As a single mother, she works full-time while attending school, leaving little time to catch her breath—let alone spend two or three hours mowing the lawn.
“It’s just so overwhelming,” Rachel said.
When she learned that YWCA Quad Cities was offering free lawn care through its Summer Pre-Apprenticeship Program, she signed up right away. Then came the phone call telling her the youth team was on its way.
“When they called and said they were coming to take care of my lawn, I cried,” she said.
For Rachel, it wasn’t just about having her grass cut. It was about someone recognizing that she needed a helping hand.
“It’s been such a huge relief,” she said.
While Rachel gained peace of mind, a group of local young people gained something just as valuable: real-world work experience.
This summer marks the fourth consecutive year YWCA Quad Cities has offered its Summer Pre-Apprenticeship Program, an initiative designed to prepare young adults for successful careers by combining paid employment with professional development and individualized support.
Participants receive up to 180 hours of paid work experience while developing workplace skills, building confidence, and exploring future career paths. Beyond the job itself, youth also receive case management, life skills development, work readiness training, resume assistance, educational support, and career exploration opportunities.
This year’s participants are gaining experience at several community organizations and businesses, including Hauberg Estate, QC Botanical Center, Brews Energy, and YWCA Quad Cities, where students work as lifeguards, front desk attendants, and members of the Youth Community Lawn Care Team.
The lawn care team was the vision of Edwin Salazar, YWCA Quad Cities’ Director of Youth Engagement and Development.
“I wanted to provide our youth the opportunity to learn job skills while also giving back to the community,” Salazar said.
Students from ThePlace2B, YWCA’s free youth development program, applied and interviewed for positions on the lawn care team, giving them a firsthand experience of the hiring process before ever stepping onto a job site.
Once hired, they learned more than how to operate lawn equipment. They learned responsibility, teamwork, professionalism, and the value of serving others.
For Tatiana Bobo, one of the students on the crew, the greatest reward isn’t the paycheck.
“I like seeing people smile,” she said. “It makes me happy.”
Those smiles are exactly what Salazar hoped the program would create.
Every lawn the team mows represents more than yard work. It represents a family receiving support, a senior getting assistance, or a busy parent finding one less thing to worry about. At the same time, it represents a young person gaining the confidence and experience needed to build a successful future.
The Summer Pre-Apprenticeship Program is open to Illinois residents ages 16–24 who are enrolled in school, working toward their GED, or seeking employment. By meeting participants where they are, the program helps remove barriers to employment while opening doors to meaningful careers.
Community members can also help expand the program’s impact. Anyone can nominate a friend, neighbor, or family member who could benefit from free lawn care provided by the Youth Community Lawn Care Team.
For Rachel, the service meant far more than a freshly cut lawn.
It meant having one less burden to carry.
And for the young people behind the mower, it meant learning that sometimes the most meaningful work is the work that changes someone else’s day.
One lawn at a time.
