Sienna Gheyara (right) and Alexander Chen, both juniors at Miramonte High School, hold some of the gently-worn business attire they’ve collected for their student-led initiative, Suited2Succeed, which helps local job seekers dress for success.
Two Miramonte High School juniors are turning gently-worn business attire into opportunity for local job seekers through a new student-led initiative called Suited2Succeed.
Sixteen-year-old Sienna Gheyara said the idea took shape at the start of the school year after her classmate and longtime friend, Alexander Chen, approached her for help bringing the project to life.
“Alexander came up with the idea over the summer and reached out to me for help at the beginning of the school year,” Gheyara said. “I immediately wanted to be a part of the program, as I have always felt the most fulfilled when helping others, and I knew that this would be a perfect opportunity to get involved in the community.”
Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic pushed many professionals to work remotely – and led to an abundance of unused business clothing tucked away in local closets – the pair began collecting interview-ready attire to distribute to organizations serving job seekers.
“We call our initiative Suited2Succeed,” Gheyara said.
Making first impressions count
For Gheyara, who hopes to pursue psychology or a legal career, the work aligns with her longtime interest in how people perceive one another.
“First impressions are everything,” she said. “Since employers typically make hiring decisions within split seconds based on non-verbal cues, dressing professionally for interviews is very impactful. Therefore, providing nice business attire to these individuals can completely transform their luck as an interviewee.”
Chen agrees that clothing can play a crucial role in access to opportunity.
“It gives not only me and Sienna a chance to help those who are not as fortunate, but also everyone in our community is given the opportunity to donate for a very select need,” he said. “Donations of general clothing are more common, and the focus on suits for job seekers is very important to help people in surrounding communities gain stable jobs and have power over their lives.”
A personal motivation
Chen, who participates in debate and mock trial, said his own experiences wearing professional attire made him more aware of the barriers others face.
“I enjoy debate and mock trial, which unfortunately require professional clothing many cannot access,” he said. “I wanted to be able to spread my joy from the activities by finding professional clothing for those who cannot afford them themselves.”
While he’s unsure what his educational and career track will look like after high school, he is clear about his goals beyond this project.
“Whatever path I choose … the one thing I know is my job will help those with limited resources,” he said.
How it works
Suited2Succeed is currently gathering donations through neighborhood outreach.
“We’ve asked for donations mainly on the Nextdoor app, and we receive those donations through pick-up from the donor’s home or workplace,” Gheyara said. “Donors can also email s2sorinda@gmail.com to coordinate drop-offs.”
Clothing must be gently worn, interview-ready and free of damage. As the effort gets under way, the students say they’ve collected only a handful of donations – but their goal is ambitious.
“We’re hoping to quickly expand and get to our goal of 1,000 donations by the end of the school year,” Gheyara said.
To distribute the outfits, the duo is connecting with EASTBAY Works and the Workforce Development Board.
“We intend to deliver the donations to them, so that they can get the clothes into the hands that need them the most,” she said.
Both students store the clothing at home and sort everything by hand.
“The donated clothing will be hand-sorted into full outfits by Sienna and me,” Chen said. “This will allow recipients to receive clothing ready to go without having to search other places.”
Gheyara said this curated approach sets their project apart from similar projects.
“We specifically curate our donations into complete outfits … ensuring that these donations are ready to go to support their job search efforts right away,” she added.
Family support behind the scenes
Both families are deeply involved.
“My parents have been so helpful in the research and outreach aspects of this project, and have been very supportive in getting the idea off the ground,” Gheyara said.
Her mother, Ania Gheyara, said she couldn’t be prouder.
“They have shown initiative to use existing resources to best help others,” she said. “They will not only help make a difference in the lives of those in need, but will also help keep our planet green.”
She also encourages other parents to give their children space to lead.
“Support your kids in their endeavors,” she said, “but allow them to come up with ideas and give them the freedom to implement those ideas as they wish. This gives them ownership of the project and pride in their efforts.”
Chen says his parents have been equally enthusiastic.
“My parents have been very supportive. They brainstorm ideas on how to outreach,” he said.
The students say they hope to collaborate with the Orinda Rotary Club as the project expands.
Looking ahead
Though Suited2Succeed is young, its founders believe its impact will grow quickly.
“Everyone deserves an equal opportunity in life, and giving those in need a small boost can make a difference,” Gheyara said. “Knowing that possibly being of assistance to job seekers feels incredibly rewarding.”
Chen feels that strengthening the local workforce lays the foundation for broader community growth.
“When we can empower our communities by getting more people into jobs, that means future generations have more stability and opportunity,” he said.
For now, the two continue doing what they can – one complete interview outfit at a time.
