MA CLUBHOUSE COALITION

U.S. Business Leaders Honored for Paving Way to an Inclusive Workforce

Business Leaders from across the United States were honored in our nation’s Capitol on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 for opening their workplaces to adults and young adults who are recovering from mental illness. With assistance from quality accredited rehabilitation and support centers, known as "ICCD Clubhouses", people who have psychiatric disabilities are re-entering the workforce and relying less on public benefits as they reclaim their lives from often life challenging illnesses.

Congressional representatives from across the political spectrum joined together for the event to commend employers for recognizing ability rather than disability and for providing opportunities for citizens who are challenged by mental illness to work their way back to full productivity. "I know personally that hiring Clubhouse members is a good business decision" said Maine Governor Paul LePage, who, prior to his election as Governor, em ployed members of the Waterville Clubhouse, High Hopes, when he was general manager of Mardens’ Surplus and Salvage. "This is a program I stand behind 100 percent" he said as he presented awards to two local companies that employ members of the Clubhouses in his state. Governor LePage serves on the Advisory Board of the National Clubhouse Employment Expansion Project which is organized by the Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition (MCC), a non-profit education and advocacy organization that is working to help people with mental illness live productive and full lives in the community. Massachusetts Congressman Edward Markey presented awards to the members of the National Project’s Employer Advisory Board for their leadership in encouraging companies to hire those with mental illness who have flexible supports from over 115 US Clubhouses. All 115 Clubhouse centers are quality accredited by the International Center for Clubhouse Development (ICCD). "You are the living proof of the productivity that is possible when each person is given an opportunity to utilize their god-given abilities," Markey told the crowd of more than 200 employers, legislators, Clubhouse members and staff, and family and board members from across the nation who gathered to recognize the companies for their leadership as corporate citizens.

"We have come a long way, not just from the dark ages, but from the 1970s and 80s, and we are not done" Markey said as he stood for a photograph with all of the honorees, which included representatives of: Asahi Kasei Plastics North America in Fowlerville, MI; Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO; Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation, Fall River, MA; Boston Marriot Newton, Newton, MA; Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Wichita, KS; Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill, NC; Columbus Hotels by Picknelly Family Limited Partnership; MA, CVS/pharmacy, Newburyport, MA; Fairfield Inn & Suites, Augusta, ME; First Savings Bank of Perkasie, Perkasie, PA; Garden Street Apartments, Lawrence, MA; Good Shepherd Work Services, Allentown, PA; Home Goods, Bedford, MA; Kramer Levin Natfalis & Frankel LLP New York, NY; Lakewood Continuing Care Center, Waterville, ME; St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Bridgeport, CT; Sunflower Farmers Market, Fort Collins, CO; Torigian Family YMCA, Peabody, MA; University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH; and Yoke’s Fresh Market, Spokane, WA.

Members of the National Employment Expansion Project Employer Advisory Board were recognized and received special honors. There are nineteen members of this distinguished group of leaders, seven of whom were able to attend the Washington D.C. Celebration in addition to Governor LePage. They included: Nancy Lane, CEO of Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership; Jeanne Strickland, Executive Director, Newton Community Development Foundation;Jeremy Scott, VP Operations, ServiceMaster, Norfolk Division; Patrick Flavin, AVP Director, The TJX Companies Inc.; Greg Griffin, Director of Operations, Torigian Family YMCA; and John Peacock, Executive Director, Waltham, West Suburban Chamber of Commerce.

Dan Wolfson, a member of Charles Webster Potter Place in Waltham, MA who is employed at the Boston Newton Marriot as a grounds keeper told the crowd that he is particularly proud that Massachusetts Clubhouse members earned over $13.2 million dollars in FY10. "I love my job at the Marriott, Mr. Wolfson said.

I now have a career and feel so much better about myself thanks to my Clubhouse and the great people I get to work with at the Marriott." "Clubhouses are a good source for companies to find workers" said Reva Stein, Executive Director of the MCC. "Clubhouses provide training and support services for their members on job sites, assisting the company in finding the employees for often hard-to-fill positions. "Many members are looking for a 15 to 20 hour a week position and some are ready for full time work" said Reva Stein, Executive Director of the MCC, "but some would be happy with just a few hours a week as a way to get back into the workforce". "Sometimes a store has a need for someone to work part time, perhaps as little as 6 to 7 hours a week stocking shelves and unloading trucks" said Mr. Bouchard, manager of the CVS/pharmacy in Newburyport, MA. "That can be a hard position to fill because everyone wants full time work. This can be a good opportunity for a Clubhouse to get their foot in the door and that opportunity can grow to more as members are hired by the company" Mr. Bouchard told a group of employers and Clubhouse staff who attended a networking event prior to the Celebration. "Clubhouse is a well kept secret and we would like to get the word out more broadly" said Ms. Stein.