EMarc Participant Honored by YMCA Greater Boston

The following is a press release issued by EMarc

EMarc participant Janet Gordon was honored at YMCA’s Greater Boston’s Annual Services Awards and Special Recognition cocktail reception on Feb. 15. Held at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Gordon was honored for her five years of service at YMCA of Greater Boston.

More than 200 honorees and their guests were first welcomed to tour the museum before the reception. Volunteers for five, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of service were then honored for their dedication to YMCA of Greater Boston.  

 “Janet was really excited about the event. She looked beautiful and was so happy to get the award,” said Bonnie Vallis, Supporting Living Mentor, who accompanied Gordon at the event. 

Gordon received a gold pin for her five year commitment. She works twice a week at YMCA Greater Boston cleaning the fitness centers.

“In 2007, she took over the position from another woman who found a new job,” said Employment Services Director Alex Marsen. “Through little job coaching she learned the job well and loved it off the bat.”

Gordon was introduced to EMarc more than 30 years ago through her mother, Grace Gordon, who was on the EMarc Board of Directors. Gordon then teamed up with EMarc’s Employment Services Team. 

“EMarc Employment Services assists individuals in getting competitive employment in the community,” says Marsen. Currently there are more than 40 EMarc participants working the community and a dozen actively seeking employment. 

Employment Services first meets with the individual to perform an assessment regarding his/her interests and skills. Then, the individual is paired with a Job Developer who creates a personal job development plan and strategy to approach local employers. Once a position has been secured, thorough job coaching and training is preformed to insure the individual can perform the job independently and meet all the job requirements and duties. 

“On site follow-up sessions take place every other week but then fades out to every month, then quarterly and finally to every six months as the individual becomes an independent worker,” said Marsen.

EMarc also provides assistance with transportation. Training on using public transportation or EMarc shuttle buses to and from the work place is provided by Employment Services, as well.  

Gordon has been with Employment Services for over 15 years and her past positions were in the maintenance and retail field. 

EMarc employees have seen the positive influence Gordon’s career has on all aspects of her life.

“Her job at YMCA has taught Janet to be very responsible and orderly,” said Vallis, “She sets her alarm, gets ready in the morning and has her lunch prepared every day for work.”

“She is very dedicated and proud of the she fact she a job and is independent,” says Marsen. 

Gordon’s commendable dedication earned her not only a gold pin at the reception but also a Certificate of Appreciation award in March 2009 for her loyalty and generosity toward YMCA Greater Boston.

Despite the endless recognition and awards, Gordon’s favorite part of YMCA Greater Boston is simple.

“I’ve made a lot of friends,” said Gordon.  

To learn more about EMarc’s Employment Services please contact
Alex Marxsen, EMI Director, at 781-942-4888 ext 5027 or at amarxsen@theemarc.org. To learn more about EMarc, please www.theemarc.org or call 781-942-4888.

ABOUT EMARC:

EMARC is a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization that supports individuals with developmental disabilities. Since 1954, EMARC has helped our participants to live, work and play in our communities.  The human service agency provides a wide-array of programming, which includes services for Residential Support, Day Habilitation, Vocational Training and Family Support services through their Family Resource Center.  To learn more about EMARC and all of its services and programs visit TheEmarc.org.