Rise, Inc. Latest News

Ray Kane of TJ Maxx named a 2010 Employer of the Year

BDepoint — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:08:52 +0000

Ray Kane from TJ Maxx was recognized as a 2010 Employer of the Year at iCelebrate Rise! Kane was recognized for his work with Rise’s Minnesota Employment Center (MEC) Program for People Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

In the award presentation, MEC Occupational Communication Specialist Kim Revak and Career Planning Specialist Mary Jo Duncan noted that, “Four years ago, Ray agreed to do a job try-out for one of our clients at TJ Maxx. After the job try-out, TJ Maxx hired this client and she is still employed there. From then on, we established a wonderful business partner relationship with Ray and other TJ Maxx stores. He has given several other MEC clients job try-out opportunities at other TJ Maxx and Home Good stores who also have become competitive employees.

“MEC appreciates Ray in that he looks beyond our clients’ disabilities to see their abilities. We also appreciate his efforts in learning basic American Sign Language to better communicate with these workers.”

Photo: Ray Kane (center) along with Rise’s MEC staff (from left): Jennifer Anderson, Kim Revak, Mary Jo Duncan, Kathy Schumacher, and Christine Adams

Scott Sarkis of the Hockey Lodge honored with Employer of the Year Award

BDepoint — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:05:58 +0000

Rise, Inc. recognized Scott Sarkis, manager of The Hockey Lodge in St. Paul, as its Employer of the Year at its annual Celebrate Rise! event.

Said Anne Mornes, a Rise job placement specialist, in her presentation, “Having a supportive supervisor can make all the difference in how successful you’ll be in your position. Scott Sarkis, a manager with the Hockey Lodge in St. Paul, is the kind of boss who goes the extra mile to accommodate all his employees.

“From the beginning, Scott has worked with my client Jeff Katz to discover his strengths. Jeff is passionate about sports and was determined to find a good job in the sports industry. Because of Jeff’s visual impairment, Scott slightly restructured the job position to concentrate on stocking merchandise, sizing clothing items, and assisting customers with questions. In addition to the support other Hockey Lodge staff offer Jeff, Scott provides him with positive and constructive feedback, enabling him to expand his skills and grow in the position. This job has truly allowed Jeff to take his passion for sports and create a profession.”

H.O.P.E. on 9th in St. Cloud receives Housing Supports Partner of the Year Award

BDepoint — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:01:47 +0000

Rise, Inc. recognized H.O.P.E. on 9th in St. Cloud as its 2010 Housing Supports Partner of the Year at Celebrate Rise!. Rise Housing Case Managers Amy Carter and Jessica Hagen presented the award to H.O.P.E. Manager Allison Hand.

Carter and Hagen noted that H.O.P.E.’s motto is “Rebuilding, Repairing, and Restoring Lives.” Of the apartment complex’s 31 units, 10 of those are designated as supportive housing units for people who are chronically homeless. The need for this specialized housing is evident from the waiting list of up to 12 months to become a resident.

In her presentation, Carter stated: “What sets H.O.P.E. on 9th apart from other complexes is their recognition that there are people out there who are experiencing barriers to housing and have faced extreme difficulties on maintaining and sustaining independent housing. Residents living in their supportive units have access to services, including case management, transportation, and assistance with connecting to various community social service agencies such as Rise.

“H.O.P.E. on 9th has been a referral source for qualified candidates to Rise’s Housing Support Services program and we have had the opportunity to work with mutual clients. Working collaboratively with the individual, we have been fortunate to witness the success a person can achieve when the appropriate supports are in place.”

From left are: H.O.P.E.’s Renee Retterath, Rise’s Amy Carter, HOPE’s Allison Hand, Rise’s Jessica Hagen and Monica Zachau

Parmly Life Pointes is 2010 Employer of the Year

BDepoint — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:33:20 +0000

Rise, Inc. recognized Parmly Life Pointes in Lindstrom as its Employer of the Year at its Celebrate Rise! event held April 18. Terry Pittman accepted the award with 470 people in attendance.

Rise’s relationship with Parmly Life Pointes began shortly after Rise’s arrival to the Lindstrom area approximately 15 years ago. As one of the largest and most competitive employers in the assisted living and nursing home industry, Parmly has worked cooperatively to offer employment opportunities to consumers in both Rise’s day training and habilitation and welfare-to-work programs. They have hired people in various departments throughout their facility offering competitive wages and employee benefits.

