Before entering Juma, Devyon Johnson, an 18-year-old Atlanta youth disconnected from school and work, faced difficulties finding stable employment. Although he had graduated from high school, his limited work experience became a barrier that prevented him from securing permanent, long-term employment.

Devyon first heard about Juma through his mentor at the National Urban League who encouraged him to apply to the program to gain essential job and professional skills. Excited by the opportunity to earn money and build up his resume, Devyon applied and successfully enrolled in Juma.“The first day working for Juma, I was incredibly nervous,” he recalls, “but I soon realized that everyone was as well.”

“Through teamwork, communication and self-assurance, we all made it through the day. It was hard work but the passionate fans and mentors gave me energy to power through it,” Devyon says. After only a month with Juma, Devyon was promoted from Food Prep and soon thereafter to a Stand Manager.

His dedication to the job, his willingness to go above what was expected of him and his attention to detail were characteristics that made him stand out to Juma’s Enterprise Managers.After successfully completing Juma’s training program, Devyon secured a job at UPS, a Juma Atlanta job placement partner. Today, Devyon has stable employment and, after successfully passing UPS’ Supervisor Exam, became a Shift Manager.

He thanks Juma for providing him the foundation to succeed in the professional field. “Juma has taught me everything I know about what it means to be a professional,” he says. “One day I hope to own my own business and help others like me, who just need a helping hand to succeed in life.”