Program Details

Teens Against Killing Everywhere (TAKE) has been working in East Saint Louis, Illinois, and surrounding areas for 30+ years. What began as a modest effort to address missing maintenance hole covers and broken streetlights in the Emerson Park neighborhood of East St. Louis has become one of the Metro East community's largest and most proactive community-based organizations.

The mission of Teens Against Killing Everywhere is to assist the residents of the Emerson Park neighborhood and its surrounding communities in achieving their full human potential by offering high-quality programs in three areas:

1. Housing and Economic Development
2. Education and Job Training
3. Community Advocacy

Fenandez "Dez" Mosley came to TAKE in the Summer of 2022 for the first Career Pathways program our agency ever implemented. When he completed the intake process, Fenandez showed enthusiasm, grit, and a deep desire to change his life. His goal was simple: he wanted to earn a trade and a job that would allow him to leverage his natural ability to build things and his communication and business acumen. Dez showed up on day one with a great attitude. He learned all that he could learn from anyone in our building. He was here regularly--only missing one day to take an exam that would earn him an additional credential. He was a high achiever.

Daily, Fenandez would excel in the classroom portion of his program. He earned the highest score possible in the academic setting. In the project-based section of the program, Dez was a natural leader who often took time to assist his brother, who suffered from a traumatic brain injury (TBI). He showed great care and concern for his classmates, who all considered him their leader and guide.

On the internship portion of the program, his worksite, C.A. Jones Home Builders, quickly noticed Dez and offered him employment four weeks before completing his internship. Shortly after that, Dez applied for and was accepted to the Union.

Fenandez is a prime example of how valuable workforce programs are to individuals with strong drive and determination but who want to avoid going the traditional route! Youth Career Pathways was the catalyst to help Dez change his life.

He often stops by to speak to students and works in collaboration with our instructors to make coursework engaging. We look forward to seeing all that is in store for Mr. Mosley.