Maeta Burns-Penn, Rise’s job placement specialist, said of Parmly: “As a management team, they have worked rigorously to assist people in maintaining their employment by using supported employment services to the fullest extent. They work tirelessly and compassionately to resolve any workplace challenges to help ensure that people are able to remain successful in the workplace and maintain viable employment in a supportive and growth-oriented atmosphere. They are committed to providing a high quality service to our community and a positive, healthy relationship with its employees and partners in the area. Parmly is truly an asset to our community in every respect and Rise is extremely proud to partner with them for consumer success.”

From left are Rise’s Mike Harper, Maeta Burns-Penn, Jose Clemente, and Parmly’s Sue Mattson, environmental coordinator, and Terry Pittman, director of Plant Operations.

City of Bloomington’s Human Rights Commission names Majors Sports Cafe ‘Disability Employer of the Year’

BDepoint — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:14:37 +0000

Workers from Creative Partnerships South in Bloomington were proud when Majors Sports Café was recently recognized for being a great employer of people with disabilities. The City of Bloomington’s Disability Employment Awareness Committee (DEAC) presented Majors’ Manager Matt Remarcik with its Large Business Disability Employer of the Year award at a City Council meeting on October 19. Rise’s DTH Coordinator Melinda Dannley submitted the nomination of Majors.

This award is presented annually to a local Bloomington business that excels in the employment of people with disabilities. The DEAC is a group of volunteers that works with businesses, employers, and the community to create awareness of the benefits of hiring people with disabilities; it is supported by the Bloomington Human Rights Commission.

Under the supervision of Rise’s Community Habilitation Specialist Cory Larsen, three people from Rise’s Creative Partnerships South program help prepare the restaurant each morning for lunchtime diners by rolling silverware, folding napkins, taking down chairs, and wiping tables.
Dannley says,” For the past six years, the staff at Majors have taken a personal and professional interest in our employees and make them feel appreciated for the work they do. They have always been welcoming and accepting. Having a good job is important, and these men and women take great pride in the work they do and enjoy being productive members of the Majors team.”

“The workers from Rise have been a great asset to our company,” said Remarcik. “They are productive, reliable, and fun to work with.”

Rise President John Barrett added his congratulations to Remarcik and his staff at Majors: “It’s employers like Majors Sports Cafe who are helping to strengthen this community by honoring the contributions that people with disabilities can make in the workforce. We are not asking for corporate charity or make-work, but real work for real pay.

“By looking carefully at the skills each person has to offer,” Barrett added, “I firmly believe there is a potential niche in the workforce for everyone. We’re pleased that Majors Sports Cafe shares this viewpoint.”

Creative Partnerships South is a day training and habilitation program for people with intellectual disabilities and related conditions. Majors Sports Cafe is located at 8301 Normandale Boulevard in Bloomington.

This article appears in the December 2009 issue of the Rise Reporter.

Integration of Family Life Mental Health Center as a subsidiary of Rise enhances services, linkages

BDepoint — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:07:18 +0000

For more than a year, the staff and boards of directors of Rise and the Family Life Mental Health Center (FLMHC) in Coon Rapids have been working to join the two agencies. Effective January 1, FLMHC became a subsidiary of Rise. The day-to-day operations of both agencies will remain much the same and they will maintain their current names, staff, and facilities.

Under this partnership, the two agencies will provide vocational training, job placement, and housing support services, as well as psychiatry, individual therapy for all ages, couples, family therapy, psychological evaluations and testing, and group therapy services to people who have a mental health diagnosis.

National research has repeatedly demonstrated the effectiveness of integrating mental health treatment with supported employment, housing, and other community supports to obtain the best results for persons with mental illness.

“Rise and Family Life Center both have a long history of providing quality services to mental health consumers in Anoka County and already serve many of the same program participants,” said FLMHC Executive Director Rosalin Chrest.

“By integrating our programs and services, as well as our professional expertise, we can work closely together to better serve people in a cost-effective manner. We will also enhance our service linkages internally and externally with other county organizations.”

Rise has offered employment and support services to people who have mental illnesses since the early 1980s. Recognizing the therapeutic and beneficial affect work has, Rise’s staff have assisted thousands of people to enter or re-enter the workforce as they grapple with the challenges of managing their mental illness. More than half of the 3,000-plus people Rise served in 2008 have a diagnosed mental illness.

