2. Private and non-profit charitable

organization
 Creates/incorporate small businesses to
employ youth for training
 Workshops are also available

3. Started in 1997

 First projects were River & Wood Shop in
1998
 Wanted some way to get « street kids »
valuable work experience and money

4. 85% of youth get full-time jobs or go onto

secondary education after training
 Created popular small businesses
 Program consists of one year

5. Limited education

 Lack of work experience
 Employment skills

6. referred through their workers and

agencies
 resumes are taken and youth are
contacted for interviews when positions
are available
 youth who are hired must go through
one month of probation

7. new employees undergo training in the

lunch/brunch shifts
 exceptional ability/effort during training
leads to promotion to the dinner shifts
 Servers learn a variety techniques
 Over 10,000 customers a year

8. $7.45/hour for 40 hour week

 $100 monthly reward for completing
goals
 quot;River looks every inch the trendy Toronto
eatery, with its obviously designed
space, partially open kitchen and
welcoming vibe...quot;
- The Toronto Star

9. David’s Story

 Laura’s Story

10. Majority will go directly to building more

workshops (variety)
 Goal of reaching everyone across the
city, a variety of groups and workshops