:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/VVMDWMA5P5JSFWUJ27ADBB3IXU.jpg)
The four teens knocked on Zsa Zsa Heard's door looking for work Wednesday. The boys ages 13-14 told the director of the LaGrange Housing Authority that they are approached "all the time" by gang members trying to recruit them and they did not want to get in trouble.
Heard hired Dylik, Dennis, Deion and Jalen on the spot.
"Several of their teachers (Facebook) inboxed me and told me what good kids they were," Heard stated. "They said if you give them the support they need, they are going to be successful."
They have kept busy helping in the community garden picking vegetables and tending to the chicken coup as well as passing out mail and handling other deliveries.
One of the new employees has already expressed an interest in a career working with livestock.
Heard said this is not the first time the group has sought work. She paired them with a maintenance worker who show them basic carpentry skills during Thanksgiving and winter break last year.
The teens have a job there for as long as they want Heard said. They also are going to be put into leadership and mentorship programs.
"If they feel that they’re valuable, and if we show them how important they are, then we don’t risk losing them,” Heard stated. "I don’t want them to seek the love and attention from the negative. I want them to find their value in other things."
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/X5X6WWG7GNGQLF7JD6KL67OABU.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/WJRKZJOJEZG27PDJ6HYOIVB2DY.png)
Sign Up
