What can we say about our members? Wow! Vocal collaborators in every sense, members jumped in with both feet, contributing ideas, sharing their personal stories, learning lines, improvising live, laboring over camera angles, editing, and putting themselves out there in front of a worldwide audience. We are extraordinarily proud of our membership for their diligence, their creativity and their sense of humor and fun.

We are grateful for our strong community partners. Executive Director Colleen Thayer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Sarasota/Manatee spent a morning in our studio talking about the strong partnership forged with the Academy. She aptly described our symbiotic relationship and how each agency supports the other. One of our stalwart employment partners, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System was represented by none other than their President and CEO David Verinder. He welcomed our crew into his office and was generous with his time, providing insight into the considerable benefits of partnering with us to hire topnotch employees from the Academy through our Transitional Employment program.

Last and emphatically not least, we are indebted to the Steinwachs Family Foundation for their unwavering support and generosity. It is not hyperbole when we say that we would not be where we are as an agency without them. At the helm, Paul, Sharon, and Jeffery Steinwachs are so much more than benefactors (thought they certainly are that); they have become part of the fabric of our community, spending time with us and understanding our mission at its core.

We would be remiss if we didn’t thank the hundreds of viewers who tuned in to support us. The funds raised from this event will help to ensure that our dynamic programming will continue to thrive.  From the bottom of hearts: thank you!

If you missed it, we’ve got great news! A recording of the Telethon is posted on our website www.AcademySRQ.org/live.

Transitional employment sites are welcoming us back. Members have already hit the ground running in positions at Pines of Sarasota and Sunset Cadillac, with Sarasota Memorial Health Care System next to begin. In Supported Employment, there is a wide array of employers and job fields. Members hold positions in industries such as social services, administration, customer service, food service (both front of house and back of house), retail and more. Members in Transitional Employment receive the highest level of job support; however, all working members are supported by Academy job coaches as is appropriate and necessary for success.

The Clubhouse model is a fertile training ground for those who seek employment. The transformation from new member to experienced mentor to wage earner is gratifying and inspiring for all of us. Those who hold positions in the community almost always continue to attend the Academy, acting as a role model and motivator for those just beginning their journey. As this cycle continues, more and more members are regaining their footing in the culture of work, and able and proud to answer the age-old question: “what do you do?”

Pictured above are just a few members of the members who are back at work: Ian Churchill, Chantel Gingerich, Eric Broderick, Rebecca Wolsfon, Matthew Thomas and Carolyn Robinson.