Youth-Focused Nonprofit Gears Up For Giving Tuesday Campaign

AURORA, IL — Local organizations are gearing up ahead of Giving Tuesday, described by the nonprofit as a movement to celebrate "shared humanity and generosity." In Aurora, one youth-focused nonprofit is looking to raise money to help people find their way in the career world.

Leaders In Transformational Education, started in 2016, aims to help youth between the ages of 16 to 24 who struggle to complete school or get their foot in the door at a workplace. The nonprofit's programs are structured to teach life and workforce development skills as well as provide insight on career options.

On Giving Tuesday, celebrated the week after Thanksgiving on Nov. 30, LITE is raising money to "make sure we can continue to connect youth with local jobs ... or any educational deficit they might have, like tutoring," Program Manager Adriana Francois told Patch.

Throughout the entire Tuesday, people who want to donate to the nonprofit can visit its website and make a contribution. A donation of $50 gives someone 5 hours' worth of work experience.

One of the organization's newest programs is Virtual Career Exploration, which came to life at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The offering creates experimental learning sessions for youth and helps them gain skills and knowledge for future careers.

Making the program similar to a virtual career fair, LITE organizers invite working professionals — ranging from clinical workers to lawyers and medical professionals — to share their career journeys and answer questions participants may have.

The LITE staff currently works with about 15 people but has the capacity to help 45 people at a time, according to Francois. She said people usually stay with LITE for a year or sometimes two, depending on circumstances.

Since the programs are free, youth can sign up by filling out a referral on the organization's website, after which someone will contact the person to learn about their situation, Francois said. When programs — like the Virtual Career Exploration — are hosted on Zoom, she said LITE can help anyone "because we're really in a virtual world."

"When people find us, they're usually down on their luck ... and they need that support," Veronica Harrison, LITE's communications representative, told Patch. "It's a really hard place to be in."

She continued: "In promoting these programs, it's very important that young people have a chance despite their circumstances."

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