Community Careers

Avenues Job Placement Program

Three days a week Kym Dohnke takes two buses and travels 18 miles to her job at Two Fish Art Glass in Forest Park, Il. It’s a trip that can take up to two hours each day from her home at Herbst Family House in Park Ridge but Kym is unfazed by the distance.  She’s just so excited to

(Employment specialist Calvin Keyes coaches Jewel employees Cindy Krupski, Bill Rogers, Bob Olson, Michael Reilly and Meghan O'Connor.  The five employees represent nearly 75 years of service in the Park Ridge store)

 be working at her job “the best I ever had” since Kym knows all to well what it’s like to lose a job. 

Kim had been laid off from her seasonal job at a local golf club when business dropped substantially last year, and prior to that had been laid off by Boston Market. But, thanks to “friendraising” and a lucky break, a wonderful thing happened. Avenues’ Chicago Partnership Board member Tara Nemeth from HouseRed, who employs Avenues’ worker Perry Martiny, told neighbor and Two Fish co-owner Tonya Hart about Avenues Job Placement Program when Tonya told Tara they wanted to add to their staff.  

The rest, as they say, is history, and it’s been a win-win situation for both Kym and Two Fish Art Glass. Tonya has nothing but praise for Kym’s work:  “When Kym came to work she started making sun catchers for the retail business. Kym became so proficient we needed to find something else for her to produce, so Kym is beginning to work on mosaic mirrors and doing an absolute wonderful job. She exceeds my expectations.” 

This is just one of many successful job placement stories for Avenues, who has enjoyed a great track record of job placement and employment longevity through the years, despite a current national 90% unemployment rate for adults with developmental disabilities..

Calvin Keyes, Avenues Employment Specialist, says the goal of the Job Placement Program is “to get our participants ready for employment and hired in the community.  Once they have a job they really light up, get more confidence and become more self-assured.”

 To foster job placement among our participants, preparatory classes are usually held once a week at the Work Center in Wheeling.  Usually ten workers attend the classes, and instruction covers proper work behavior and dress, how to stay focused and on task and how to problem solve. General information is also provided as to what employers expect from their employees.  

Currently, Avenues has 65 adults in the Job Placement Program, and of those workers approximately 50 are locally employed serving in retail, restaurants, food stores, and various corporations

Much of the success of the Job Placement Program is due to the workers’ themselves – their motivation, drive, and commitment to succeed, but a great deal of the success is also due to Avenues’ thorough job coaching.  Randall Smith, Job Placement Manager, says job coaching is critical. “Keeping employers happy is key. They’re sometimes skeptical or apprehensive at first, asking ‘will it work?’ but we assure them it’s a partnership, and we develop relationships with them.” 

To “make it work” Randall and Calvin, better known as job coaches, know all the tasks the workers perform.   In many cases, Randall and Calvin get trained by the employers, and then it’s up to them to train the respective employees.  Randall mentions Two Fish Art Glass as an example. “When they became an employer, Calvin spent nine hours a week for nearly three months learning all the ins and outs of the position by himself before Kym came on board.  This is especially important for safety concerns as well.”   

View the 2 Fish Art Glass Testimonial on YouTube

Park Ridge Jewel Store Manager Tom Faber, who employs five Avenues workers,  reinforces the importance of job coaching: “With good job coaching to get them started, I think you’ll find they’re (Avenues’ workers) the most reliable associates you’ll have.  As long as they’re coached on how to do the job, they’ll give it 100% effort every day.  They’re probably the most consistent, reliable, always on time and friendly employees here in the store!” 

The term “job coaching” may be an oversimplification, as Calvin laughingly calls himself a problem-solver.  On any given day, in addition to trouble-shooting, Randall and Calvin will be training employees, driving workers to job sites, seeking new employers, providing documentation, and most importantly, assisting Avenues’ workers any way they can. Randall adds that he and Calvin are looked upon as “mentors and friends, and it’s very important to the clients (Avenues’ workers) that they don’t let us down; the clients want us to be happy, and they want our guidance.”

Calvin feels good about what he does for our workers, “but I feel we can provide better service to them” as both he and Randall juggle the rigorous demands of their positions.  Last year cuts in state funding mandated the transfer of two job coaches that now serve Avenues in other capacities, and the diminished funds have also prevented further growth within the Job Placement Program.  

Incredibly frustrating as these limitations are, Avenues will continue to deliver on our promise to the people we serve. It’s a lifelong commitment we’re determined to keep despite these funding cuts and other economic setbacks.  “The Job Placement Program not only increases Avenues’ visibility as an organization, but it makes a big different in their lives.” Randall emphasizes that “you can see immediate results with the program - the more our group is in the community, they become more mainstream and not the exception.  They view their jobs as a career.” 

View the Albertson Jewel Food Store
testimony on Youtube

How You Can Help:

Randall and Calvin are currently seeking employment for five participants.  We ask our readers to contact family, friends, and any potential employers who can use Avenues’ employees!  For more information, please contact Randall at 847-292-0870 X 127 or email: rsmith@avenuesonline.org or go to the Avenues Job Placement Webpage