Mechanics in Training Report 2011
By Darrin
This years Mechanics in training program featured Jacob, Justin, Brandon, and Pierre. Jason X and I selected these participants from out of the Hub’s Youth Earn-A-Bike (YEAB) program. We had more applicants than previous years including several from outside of our programs which was of interest to me. The four we did select had been involved in our programming, presented resumes and had strong interviews. One of the resumes from a youth that was not active in our programming was quite strong, but we were unable to have him participate due to there being only room for four trainees.
The structure of the program this year was a little different than last in that I decided to split the four into two groups, but was unable to execute due to the unexpected loss of Pierre to unforeseen circumstances after two weeks of the program. So with it being only three in the program I collapsed everyone into one class. Class proceeded for four weeks in a standard classroom environment at ten hours a week per student. We started by stripping and rebuilding a bike and using each part of the bike as a lesson per week. At week five of classroom time I started moving their time into the retail space a few hours per week keeping all three around during the YEAB program on Saturday. I split them up to Jacob working solo with Brandon and Justin together.
I will comment on the performance of each of the students with an eye towards how each may have improved but firstly I would like to say that each one tried their very best to live up to our expectations.
Justin had trouble repeating physical tasks I had shown him, but excelled in the memorization of the names of all of the parts and aspects of a bike. He seemed to enjoy participating in some of the clerical aspects of the retail space. He excelled at data entry and intake of new stock. Justin is very self aware for someone his age and will be able to excel in the physical tasks with more practice.
Brandon had trouble explaining repair tasks to other youth and becoming a teacher, though he excelled at the performance of mechanical work. It is because of his effectiveness as an employee that we decided to extend his employment with use of funds we received from a Groupon fund raiser. His only failing is one typical of many mechanically inclined people, he would take the work out of the hands of those he was teaching. Brandon did much work to fix this issue and will only improve more with time.
Jacob is one of our greatest successes at the Hub. Jacob spent a great deal of time in the YEAB program over the winter with his brother Dennis. They had originally been a discipline problem and had responded well to being held to a high standard. Soon they were coming around every week helping other youth. Jacob has trouble with memorization, however he can fix most things on a bike. He is amazing at brakes and shifting but has trouble remembering other tasks to perfection. Jacob had trouble transferring from a YEAB participant to an MIT and the added responsibility that comes with it. Regardless, when challenged, Jacob rose to the occasion and showed his love for working in the shop.
The finances for the MIT program are as follows:
There were 361 recorded MIT hours. We paid out $2707.51 to the MITs in 2011. This was on the low side since Pierre unfortunately had to drop out of the program. Looking at the schedule during the MIT program I spent approximately 130 hours with the MITs. 82 of those hours were outside of YEAB. So my pay would have been $1,300 for the program or $820 if we do not count the shared time when I was also YEAB staff.
If we do not count my YEAB hours we get a program total of $3527.51.
With YEAB hours included – $4007.51
I would like to thank everyone in the group for making it such a successful year for our program. I couldn’t have done all the fun stuff without the whole keeping their nose to the grindstone. I look forward to another great year in 2012.
For those youth that are interested in becoming an MIT – please come to our Youth Earn-a-Bike program so we can get to know you. We will begin the process of taking applications for the MIT program in May of 2012. The program will then start when school gets out in June.