Publix job workshop attracts huge turnout of young people

By St. Clair Murraine
Outlook Staff Writer

Jayden Gavin, a rising junior at Godby High School, came early to seek out the opportunity that his aunt told him he could find by participating in a Publix job workshop.

Gavin was among more than 100 young people who showed up Monday morning at Bethel Family Life Center, where facilitator Debbie Savage told them all they needed to know about Publix. 

Savage, a Jacksonville-based retail staffing specialist with Publix, gave an overview of the company, outlined job positions and benefits of working for the largest employee-owned business in the US. The weeklong workshop is open to students 14 years and older.

Gavin, 15, said he showed up with a can’t-miss attitude.

“My auntie said this is an opportunity the company could give me to go on in life,” Gavin said with a wide smile. “It gives me the opportunity where I won’t fail.”

Being a meat cutter is the position that Gavin would like to have. However, that’s one of the positions that requires being 18 or older. 

He could work his way there. Many managers in the company that was founded in Florida in 1930 by George Jenkins got their start as teenagers, Savage said.

The workshop is one of several that Publix put on throughout the state each year for young people.  The company also holds similar job workshops for the general public.

This was the second time that the company collaborated with the Tallahassee chapter of the Urban League to stage the event.

About 20 of the prospects could be hired, Savage said. Each participant who makes it to the final day will also be awarded a certificate, she said.

The turnout was surprisingly huge in the middle of the summer. Savage credited the Urban League for doing the outreach.

“We are really just trying to help provide them with tools that will set them up for success,” said Savage, who started at Publix as a teenager 22 years ago.

Getting into the workforce early has advantages apart from being able to make a living, according to Evolve Treatment Centers, which helps teenagers with behavior issues. Having a part-time job as a teenager builds independence and teaches responsibility, according to a statement on Evolve’s website. 

It also said other benefits include helping teens avoid depression and teaching work ethic and valuable life skills.

Publix seemingly has the setting for young people to grow and have a positive outlook on life.

“Once you start, the opportunities are endless,” Savage told her audience.

Curtis Taylor, CEO of the local Urban League, said the community organization didn’t hesitate when the opportunity to partner with Publix came up a year ago.

“This is so critically important that we provide as many jobs as possible to our young people,” Taylor said. “Publix is a great job opportunity for our young people.

“This could be life-changing for a lot of these kids. They will be able to help their parents pay the bills, keep the lights on and pay the rent.”