FRIENDLY GREETING
Ambassador program expanded to aid patrons visiting music hall
TROY, N.Y. » The Unity House Downtown Troy Ambassadors Program, which employs individuals to guide visitors through downtown Troy and provide assistance to residents who may need it, has been expanded to help patrons visiting the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.
The Unity House Downtown Ambassadors Program creates first- step employment opportunities for marginalized and under-resourced men and women. By partnering with local businesses to support the economic de- velopment and human capacity needs that are vital to the advancement of the city, the program promotes sustainable career opportunities that support citywide growth and revitalization. Ambassadors provide directions, assistance crossing streets and finding parking, and even help with selecting a place to eat .
eaders of theLTroy Savings Bank Music Hall and Unity House announced and celebrated this expansion at a press conference held Wednesday at the venue.
The Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation has invested $15,000 on top of its initial $50,000 investment, which funded the
start of the program, to support its expansion to the neighborhood around the music hall. The foundation’s initial grant for the program was for the launch of a peer-to-peer mentoring program to reach people in need of community services. The program has been highly successful and is now expanding to include ambassadors providing hospitality staffing of performances at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.
“This really is a win-win program,” said Leslie Cheu, executive director of the Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation, during the event. Cheu explained how venue visitors value the ambassadors’ assistance, and how it helps them gain experience that could help them find permanent employment in the hospitality industry.
The eight ambassadors currently in the program were recruited and trained by Unity House. An intensive series of group trainings was delivered to the ambassadors early in 2016. The training was provided by both Unity House staff and external trainers who were expert in the various topics, including boundaries and ethics, personal safety, customer service, poverty issues, veterans’ issues and mental health first aid.
The ambassadors, who continue to receive training on an ongoing basis, were selected for this position after demonstrating the skills essential to being successful ambassadors: effective communication, positive attitude, and broad knowledge of services and resources offered in the community and through Unity House. Additionally, they all demonstrated that they embraced the agency’s commitment to promoting social justice in the community and to treating all with dignity and compassion, and a desire to help create a positive environment at Unity House and in the city of Troy.
While on duty, the Down- town Troy Ambassadors are outfitted with green vests and hats so they are easily recognizable by those needing assistance.
“I’m a people person, I meet and greet,” said Troy resident Kimberly Murray, one of the ambassa- dors. “I help the senior citizens cross the street. I tell everybody where to park,” she said, explaining aspects of her job. “I just really enjoy doing what I do.”
Organizers are just as pleased. “This program has really exceeded our expec- tations” said Jon Elbaum, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall executive director, who called the ambassadors an an integral part of the hall’s front- of-house team. “It’s been a great success.”
The program helps in Unity House’s mission to make life better, said Mike Maloney, the organization’s assistant service director of community resources, in a press release. “The Ambassador program helps make life in Troy better for both guests visiting the Music Hall and the lives of our Ambassadors, who are now trained employees. This is a win-win-win for the guests, the Ambassadors and the greater Troy community.”
Troy Mayor Patrick Madden, who participated in the announcement of the new funding, applauded the program and how the two organizations are working together for this initiative. “It hits so many important objectives of ours,” he said. “It makes us one Troy.”