Keenan Harris needed a fresh start.
After working at a food manufacturer in Iowa, he came to Summit Academy to earn his GED. “It was a hard transition back to schooling,” Keenan admits, “but the instructors made it so easy here. I had some of the best teachers and some of the best curricula.”
But Keenan didn’t stop there. The Food Manufacturing program rolled out not long after he completed his GED, and he realized he found his niche. “I always loved working around food. My original long-term goal was to be a chef, so food manufacturing fit right in.”
The program exposed Keenan and his classmates to food manufacturing through experienced real-world instructors with long-time careers at General Mills, Cargill, and other companies. This longevity inspired Keenan about job consistency. “I’ve been craving stability and purpose in my life,” he says. “The feeling that I know what I’m doing and making a difference in the world.”
So when the students visited Second Harvest Heartland, a large food bank, Keenan’s heart stirred. “Growing up, there were nights growing where I went to bed hungry, because my mom couldn’t afford food,” Keenan remembers. So when a Volunteer Ambassador position opened up he accepted it. “Working for a nonprofit just fits my needs right now. I wish there had been more programs like theirs when I was growing up,” he says.
At Second Harvest, Keenan orients and trains large numbers of volunteers who come in from month to month in their volunteer tasks. In this role, Keenan is growing his leadership and communication skills, opportunities he might not have had without Summit. The ServSafe certification he gained through the program also helps him succeed on the job.
“Summit is one of the greatest schools in North Minneapolis,” Keenan says. “I really appreciate this program so much.”