For the past 18 years, Royal Caribbean Group has worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Miami and Miami-Dade Public School District to match students with employee mentors through BBBS’ School-to-work program. This one-on-one mentorship initiative promotes job readiness, the importance of training and education and provides students with the knowledge they need to reach their career goals.
A valuable element of this program is job shadowing, where Royal Caribbean Group volunteers welcome students to their Miami campus, giving them a first-hand look at the cruise and hospitality industry.
Recently, “Bigs” and “Littles” from Royal Caribbean Group’s BBBS mentorship program rolled up their sleeves at the company’s Miami campus test kitchen for a fun-filled cooking event. During the event, students learned about the different career paths in cruise line Food & Beverage (F&B) operations and baked 27 delicious pizzas. The mentees then donated the pizzas to Lotus House, a local women’s shelter, along with handwritten messages of encouragement to the current residents.
Employees like Grant Van Ulbrich, Director for Sales Transformation, and International Marketing, have invested many hours in this program, committed to making a positive impact on local youth. In the past, Van Ulbrich was matched with students from Booker T. Washington High School in Miami.
“I was blessed to have two little brothers. Learning about their dreams, as well as sharing a little about my life experiences were a joy and a highlight I will never forget. One of my littles, Jeff St. Fleurose, was fascinated about my time serving in the U.S. Navy and wanted to know more about it. I was so honored when I found out that he decided to enlist in the Army and gain further education in their information technology division,” said Ulbrich.
Throughout the years Ulbrich and Fleurose have continued their relationship. Ulbrich added, “children need encouragement and guidance, and this program is an amazing way to ensure they get that, supporting their further development.”
Kids and the Power of Work
Learning the ropes of the cruise industry does not stop there for local students. For more than two decades, they have also partnered with KAPOW (Kids and the Power of Work), an organization that connects information technology employees from their Broward County office with West Hollywood Elementary third graders to teach them about the working world and help them understand the benefits of learning. Through this program, students can begin to explore the link between success in the classroom, at work and in life. These students also get the opportunity to visit one of the company’s cruise ships and learn what it is like to work at sea.
Seeking to inspire future generations and support local youth, Royal Caribbean Group has built strong relationships like Big Brothers Big Sisters and Kids and the Power of Work, that make a deep impact in the lives of students across the South Florida community.
