Back To Stories

Kevin Finds the Perfect Fit

Kevin’s enthusiasm for learning and life are evident to everyone he meets. A few years ago, he enrolled in Project Renewal’s Next Step Internship Program (NSIP), which trains participants for a career in social services. He remembers his NSIP course fondly.

“It was fun and it was active. What I love about NSIP is that it teaches everyday tools that can be used for life—from resume writing, to credit building, to Narcan training, and even computer skills,” says Kevin. “After my internship, I was hired. As a matter of fact, all of us that were in the internship at the shelter were hired.”

“Our cohort was the best! We came in there and got what we needed, and we went out and used what we were taught.”

After graduating from NSIP, Kevin continued to develop his professional skills through our Career Advancement Program (CAP). Through CAP, he was able to enroll at no-cost in a human services training course offered by the Borough of Manhattan Community College. He never missed a single day of class and earned an ‘A’.

Today, Kevin is a peer counselor at a New York City hospital and says the skills he is learning through Project Renewal serve him well. He still works with New Yorkers experiencing homelessness and substance use, and is passionate about connecting them to the resources they need.

Kevin is proud to use his life experiences to help those around him. “My past helped me play this profound role that I have now. I remember a counselor saying to me years ago, and I’ll never forget it, ‘Let your past work for you.’ I never knew what he meant until I got into this field. For me to be able to turn around and be successful at what I do? That’s huge for me.”