Salt City Market and Rescue Mission Announce New Ambassador Workforce Program

In a unique and intentional partnership, the Salt City Market and Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse have collaborated to create the Ambassador Program, a workforce development initiative the provides employment opportunity for clients of the Rescue Mission and enhances the customer experience at the Market.

The Ambassador Program’s primary mission is to extend both hospitality and security for the Market. The friendly and welcoming Ambassadors patrol in and around the market, serving as an extra set of eyes and ears to ensure that guests have the best experience possible. Wiping down tables, assisting with high chairs, opening doors, answering questions, and helping carry groceries from the Syracuse Cooperative Market to the parking lot are just a few of the Ambassadors’ duties. 

The Ambassadors—wearing bright yellow t-shirts featuring the Salt City Market logo—walk the perimeter of the building to deter would-be solicitors. Many of the people chosen for the first cohort of Ambassadors are current or past patrons of the Rescue Mission, and are familiar with the challenges that can come from the Market being located near the Mission. The Ambassador program is modeled after a similar initiative launched by the City Mission in Troy, New York.

“We’re excited to be able to lean on the Ambassadors and their specific expertise in human relationships,” says Adam Sudmann, Market Manager. “They bring so much value, and their work is crucial in facilitating an environment where everyone feels safe, comfortable, and most of all, welcome.”

The program’s second—and most important—intention is to give Ambassadors the opportunity to build up their work experience and move toward stability and prosperity.

“Partnering Rescue Mission residents with the Salt City Market as Ambassadors not only provides valuable on-the-job training and experience in customer service, but also reconnects individuals with the greater Syracuse community,” says Rescue Mission CEO Dan Sieburg. “Moreover, positive interactions with the Ambassador team smash community stereotypes about what it means to experience homelessness in Central New York.” 

About Salt City Market: Salt City Market is about food, culture, and people doing what they love. The four-story building, located in the heart of Downtown Syracuse, features a 10-vendor food hall, grocery store, and coffee shop/bar on the first floor; offices on the second floor; and mixed-income housing on the third and fourth floors. The Market is open Monday-Saturday from 11AM-9PM, as well as Sunday from 11AM-5PM. For more information, visit saltcitymarket.com.

About the Rescue Mission: The Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse, NY is a nonprofit fighting to end homelessness and hunger across Upstate New York, with operations in Syracuse, Auburn, and Binghamton. Serving the community for 134 years, our mission is to put love into action through shelter, food, clothing, and hope. Visit us on the web at www.rescuemissionalliance.org