Judy Bain is the proud parent of Lena Kelly, a 2014 Fellow in Cleveland. She recently retired as Vice President and General Counsel, Epson America, Inc. and is happy to answer questions about VFA from a parental perspective at judy_bain@yahoo.com. To read about how Lena fell in love with Cleveland, check out her blog post.
Grad School Can Wait
I was looking for flights to college graduation when my daughter (VFA class of 2014) told me she was ending her job search and accepting an offer from Venture for America. “Since when did you want to become a teacher?” I asked. “No Mom, it’s Venture for America, not Teach for America! I’m taking a job at a startup in Cleveland.”
What?
Though I didn’t yet know it, that conversation marked the start of the best experience a parent could ever want for her/his recent college grad, so long as that young adult loves adventure, is a bit unconventional, is not afraid of reasonable risk, and has a fierce independent streak. If that describes your son or daughter, then read on.
Here’s what VFA is not: something that is easy to explain when your friends and family ask what your daughter is up to since graduation. “Yes, she did really well in college, but no, she didn’t take a position at a big company or consulting firm and no, she didn’t apply to grad school.” “Yes, you heard me right, she went to Cleveland and is working in a tiny startup.” “She’s a fellow in VFA,” I proudly claim and then spend the next 10 minutes expounding on what that means.
So, what is Venture for America?
From a parent’s perspective, VFA is a mini MBA, an urban social experiment, and an opportunity for personal coaching rolled into a two-year commitment. VFA is a way to guarantee amazing mentorship right out of college. It’s an organization that creates a tight-knit network of very bright, mostly athletic, go-getter types who aren’t motivated solely by big salaries. VFA recruits young people who want to take on more than a traditional job and learn how to build businesses from the ground up. Oh, and these kids move to cities that have seen better times because they want to help make those communities better.
By going to non-traditional jobs, VFA Fellows get to figure things out on their own and are better prepared for the challenges ahead, whatever those may be.
Andrew Yang and his VFA team are building another path for our best and brightest college graduates – but unlike the conventional path of grad school and consulting, the VFA path is uncertain and the benefit will not be in a big pay check (at least for the first two years out of school).
VFA is about challenge, hard work, and fun. It is about friendship and risk. It is about self-discovery and mutual support. It’s a path to a fulfilling future.
Since joining VFA, my daughter has met interesting, ambitious, and fun people at BoxCast, her tech startup. She has had to figure things out for herself, wear lots of hats, and work hard. But that alone is not what makes the VFA experience so great. As a kid from California with zero connections in Cleveland, being part of VFA gave my daughter an instant community of energetic and caring young adults who have provided her with a supportive network and booming social life. VFA has also has given her a platform to grow her Cleveland connections. Thanks to VFA, my daughter sat with the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers during their opening scrimmage (GO CAVS!), spoke before the Cleveland City Club, and continues to build relationships with leaders of the community.
The network of VFA fellows in different cities is also tight. The fellows reach out to one another, visit throughout the year, and attend a second round of training camp to further boost skills and build their network.
This year, I spent Thanksgiving with several fellows in Cleveland and saw for myself how much they care for one another. One of the fellows from Baltimore even sent my daughter homemade place cards for our Thanksgiving table. How’s that for a caring network of VFA friends?
Would I recommend it? Absolutely, for the right kid. VFA has figured out the profile of a good fit, and as a result, the VFA Fellows I have met in Cleveland are an incredible crew. I have no doubt that some of these Fellows will have great success in their professional lives and be leaders in their communities as a result of their VFA experience.