The Millionaire's Intriguing Offer

The Pool House

Bailey told herself to relax. She hadn't had any problem sharing her ideas - her excitement - with Tito at lunch the day of her interview, or this week in the office. This was the same. Just . . . a much larger group of people.

It's not that she'd never made presentations before.  Not all her work at her previous job had been sitting in her quiet corner of the office writing grant proposals. She'd made presentations to charitable funding groups and corporate foundations. But those had involved preparation, a PowerPoint, at the very least some sort of outline of what she was going to say.

She could do this. She just needed to channel the real excitement she had about this program. Say to the group the things she'd planned to say to people individually.

She gave them her best fake it until you make it smile, and began.

"First, thank you all for coming out today. I'm looking forward to talking to each of you individually about opportunities for your business or organization to partner with us."  And I wish I was talking to you individually right now. She scanned the crowd, tried to make eye contact with people Jack had told her about who were in particularly good positions to help.

"The main focus of our program is still educational and vocational. By setting up internships during the school year for teens who have had contact with the juvenile justice system we hope to introduce them to career options, whether it's working in business behind a desk, working in a garage with skilled mechanics, or working on a construction site.  Give them the experience of doing a job and earning a paycheck and feeling part of a team, not a street gang. Even a few hours a week during the school year can show these kids that there's a different path they can take. And in the process, develop mentor relationships that will stay with them through high school and, in some cases, propel them to continue with their education into college and beyond."

She scanned the crowd again. Most people were looking at her politely, and some were nodding. But no one was overly enthusiastic. Bailey pressed on.

"The rate of recidivism for teen offenders is high.  The longer a kid is in the system, the more likely they'll return again and again. And today's juvenile offender becomes tomorrow's hardened criminal. We want to stop that cycle at the beginning, by intervening and providing an alternate path through OFC's diversion program. Kids who successfully complete the program avoid having a juvenile record and get a second chance at their future." Was she telling them too much? Too little? Bailey tried again to gauge her audience.

"But I know most of you have already heard about those plans from Tito. That's why you're here today. So let me tell you what I bring to the OFC. Yes, it's vitally important to open doors for these kids to learn real job skills and be exposed to different career opportunities that would get them out of the cycle of delinquency and crime and focused on a brighter future.

"But let's face it. Telling a 12 or 13 year old - and yes, some of these kids are that young - that they can have a career in accounting or marketing or engineering 10 or 12 years from now may not be enough to get them off the streets and into the classroom. And out of the juvenile justice system. Kids live in the moment. And the quick thrill of vandalism, petty theft, making fast money selling drugs, and the sense of belonging they find in a gang can seem a lot more attractive than a career that won't pay off until a decade later."

Bailey felt a shift in the energy on the terrace. She had their attention now.

"So what does make the difference?" She recognized the man asking the question as the owner of an architectural and design business she and Tito were targeting to start an internship program.

"Pursuing a passion."

He looked skeptically at her. "A passion?"

"Yes, whether it's art or music or doing cosplay at fandom conventions or" - she glanced over at Jack - "learning to sail, I feel strongly that the key to success is offering not just the mentorship and career path, but also helping them find their passion."  She paused, turned her attention back to the architect. "Just imagine, Mr. Johansen, a teen with a talent for art and design, having the opportunity to explore that creativity and also learn how it could translate into being part of a design team working on projects here in Miami or around the world."