We’re in Miami: Trevaleyus Harris

What is your current role? How would you describe the work that you do?

A Program Manager at Coop Careers. Administrative liaison between partners with Coop Careers for potential roles for fellows of our program. I oversee curriculum, data analytics, and run a team of 16, facilitate and conduct our program to teach fellows marketing and data analytics, basics. So, professional best practices, interview skills, resume building. As a program manager I oversee curriculum, make sure requirements are met, logging on. Creating the atmosphere of the program, team, and fellows. Career readiness and ready to work individuals. We don’t guarantee work, the fellows do that work, but we prepare them & provide potential partners with the best employees.

What was your Chicago Scholars experience like?

Really great experience. Enjoyed my time, learned a lot about myself. Being a person of color going through professional world, the industries I was interested in, being professional, knowing how to utilize resources. It all started from imposter syndrome, where I thought I wasn’t fit for CS. Felt like I was taking another person’s spot. But CS and staff reminded me that I deserved to be there. I was the person that was chosen and deserve to be there. Wanted me to be a part of the community. Didn’t see it going into it, but so many opportunities opened up for me. Was in Emerge twice, volunteered so many times, like for the 25th Swing for Scholars. Emcee for a cohort acceptance day, at the Chicago Opera House. I was suggested for the role. Great to see the dynamics of the Scholars and myself. If not for CS, I would not be the strong individual I am today, in terms of believing in myself and my skills. CS helped me recognize the talent within myself.

How did Chicago Scholars support you to be the person you are today?

Workshops. Learning about FAFSA, the nuanced things that I wasn’t getting at school or home. Opened up my horizons. Even common things that other people know weren’t common to me. Bridged the gap of “common” knowledge, well common to those with that privilege. I hadn’t had people to help me and know what was common knowledge. The free events that CS offered, I attended as many as I could. If I could make it, I tried my best to because I knew it was putting me in spaces I wasn’t in before. Having knowledge I knew, but getting it validated was helped by being in that space. All of the support from mentor manager, but in college, having the lift person reaching out to me, having lunch and connecting. Felt the community outside of the traditional CS space.

What advice would you have given yourself just after being accepted into the program?

It is real. This isn’t fake, not a prank, no waitlist. You got it, own it, this is yours. Be proud of yourself and keep your head up moving forward. I really thought it wasn’t my spot. I was surrounded by so many intelligent people, felt less than in the room. Although there were people whose family backgrounds were different from mine, I thought they were better off, but CS helped me combat that thinking.

What advice do you have for current Scholars?

Lean into CS, don’t avoid them, read the emails. Lean into your community. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. They want nothing from you but your success.

What does being from Chicago mean to you now?

So much. The city is so different visiting than living there. Being an adult in other cities, it’s so important to stay together in the city. The political landscape. People think about the negative stereotypes about the city. But there is more to Chicago than the violence. There are programs trying to combat the violence and bring back the real Chicago. Always ten toes down. Being from Chicago is about community, no matter the side you’re on. All of Chicago is Chicago. We want to see our community thrive, hate seeing gentrification, inflation, homelessness ramping. Overall atmosphere, we need to be stronger together because there are so many forces tearing us apart, both in and out of the city. As someone not living here, I want to come back and help because I can see how the narrative of living in chi has shifted and changed.

What do you wish people knew about Chicago Scholars, as well as the city of Chicago?

Wish folks knew how hard the admin of CS work. They may see the impact, but they work so hard to cultivate community to be there for Scholars and alums. Underrated and under-told story of the workers of CS. For city, the rich history. Not a lot of people knew, like why neighborhoods are the way they are. I wish people knew because they would have a different perspective. Other than the events, wish people knew the rich history from the Black Panthers, to the Black massacre. These pieces of history. Founded by a French Haitian man, all this history.

Grateful to Derrick Butler and Sasha Pena for their support and advice over the years. During my time as a Scholar, Derrick was such an influence for me. They helped me realize that being empathetic is not a weakness and leading with empathy is a strength.