20% of our community have disabilities, ranging from anxiety of working in a large or small environment, to having a physical handicap, and so many travel outside of Crown Heights for work or struggle to find jobs altogether.
From becoming the new kosher food hub, home to many start-up tech companies, art galleries and retail stores, Crown Heights is now booming with a myriad of excellent employment opportunities.
This was just what was discussed at a recent meeting led by the newly formed Crown Heights Inclusion Committee and hosted by Tzirl and Shmuly Goldman. It was great to see a variety of businesses represented to come learn more about how to get involved.
This event was done in conjunction with Yedei Chesed, The Friendship Circle of Brooklyn, Yaldei Shluchei Harebbe and The Ruderman Chabad Inclusion Initiative.
Present were Michael Applebaum of JUF/Yachad and Chaim Solomon of Y’dei Chesed who shared about the process and benefits of employing someone with a disability as well as how to find the best fit for your particular business.
The key to success is working with an agency to help understand the needs of your business and to match you with an appropriate employee with disabilities. Just like with any employee/employer relationship, it has to be mutually beneficial for all involved to move forward.
Agencies are government funded and stay involved for the long haul to help support the individual with a disability and be the support for both the employee and employer to ensure a successful experience for all.
Employers can also benefit from The Workers with Disabilities Tax Credit (WETC).
In fact, as Shmuly Goldman pointed out, this may even enhance the rest of your HR experience- helping to more clearly define the roles of other employees and overall fostering a pleasant and productive work environment for your entire team.
This was the first event of the Crown heights Inclusion Committee whose focus is to promote and support opportunities for people with disabilities to lead productive and meaningful lives within every facet of the Crown Heights community.
For more information about job opportunities please contact the committee at [email protected].
Hatzlacha Rabba to all involved.
tremendous credit to Shmuly and Tzirl Goldman who are once again at the forefront of doing whatever it takes to help special-needs people.
G-d bless you. wishing and praying for much hatzlacha to you, because your hatzlacha is our hatzlacha.
If Sholly’s involved it’s bound to be successful !!
Publix a chain supermarket in Florida is known for this. We are good friends with our”baggers” who help us bag our groceries. They make us smile and my kids can see how these individuals are just like us, despite physical differnces
Zahavi was when education was a frontier needed enhanced work, as those children grow its really heartwarming to see the initiative taken for these young adults to have jobs and work environments! Kudos to all involved.
What a great project! So necessary and important! Good luck, kol hakavod!!
Great initiative. Kol Hakavod!