November, 2023

Employer Spotlight: B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim

TotalLink is all about finding the right job match not the fastest placement. Waiting to find the right fit is often the hardest part for participants and their families, but boy, oh boy, the wait was worth it for Avi. After six months of searching for the right fit, Avi landed a job with his dream employer, B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim (BJBE). Avi’s role as the Learning Center Assistant gives him the opportunity to use his greatest talent - interacting with people. He is responsible for welcoming students at drop off, collecting attendance sheets, delivering office passes, and aiding in the organization of books.

Avi beams with enthusiasm when asked about this job "I have been working at BJBE for almost four months, and I enjoy every moment. I get to work with great people. No question about it - everyone is very friendly here." One of his favorite tasks involves gathering attendance sheets from teachers, as it allows him to assist in the office. Avi adds, "I really enjoy giving back to the community and being a part of BJBE. I have grown tremendously, and it is fun."

Avi's parents, Carol and Simon Lesser, share, "Avi is so thrilled to have joined the BJBE Team! He has felt welcomed and so sure 'this is the right job for me.' Avi loves greeting all the students as they walk into the door each week and meeting all the teachers, clergy, staff, and congregants. Avi has been very proud to tell all of his friends and family about his new job at the Jewish Learning Center and how he also helps in the office. Avi has been working hard to become more independent each week and has now started taking the ADA transport, Pace's door to door bus, to get to work!"

Pictured right, Avi greeting a student with a high-five.

Gametime Grub Dinner Meetup: A Winning Recipe for Sports Fans!

After receiving feedback from sports fans about wanting a space to watch games with friends,TotalLink’s newest program, Gametime Grub, was launched. The group meets on Monday nights at Northbrook’s Buffalo Wild Wings, where they enjoy dinner, get to know new friends, and strengthen their connections with their community.

Buffalo Wild Wings provides an exciting environment in the community for the group to enjoy an evening together. This new program is a great opportunity for participants to grow in independence. Budgeting and finance are embedded in the evening’s conversations to practice these skills when going out with friends. Lisa Levi, a parent of one of the Gametime Grub participants, shared, “I just wanted to let you know how much Kevin is enjoying Gametime Grub at Buffalo Wild Wings! He starts talking about it coming up over the weekend. We've also noticed some new food ordering skills from him. He is communicating more with a waiter/waitress and asking them questions about choices! Thanks so much for adding this sports-oriented offering.”

Gametime Grub will be a recurring program offered each session at TotalLink. Whether it's football, basketball, soccer, baseball, or hockey season, we are so glad we have a program that satisfies the need for sports fans to get together and enjoy a shared interest. The budgeting and financing conversations are a bonus that adds value to an already excellent program! Registration for Session 2 is now open! We hope to see you cheering for your favorite teams with us on Monday nights this winter.

The Gametime Grub group enjoying sports, snacks, and friendship!

Meet Zach: TotalLink's Artist of the Month

Thank you to everyone who donated to TotalLink's #GivingTuesday campaign and throughout the year. We hope you enjoyed hearing the success stories about adults with disabilities living great lives. Your support is their link to choices and opportunities. Click here for a special thank you message from our participants.

There is still time to make your year-end donation to help create opportunities for other young adults to thrive by working, socializing, and contributing to their communities - and making their workplaces and communities better for it.

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