Hello Family and Friends!
As many of you know, our downstairs CBDS space is OPEN!!! We have spent the past month getting into the swing of things and are ready to show you all what we have been up to!
We hosted a small ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday 5/25 at 11am for the folks supported. One lucky person was selected to cut the ribbon…congrats Robert K!! The ribbon cutting was an internal event for the people supported and staff, however we will be hosting an open house to tour the downstairs space for family and friends.
Thank you again to management team, direct care staff and the people supported that made this transition such a success!
-Melissa Merrow, Haverhill Site Director
Last Friday we celebrated the amazing accomplishments of the Class of 2022 OW ProjectSEARCH graduates. Made possible by Jessica DelRosso, ProjectSEARCH Program Manager and Lynette Chavez, ProjectSEARCH Campus Coordinator the graduation was held in the Technology Center of Northern Essex Community College of Haverhill (NECC).
Project SEARCH Opportunity Works takes place on the campus of NECC over a 9-month period. Participants begin and end each day with work readiness classes covering topics like job interviews, résumé writing, teamwork, professionalism, and technology in the workplace. In between the classroom learning, students spend their time interning in different Northern Essex departments. Over the course of the school year, students intern for three months in a different department.
This group of graduates had a particularly unique experience with ProjectSEARCH as they are the only group to have a 2 year term due to COVID-19. As the campus was closed, and then operating remotely, ProjectSEARCH had to do the same. Once some restrictions were eventually lifted, the 7 interns were able to meet in person and begin their internships. Because of COVID-19 there were also new opportunities for internships such as the NECC COVID Team.
We heard some great speeches from Michael McCarthy, Chief Financial and Operating Officer of NECC, Pam Ross, Direct Support Staff and Supervisor at Perfect Blend Café, Jessica DelRosso, ProjectSEARCH Program Manager and Lynette Chavez, ProjectSEARCH Campus Coordinator, and each of the graduates themselves!
THANK YOU to…
Michael McCarthy, NECC Chief Financial and Operating Officer and Allison Pistone Gagne, Liaison.
NECC Supervisors: Officer Carlos & all the NECC officers, Steve DiLeo, Stephanie Haskell, Linda Hudson, Julie Jordan, Helen Mansur, Jeff Mejia, Pam Ross, Sharon Schoolcraft, Aimee Stevens, Kathleen Teixeira & DDS, MRC, parents, guardians & caregivers.
Links to previous posts highlighting the work of the ProjectSEARCH interns:
https://www.opportunityworks.org/memorial-day-messages/
Photo Description: Nori, perched per usual, is doe-eyed as flashes click behind the windows of OW. Panel #2 shows one of our staff enjoying the St.Patricks Day Photo Booth, with lots of clicks and flash. Panel 3 shows Nori wearing an Irish flag sitting atop an office chair to join the staff in the photo booth.
Happy St.Patty’s Day everyone!!!
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Photo Description: The first panel reads ‘9:30 am on a thursday’ and Nori, a vulture, is sitting on her branch in her usual tree saying “Hmm…awfully quiet.” The second panel you see cartoon versions of Arius and Craig, the hosts of Thursday morning art class, asking their friends on BlueJeans “Today we are drawing a cow. What is your favorite farm animal?” The third and final panel we see Nori was participating in class and made a lovely drawing of a cow and is showing us her work!
Photo Description: Nori, a vulture, asks “what do you call a witch at the beach?”. The second panel reads POOF in a large purple sparkly cloud. The third and final panel pictures Nori riding a broom delivering the answer to the joke- “a sand-witch!!!”
Institution for Savings
Rochester Electronics
Eastern Bank Charitable
Pentucket Bank
Merrimac Tool
Haverhill Bank
Merrimac Tool Co., Inc
John Guerin
Matter Communications
Truform Precision Manufacturing
Granite State Technical
Northeast Computer Services
Align Credit Union
Newburyport Bank
Riverwalk Brewing Co
Economised Time Services
Insurance Solutions Corporation
Align Credit Union
STREM an Ascensus Company
Brookline Bank
The Rullo Family
Ray Nippes, DRM Associates
The Sotirakopoulos Family
During the pandemic Geoff and his mother and brother were at one of Geoff’s medical appointments and Geoff overheard that the doctor’s staff was going to be canceling appointments due to lack of PPE. Geoff immediately asked if he could get some and bring it to them so that the doctor would be able to continue service. Geoff and his family were able to acquire enough to keep the doctor’s office going until the doctor received his shipment. Geoff was able to deliver it later that day.
The Daughters of the American Revolution have an award for community service. Geoff’s action was submitted and approved by the state committee. On Sunday March 13th Geoff was awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution Community Service Award by the Haverhill Chapter at their annual awards ceremony!
Opportunity Works is beyond proud of Geoff and his compassion and services to his community.
Haverhill
Dayhab/CBDS, Newburyport
Dayhab/CBDS, Haverhill
CBDS Haverhill
Come grow with us… exciting things are happening…
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Thank you so much to everyone who donated, shared our social media posts, sent a card or posted a lovely comment. Every bit of support means so much to our organization.