Local McDonald's partners with Jobs for America’s Graduates

RIO RANCHO — Some McDonald's customers might think of the restaurant's iconic golden arches as the "M" for its name, while others believe it represents French fries.

But on Tuesday, at McDonald's on Rio Rancho Boulevard, the arches might as well have meant a golden opportunity, so to speak, in expanding career pathways for its employees.

McDonald's officials and various dignitaries gathered to announce a partnership with Jobs for America's Graduates, a national nonprofit that provides educational support and job training for those ages 16-24.

"It's important to recognize that partnerships like the one we're celebrating today don't happen by accident — and they don't happen without leaders who are willing to take thoughtful risks," Clementina "Clemy" Garza, McDonald's owner/operator and JAG board secretary, said. "The partnership between McDonald's and JAG-New Mexico would not have been possible without the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions and their willingness to believe in JAG-New Mexico's ability to serve young people who are often overlooked, underestimated and lacking in significant areas. DWS took a chance on these students, and it's making a real difference."

According to JAG representatives, the partnership is a three-year pilot program that will allow the Rio Rancho Boulevard McDonald's to be a "drop-in site" for youth to sign up for JAG services, work with a specialist on job competencies, and get a job with the restaurant, according to Kaity Parent, executive director of JAG-NM. What's more, Parent said, the JAG partnership could increase a McDonald's employee's chances of qualifying for the Archways to Opportunity program, which allows them to earn a tuition-free college education.

Jan Ennis, JAG's senior vice president of operations, talked about the difficulties he faced in finding a job after leaving the military. Even though he is a senior-level employee, Ennis said he still recognizes gaps between talent and opportunity.

"JAG exists to help close these gaps," Ennis said. "We do this with intentional partnerships like today. This program is a perfect complement to JAG's mission. Both JAG and Archways prepare young people to succeed in education and life. This is more than just a job at McDonald's — it's a collaborative system of support; it's that post in your corner."

Parent said that the idea for the partnership began last year, when Job Corps sites in Albuquerque and Roswell shut down. JAG-NM responded by taking Job Corps clients, which caught the attention of Garza and her team, according to Parent.

"When you do a pilot, you know there's going to be a lot of bumps, and you don't know things that you're going to run into," Parent said. "By having a McDonald's that's local to us, that we know is going to grace us as we learn how this process is going to unfold — that's the partner that we need. We want to make sure we can duplicate this over and over again for all McDonald's sites."

Garza stated that she is proud to partner with JAG to "strengthen education-to-employment pathways for youth across Rio Rancho and New Mexico."

"This partnership reflects McDonald’s dedication to creating opportunities that benefit our community," Garza wrote.

In that spirit, McDonald's wrote a $5,000 check to JAG to help pay for the pilot program, something that was celebrated at Tuesday's event.

The JAG partnership was not the only reason for celebration inside the Rio Rancho Boulevard McDonald's. Several graduates from the Archways program, including Carolyn Reinhart, 59, were recognized.

Reinhart earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources management from Colorado Technical University, the institution McDonald’s partners with on the Archways program. Although Reinhart believes a bachelor’s will help her be more equipped for her job, she already has a master's degree in adult education and learning from the University of Phoenix.

Reinhart called her Archways graduation "humbling" and said it made her feel appreciated to be a part of the McDonald's team. Now she is ready to continue on helping more than 400 employees in six McDonald's in the Rio Rancho area — including connecting them with JAG.

"It will be my responsibility to make sure that the JAG and our employees are united, and that we get that person in the right store with the right fit and we get them on the right track," Reinhart said. "I think it’s going to take off. McDonald’s is going to be able to take it far."