The Family Life Mental Health Center was founded in 1978 to bring more coordinated and responsive mental health services to persons in the northern metro area who were dealing with serious mental illness and its effects on their self-sufficiency, productivity, and successful community living.
Located in Coon Rapids, FLMHC has a multidisciplinary staff to help empower people toward effective prevention and management of behavioral and mental illness. Through education and comprehensive treatment, FLMHC is dedicated to fostering wellness and reducing the stigma of mental illness. During 2007, FLMHC provided mental health services to more than 3,000 people. Visit Family Life Center’s website at www.flmhc.org.

“We’re excited to partner with the Family Life Mental Health Center and are confident this arrangement will greatly benefit the community,” said Rise President John Barrett.

“Together we can provide the kinds of services and supports that people with mental illness need so they can be as self-sufficient as possible while living and working in our community.”

This article appeared in the February 2009 issue of the Rise Reporter.

Compassionate, flexible landlords help people who are struggling

BDepoint — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:40:38 +0000

As hard as Rise staff work, they couldn’t do their jobs without support from local employers, businesses, and landlords who are willing to go the extra mile to help people who are striving for self-sufficiency and a better quality life.

This is especially true for people who need a safe and affordable place to live. Rise offers Mental Health Housing Support Services in nine counties throughout Central and East Central Minnesota to people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless and have a mental illness. Many people have other issues which exacerbate their housing crisis, including unemployment, chemical dependency, and a poor rental history.

In 2008, Rise staff served close to 100 people, including about 70 families, in Central and East Central Minnesota with transitional housing, independent living skills training, housing support services, rental subsidy programs, and other supports to assist people in living more independently in the community. Most referrals come from county social workers, other community agencies, and self-referrals.

A team of housing support specialists, including Amy Carter, Richard Dilliard, Paul Kuhlmann, Monica Zachau, and Jessica Hagen, work out of Rise’s offices in Lindstrom, Cambridge, Milaca, St. Cloud, and Monticello. In addition, Amber Burns from the Family Life Mental Health Center works with the housing team to review applicants for housing services, help them establish housing goals, and develop a mental health treatment.

“We have a lot of people who have fallen on some really hard times,” said Housing Support Specialist Paul Kuhlmann works out of Rise’s Lindstrom office. “They are struggling to find work or keep a roof over their families’ heads. Oftentimes, people don’t have the money for first and last month’s rent plus the safety deposit. They might have issues that are ‘red flags’ to most landlords who aren’t likely to rent to them. But we have some really great landlords in this area who are often willing to overlook them and help.”

“I’m just doing the right thing,” says Richard Berget, one of the property owners with whom Rise works in East Central Minnesota. “If someone is trying hard to turn their life around, I’ll give them a chance. Sure, I’ve been burned before, and I’ll probably be burned again, but I’d just as soon take them in if they really need a place. It seems to work.”

Dean Borgmann is a landlord in the St. Cloud area with whom Housing Case Manager Amy Carter often works.

“Dean has waived late fees while people are working with us to arrange for housing subsidies and get their paperwork in order. Dean gives them a chance to live in a nice place and establish a rental history.”

Betty and Rod Hestekian own, manage, and care for five apartment buildings, and are welcoming to people referred by Rise staff.

“We treat everyone with the same dignity and respect,” said Betty. “We don’t believe that housing for people with low incomes needs to be or should be substandard. We know our renters by name and they know us. We try to help people succeed.”

When landlord Jim Huey of Plymouth learned that Rise’s 2007budget from the Region 7E Mental Health Initiative had been cut by a whopping 40 percent, he reduced the rent for a two-bedroom duplex in Princeton that Rise leases for transitional housing by 40 percent. Huey renewed the lease in 2008 at the same reduced rate so Rise could continue those services.

“Jim’s generosity and spirit of commitment to the community is truly inspiring and very much appreciated,” said Mike Harper, Rise’s director of Customized Employment and Hous-ing Services for Regions 7E and 7W.

“Given the tough economic and employment climate, these are challenging times for many people,” said Paul. “The people we work appreciate having a nice place to live and the support services we offer to help them. But the key is having generous and understanding landlords who are willing to work together with us to give people an opportunity to live in this community. These partnerships are critical to people’s success.”

