From stewarding to risk officer at W Dallas Victory

Omar Evans graduated from Lincoln High School in Dallas in May 2008. He was eager to find work to help support his family while his mother battled cancer. He had been in foster care since age 14.

After high school, Omar headed straight to the Dallas Bridges office and signed himself up. He told the staff he wanted to work in hospitality or in direct customer relationships. They saw him as a perfect fit and began helping him prepare for his job search.

In July 2009, the Renaissance Dallas Hotel hired him into their loss prevention department. He stayed two months before moving with family to Las Vegas during the recession. Four months later, he was back in Dallas, asking Bridges for help again.

In January 2010, Omar joined the W Dallas Victory Hotel as a steward. Always looking to better himself, he added a second job in October 2010 at UT Southwestern Hospital as a patient transporter, moving patients across the hospital campus. Fox News did a segment on the Bridges program that featured Omar at work at UT Southwestern.

Omar worked both jobs for four years. He earned the W Hotel's "Talent of the Month" award in 2011, and the "Heart of the House Talent of the Month" in 2014, plus the 2011 Bridges Dallas Youth Achievement Award. As his W Hotel supervisor put it: "Every day Omar walks in the building with a smile on his face and ready to work."

Omar was promoted to Housekeeping Attendant in February 2014, and again to Risk Agent that November, reporting directly to the Director of Risk. His promotion announcement recognized his "passion and enthusiasm for our Brand and property." He's still on the W team.

Omar lives at home and is a key contributor to his family's income. He has spoken to new Bridges enrollees about the importance of hard work and following directions, hoping to be a role model for the program's next generation.