients include youth who have left abusive and dysfunctional homes. Its clients also include LGBT youth struggling with their home or school environments; youth recovering from addictions; and those engaged in dangerous and/or illegal behaviors who cannot succeed in mainstream schools and have dropped out. Most of these populations find themselves without viable educational options, have very low self-esteem, and are highly susceptible to drug use, addictions, and illegal activities. WAI helps turn their lives around. Jewish youth who have dropped out of previous counseling programs begin to thrive when they are given the opportunity to succeed in the workplace. In its two years of existence, WAI has positively impacted more than 100 young people by giving them the tools they need to invest in themselves and in their futures.