Khyri Sims

I was selected to participate in Governor Wes Moore's inaugural year of Maryland's Service Year Option. My host site partner was a non-profit organization called Community Assistance Network (CAN), which is well-known for providing rapid rehousing, temporary housing, food, and clothes donations.

I served as the first Youth Program Coordinator at the Eastern Family Resource Shelter. In this role, I was responsible for planning and executing activities for youth aged 3-17. It was a challenging role that required me to act as a tutor, mentor, and sometimes an older brother. Despite the difficulties, I quickly found my way and was informed that I had a positive impact on the shelter.

Some of my responsibilities in this role included planning weekly schedules for youth aged 3-17, creating a monthly budgeting plan that encompassed costs of supplies and snacks, and keeping track of data through surveys and sign-in sheets to analyze and improve programming.

PeacePlayers is an esteemed global nonprofit organization that provides basketball programming, peace education, and leadership development. They have locations in South Sudan, Ireland, the United States, and several other areas. I had the opportunity to work at PeacePlayers Baltimore, where a typical day involved our basketball programming, tailored to the week's specific lesson. For instance, one week's focus was on understanding the power of one's voice. We would engage in discussions about times we had to speak up to help others, followed by basketball activities that tied into the lesson.

My responsibilities encompassed:
- Assisting in planning trauma-informed and child-friendly activities
- Leading groups of school-aged children through physical activities
- Chaperoning and supervising youth during field trips and outings

One of my proudest achievements was being accepted into and participating in the inaugural cohort of PeacePlayers Leadership Academy. This select group consisted of 17 PeacePlayers Alumni drawn from various program locations. The program aimed to advance alumni career paths while fostering connections with other like-minded leaders.

I had the opportunity to intern with the Islamic Leadership Institute during the late spring of 2022, where I participated in their Young Adult Career Empowerment course. This program brought together about 15 like-minded young individuals to develop and implement plans aimed at enhancing our community. Although the projects were theoretical in nature, we meticulously drafted comprehensive plans, including budgets and timelines, and measured their potential impact. Upon completing the program, I received a certificate acknowledging my participation.

Following the conclusion of my internship, I was offered a position as a Youth Center Facilitator. In this role, my primary responsibilities included the upkeep of the facility to ensure it was presentable for the events hosted there. This encompassed tasks such as managing donation inventories, maintaining the grounds, erecting promotional flags, and conducting outreach to local organizations and schools.

One of my most significant achievements in this role was the revitalization of the youth library, which had fallen into disarray during the pandemic. After two days of extensive cleaning and reorganization, we successfully transformed the space. We acquired new bookcases, introduced comfortable bean bag chairs and educational posters, and even secured a donated projector for educational programs like Schoolhouse Rock. The transformation of the library was incredibly rewarding, and I'm proud of the positive impact it had on the youth who utilize the center.

During my junior year of high school, I started working at my first job here. Initially, I had reservations about including this experience on my resume due to feeling somewhat hesitant. However, it's important to acknowledge where one's journey began. Looking back, it's quite amusing. Our manager was barely older than me, and we constantly grappled with being understaffed, often doubting if we'd make it through our shifts. Despite the challenges, we persevered. I began as a food champion but was soon promoted to shift lead, taking on a variety of responsibilities due to our small team.

Some of my duties included:

- Training new Taco Bell employees in menu items, upcoming changes, and company policies

- Handling cashier responsibilities, such as basic math skills and depositing money into an electronic safe, while also identifying counterfeit bills

- Providing exceptional customer service to ensure every guest had a positive experience, encouraging them to leave reviews and contact the number on their receipt, and mediating not only customer complaints but also conflicts among staff

I take pride in becoming the youngest team trainer in the store's history and our location receiving an award for having the fastest Taco Bell in Baltimore in 2020.