This article appeared in the February 2009 issue of the Rise Reporter.

Cummins Power Generation collects business clothing for Michael's Closet

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:13:43 +0000

In response to a website notice the Greater Twin Cities United Way posted for their volunteer recruitment campaign called Volunteer: Give It a Whirl!, the Women’s Affinity Group and the Community Involvement Team from Cummins Power Generation Fridley set up clothing collection boxes at their Brooklyn Center and two Fridley locations. From April 16-20, Cummins employees donated clothing to “help others dress for success.”

The result of the five-day collection was six huge boxes, weighing approximately 500 pounds total, of gently used or new career clothing to donate to Rise, Inc.’s Michael’s Closet. Cummins employees contributed men’s and women’s suits, shoes and boots, blouses and shirts, pants, and skirts, coats and jackets, as well as accessories such as ties, belts, and scarves.

Robert Reedy, an employment consultant for Rise’s Mental Health Treatment Study project, established the clothing closet in honor of his uncle who was homeless and murdered on the streets six years ago. Michael’s Closet is located at Rise’s Central Office at 2003 Central Avenue in Northeast Minneapolis and open to men and women served by Rise, a private, nonprofit agency serving adults with disabilities and other barriers to employment.

“People’s generosity has been truly overwhelming,” said Reedy. “These gifts of clothing and accessories will help many, many people who simply don’t have the means to put together a nice outfit to wear to a job interview or to work. In addition, Rise received a $1,000 donation from Cummins in memory of a Rise program participant who was working at their Fridley plant in a supported employment position and died last year. It was Cummins’s wish that Rise use their contribution to assist others in their pursuit of employment so we’re going to use it to purchase shelving, mirrors, clothing racks and other equipment in Michael’s Closet. These will enable us to sort and display the clothing easily and help people in their search for a nice outfit.”

”It’s unknown just how many Cummins employees donated to Michael’s Closet, but it was Amanda Putzke and Maria Gonzalez, the co-chairs for the Women’s Affinity Group Work Life Balance Subcommittee, who really made this event happen,” said Melissa King, administrator of the Fridley Community Involvement Team. “All of us at Cummins appreciate the opportunity to support Rise and look forward to a continued partnership with them.”

Rise currently has three people working at the Fridley Cummins Power Generation Plant in the Environmental, Quality, and Pack-Out departments through its Supported Employment Services-Anoka County program. In addition, Rise picks up paper for recycling every Thursday from Cummins’s Training Center in Brooklyn Center.

Note: This article appears in the July 2008 issue of the Rise Reporter.

Not all donations to Rise are monetary - We appreciate the many generous gifts of corporate and individuals' time, talents, and energy

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:11:59 +0000

The Greater Twin Cities United Way Caring Connection program helps match up people with volunteer opportunities in local nonprofit agencies. Here are a few recent much-needed projects done at Rise.

Playground renovation
On Saturday, July 19, volunteers from the Greater Twin Cities United Way’s Emerging Leaders program gathered to help spruce up the playground at a Rise transitional housing location in Fridley.

Volunteers from local corporations, including Cummins Power Generation, Honeywell, and Pepsi Bottling Group, arranged to have three sturdy new benches built and for replacement sand delivered to the playground early Saturday morning. They spent the day filling the sandbox as well as sanding and staining wood on the swing set, benches and sandbox.

Then the group weeded and raked the pea gravel under the swing set and arranged for a cover for the sandbox to keep out small animals. The playground looked like a different place when they were finished, and the parents at the site were delighted with the new benches where they can sit and watch their children play.

Realistic ‘dress rehearsals’ for job interviews
Six staff from Wells Fargo’s Human Resources, Marketing, IT, and Customer Services staff conducted mock job interviews on September 26, at the Wells Fargo Tower in downtown Minneapolis. Twenty-six Rise program participants took advantage of this great opportunity to undergo a realistic job interview with professional personnel. They also received valuable feedback regarding ways to improve their interview skills, cover letters, etc.

“The Wells Fargo staff were tremendous,” said Trudi Meloche, Rise’s director of Development. “We hope to offer this opportunity to other Rise job-seekers in the future. The Wells Fargo volunteers said it was very nice not to have to leave their building during the workday to volunteer in a meaningful way. We are also looking at other ways to partner with Wells Fargo, including hosting a roundtable discussion about specific strategies (from them) to prepare our participants for interviews and specific strategies (from us) on how to best interview people with different barriers. This would really be helpful for both Wells Fargo and Rise staff.”

