Patricia Feraud presenting the Community Service Learning awards at South High Community School
Patricia Feraud is the Co-op Business Coordinator with Toxic Soil Busters as well as the Co-Treasurer of Worcester Roots Project.
Essay by Patricia Feraud, December 2010:
Life in Worcester never been easy for my family, my mother had to work two jobs to support us. Coming from a family of six children, elderly grandmother, mentally challenge uncle, and single mother, money did not grow on trees. We lived day to day, which forced me to have a mentality like many teenagers from my neighborhood that as soon as I turn fourteen, I too will be able to help my family financially. The day after my fourteenth birthday, I began the tedious search for a part time job. Application after application I been denied because of my young age. At the age of fourteen, I came to terms on how adults view us teenagers.
Patricia installing a lead-safe yard in her neighborhood.
Every time I try to apply to a job, I felt that I was more of burden than as the cliché, “future leader”. I felt that there was mixed messages from some adults. One minute they complained about how they want teenagers to be more mature and take more responsibilities; however, when teenagers try to seek out those extra responsibilities, they are dismissed.
It seems that there is no room for teenagers in the real world. Many teenagers feel the need to fill up that void of rejection by making room for them. They join gangs, do drugs, and vandalize properties. I, however, feel that we as teenagers are the leaders of today, not just tomorrow.
Patricia speaking at a Save Our Poolz hearing in front of 60 residents and several City Councilors
Fortunately, a mutual acquaintance of mine told me about how her job was hiring. I decided to apply and not long after that I became part of one of the coolest jobs ever. This job is called Toxic Soil Busters . We focus on youth empowerment, environmental justice and social justice. Joining Toxic Soil Busters (TSB) was one of the best decisions I made as a youth because TSB allowed me to create a positive footprint in the real world without doing anything illegal. In Toxic Soil Busters’ eyes I was not another obnoxious youth trying to stay out of trouble and trying to make a little cash on the side but a young adult that have potential to do great if given the opportunity to.
As a member of Worcester Roots Project/ Toxic Soil Busters, I, at young age, remediate yards for low income houses, organize and encourage communities to work together and demand a voice in their city government, and in the process of creating Toxic Soil Buster’s very own business plan! In the US Federation Worker Cooperation Conference, I was the youngest keynote speaker with an audience of hundreds of people! I attended many conferences before and I never witness a youth as keynote speaker.
Worcester Roots Project made me feel empowered. Worcester Roots is not just another job and I am not just another employee; they are a life style and I feel like it is another extension to my family. We as a team worked on my yard to make it safe for my younger siblings.
Next year is the unknown for me because I do not where I will end up. I doubt I will still be in Worcester. However, I maybe leaving Toxic Soil Busters but they will never leave me. They will forever be in my heart and they help shape the person I am today. At the age of seventeen, I could proudly say that I am spokesperson, performer, landscaper, and business coordinator, that a lot more than some adults ever done in a lifetime. I plan one day to follow their model of cooperative business and make my own. These skills Worcester Roots Project taught me will last for a lifetime.
Looking back, I am glad that many places turned down my applications, because if I had gotten hired, all the skills I will know is how to flip burgers.