Opening eyes to careers
Published 9:00 pm Monday, August 7, 2006
EVERETT – Manpreet Gill, 15, opened his eyes wide when air suddenly blew into the firefighter’s face mask he was holding Monday.
He laughed. So did the other young people around him. They all have different backgrounds. Some are Hispanic. Some Asian American. Some Arab American.
They are all participating in a week-long YMCA Minority Achievers curriculum program
“It’s pretty cool,” said Gill, who lives in Marysville and has parents who were born in India.
The eight students, ages 15 to 22, spent Monday at the Everett Fire Department and Snohomish County Superior Court.
“Minority students don’t see that many people of color at city government positions like police officers or judges so they assume the profession is not open to them,” said J.J. Frank, the program’s director.
“We want to change those numbers so the kids see those jobs as potential careers,” he said.
Frank’s mother is of Italian descent. His father is black. He runs a program started five years ago to connect students of color and immigrants with community leaders.
Students on Monday learned what it takes to become a firefighter. Their teacher was Arthur White, Everett Fire Department assistant chief. He is the first black assistant fire chief in Snohomish County.
“Some black kids I’ve talked to don’t think they have a chance,” White said. “I want the kids to know that I’m no different from them.”
Macllin Heaward, 18, said he has been attending the YMCA program since sixth grade.
“I’ve seen the struggles of my relatives,” said Heaward, a Filipino-American. “They can’t get a job because of their ethnicity.”
Meeting professionals such as White and learning of their accomplishments motivates him, Heaward said.
Students saw Superior Court Judge Eric Lucas in action. He is the county’s first black Superior Court judge.
“Education empowers you,” Lucas told the students. “It’s about how hard you work.”
Virrick Teep, 15, of Marysville, said he accepts people for who they are. He hopes others treat him the same.
Teep said the speakers gave him hope that some day he may be the first person of Cambodian heritage to lead others in the county into a new career.
