Grosse Pointe Schools team up with War Memorial for learning program
In mid-January, The War Memorial (TWM) embarked on an opportunity with Grosse Pointe Public Schools where students will participate in a work-based learning program.
“This program works with special education secondary students with disabilities to provide pre-vocational/vocational training opportunities to obtain work and social skills, as well as allow them to explore employment opportunities, assisting students in making a successful transition to living and working as independently as possible after leaving the public school system,” Nikki Charbonneau, chief operating officer at TWM, said.
The students, from Grosse Pointe Community Campus Program, will be on site with a job coach a couple of days a week for a few hours through May. This is the first time TWM has been a job site as part of the school districts transition services program.
“It’s so joyful to see students in that situation where they are excited to be there to learn and be successful,” Kimberly King, special education transition services coordinator at Grosse Pointe Public Schools, said. “It builds their confidence and I get to see students shine.”
As part of the program, department heads at TWM provided a list of tasks the students can work on each week. Tasks include cleaning, restocking, light clerical work, preparing mailing, labelling, light landscaping, dishwashing, setting tables, and more.
On Jan. 26, students Maria Caballero and Norman Hill visited with the communications and community engagement departments.
“It’s been a great experience so far,” Caballero said. “We’ve been polishing silverware, folding napkins, and kitchen work. I’m hoping to work here for real someday, to make some money.”
In the summer, Caballero volunteered at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores a couple of days a week. The students spend one semester at each job site. Caballero has been in the transition services program a few years.
Ericka Sobczak, director of human resources and culture, said TWM was first introduced to the program by a direct contact that Vice President of Community Engagement and Programming Leah Celebi had at Grosse Pointe Public Schools. After meeting in the fall, it was decided to move forward once the new Alger Center opened and there was more capacity and tasks to take on a program like this.
“The employer offers the students worthwhile tasks that can challenge them emotionally, socially, and allow them to have ‘real world’ experiences in the workplace,” Sobczak said.
King said the program has been at over 20 job sites throughout the community.
“I work with special ed students 18-26 years old,” she noted. “This is an opportunity for them to get work-based learning skills and transition to the next step after high school.”
King said she thought it would be great for the program to set up at The War Memorial this winter and spring.
“We hope they gain different work skills, social skills and build relationships in the community that could possibly lead to long-term integrated employment,” she said.
Sobczak noted that the partnership has been long overdue for TWM.
“We have a rockstar team within a mission-driven organization. We have a lot to offer to the community, and it is only right to give back,” she said. “In this short period of time that we have hosted these students, along with their job coach, we have learned so much from them. The sheer joy in each of them, and their willingness to work, brings us so much happiness a few days a week.”
Previous GPPS work-based learning partnerships have been with Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, Beaumont Hospital and The Helm Boll Life Center.
About The War Memorial
The War Memorial, located on the shores of Lake Saint Clair in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, is an experiential space open to everyone from everywhere. For more than 70 years, it has served as a patriotic, cultural, and community center. Its unique environment attracts more than 3,000 events and 250,000 visitors annually while offering premier hospitality services for community and private gatherings. Its diverse lineup of innovative programming includes live and virtual engagement experiences for adults and children. At its core, The War Memorial celebrates the ideas of American democracy while honoring those who have defended those ideas with tireless effort and personal sacrifice. Numerous patriotic and veterans’ events are held as well as history and civics offerings on the origin, traditions, and challenges facing American democracy. The War Memorial remains committed to serving the community as a unique, dynamic, and forward-thinking hub for southeast Michigan.
CONTACT:
Alex Szwarc, The War Memorial
Manager of Communications
313.881.7514, aszwarc@warmemorial.org