Pictured (left to right): Jennifer Perez, Mission Services Manager, Goodwill Industries; Kristine Bonfitto, Job Skills Trainer, Goodwill Industries; Millyan, Matthew, David, Stephaine, and Nashanti, Project SEARCH interns; Laura Henning, Project SEARCH Instructor, Berks County Intermediate Unit; and Jessica Head, Program Administrator, Special Education & Student Services, Berks County
On Thursday, August 29, 2024, Project SEARCH interns convened for a “staff rally” at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading, along with the Project SEARCH team: Jessica Head, Program Administrator, Special Education & Student Services, Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU); Laura Henning, Project SEARCH Instructor, BCIU; Heather Rodriguez, Counselor, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR); Jennifer Perez, Mission Services Manager, Goodwill Industries; Kristine Bonfitto, Job Skills Trainer, Goodwill Industries; and Breanne Hardinger, Human Resources Generalist, DoubleTree of Reading.
Project SEARCH is a nine-month internship program designed for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, aiming to help them achieve competitive employment. The program offers total workplace immersion, enabling participants to gain hands-on experience while developing employability and marketable job skills. Interns complete three distinct internships, each exposing them to various career paths. Throughout the program, they receive support from a team that includes family members, an instructor, and local and state agencies, all working together to create and achieve personalized employment goals.
At the staff rally, the Project SEARCH team delivered a presentation to employees at the DoubleTree of Reading, offering insights into the Project SEARCH program and introducing the interns currently employed there. In addition to the informative presentation, attendees had the opportunity to learn more about the interns through a video in which each intern introduced themselves and shared their career aspirations following the completion of their internship.
Currently, Matthew, David, Nashanti, Stephaine, and Millyan are Project SEARCH interns at the DoubleTree of Reading, working in various roles such as restaurant service, banquet and room design, kitchen and food preparation, pastry making, and housekeeping.
To see the interns’ introductions and hear about their career goals firsthand, we invite you to watch the introductory video from the staff rally.
Visit https://youtu.be/qZoKMbsNPbk to view the video and learn more about the talented individuals making strides through the Project SEARCH program.