Sydney Jones has always been a fighter in more ways than one. She has fought through being born with a hole in her heart and through her mother's passing when she was just 12 years old. Everything that she has been through has made her the punctual, dependable and hardworking woman she is today.

Sydney works at Shields Pizzeria where she seats customers and prepares place settings for their meals and at the Southfield Parks & Recreation with the Special Forces group where she helps with activities. Prior jobs that Sydney has had include: TJ Maxx, Burlington Coat Factory, Soul Cafe, Friendship Circle Bakery,Village Early Learning Center and a camp assistant for Southfield Parks & Recreation camp program. From her broad employment history, Sydney has obtained skills in food handling, child care and retail.

Sydney’s extensive set of work skills has made her a great addition to Mi Work Matters employment ambassador program. Her favorite things about being an ambassador are showing others how capable people with Down Syndrome are and helping individuals with disabilities find employment, discovering how much each of them has already done in spite of having a disability, and finding new friends.

Sydney was an honor student all throughout her time at Southfield High School until she graduated in 2011. During her time there, she was active in multiple organizations and received certificates for her outstanding service in the community. She also worked in the Community Based Vocational Instruction program where she gained employment skills training and attended Culinary Arts school.

When Sydney is not working she enjoys arts & crafts, bowling, soccer, playing games, listening to music and acting. She has performed in the play, Decide Tonight, as the character of Clarice. Sydney has also been featured in a TV commercial and has since auditioned for a TV show.

Sydney aspires to go back to school to get her certificate in ASL (American Sign Language) so she can one day open a restaurant for the deaf.