Clothing donations to Michael’s Closet
Two groups from Target’s corporate offices in downtown Minneapolis conducted a drive for new and gently used career clothing to be given away through Michael’s Closet. Rise job-seekers are eligible to find suitable clothing and accessories for job interviews and new jobs. Getting a new outfit or two has helped hundreds of people get an extra boost of self-confidence as they pursue their career goals.

Groups from Wells Fargo and Health Partners also collected clothing for Michael’s Closet as a special event during their United Way fundraising campaigns. Michael’s Closet is located at Rise’s Central Avenue office in Northeast Minneapolis.

John sure to benefit from Medronic's mentor program

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:27:55 +0000

It’s tough to find a good job these days. Those just starting off in a career may find it especially difficult to land that first big job in a chosen field. One of the most effective tools to jump-start a career can be a mentor – someone willing to provide another with insight, serve as a sounding board, open doors to opportunities, help make connections, and be there for support and understanding.

Medtronic, a global leader in the medical technology field, launched its new mentorship program specifically designed for people who have disabilities in April. People who attended its Career Day in October 2005 were offered the opportunity to apply to be part of Medtronic’s ABLED Employee Resource Group Mentoring Program. (ABLED stands for Awareness Benefiting Leadership and Employers about Disabilities.)

John Corcoran, who works part-time in the mail room at its worldwide headquarters in Fridley, found his job at Medtronic with assistance from a Rise placement specialist and continues to receive follow-up services on a regular basis from Follow-Up Specialist Mary Ann Erickson. John applied and was fortunate to be selected as one of fifteen “mentees” to participate in this yearlong project. John’s mentor is Karen Quammen, project coordinator in the Office of Workplace Inclusion.

“This program has been a long time coming and we’re very excited about the possibilities,” said Quammen. “Resource Groups at Medtronic are asked to look at ways to enhance employee recruiting, retention, and community involvement. This mentoring program was a culmination of that criteria.

“Students from the University of Minnesota’s Disability Student Culture Center worked with us in a four-month pilot program last summer and with their feedback and input, we were able to design a mentorship program we think will effectively address the issues that people who have disabilities entering career fields face.”

Once the 15 participants were selected, a call to volunteer went out to Medtronic employees. Quammen and the ABLED Steering Team carefully matched mentors with mentees. “It was amazing to see the willingness of people to get involved,” Quammen noted. “I could ‘hear’ the enthusiasm in their email responses and was impressed with how much they wanted to be a part of someone else moving forward.

“We have mentees in a wide variety of career fields,” she added, “including science/ research, security, manufacturing, administration, and clinical studies. People have a full range of disabilities, as well, such as physical, hearing, visual, developmental, and hidden ones.”

Quammen and Corcoran have both attended special training sessions for mentors and mentees and are eager to begin. One of the first assignments given the mentees was to make a list of three professional and personal development goals to work on during the year. John’s included: 1) being a career employee at Medtronic; 2) expanding his work hours and job duties; and 3) learning to be more assertive in expressing his interests and desires.

Quammen has worked in several different positions in seven Medtronic buildings since joining Medtronic in 1988. She has already talked with Corcoran about touring the other locations to see what kinds of job opportunities are available. “It will be good to get outside the mail room and explore Medtronic, meet some other people, and get their good ideas as well,” Quammen said. “Then we can put together a plan of action for John.”

At Medtronic’s kick-off dinner on April 4, Dr. W. Roy Grizzard Jr., the assistant secretary for Disability Employment Policy under the U.S. Department of Labor, addressed the group. “He told us he felt like he was conducting a group wedding ceremony,” Corcoran remembered with a laugh. One of the key points Grizzard, who is legally blind, made was that the mentorship relationships these people were forming have the potential to have a tremendous impact on the careers and lives of those involved.

Quammen acknowledged that she had an unofficial mentor when she first started at Medtronic. “Who knows where I would be today without his help. My mentor helped me build my self-confidence, identified skills I didn’t even know I had, pushed me out of my ‘comfort zone,’ and encouraged me to try new things. I hope I can do the same for John.”