Meet the
A-Team!
Ambassadors • Advocates • Amazing
The Mi Work Matters Employment Ambassadors are the center of this self-advocacy project. These amazing young adults have previous work experience and have been earning money giving presentations to area organizations about their experience and the advantages of hiring people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD). Mi Work Matters works with the ambassadors to create a presentation and provides training in the area of public speaking.
Ambassador Amanda currently works at an Embassy Suites Hotel. Her job is to graciously welcome guests and ensure they are properly introduced to the hotel’s many amenities. Her previous experience includes jobs at KFC, Elite Catering and Anastasia & Katie’s Coffee Shop and Cafe.
Ambassador Catie loves helping people and has turned her passion into a business called Worthy Turtle. Catie speaks about the worthiness of all people and the value of taking life a little slower. She also helps design and sell cute Worthy Turtle t-shirts with the goal of creating more jobs for people with “diff-abilities.”
Ambassador Ian is currently an enthusiastic barista at the most awesome Anastasia & Katie’s Coffee Shop and Cafe. Ian is wonderful at greeting customers and making everyone feel welcome and cared for. He’s also turned his passion for cars into a super fun car show for the benefit of Anastasia & Katie’s.
Ambassador Voshon is currently an expert food prepper and sandwich maker at Penn Station Sub Shop. He’s also had extensive restaurant experience including Culver’s and Anastasia & Katie’s Coffee Shop and Café. Voshon is known for being very reliable and friendly; customers appreciate his great service!
This program is made possible by major funding from the FS Foundation.
Additional funding has been provided by the Wendell and Doris Rogers Foundation and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.
The Mi Work Matters Employment Ambassador/Leadership Program helps people with I/DD become independent, autonomous leaders. Participants receive training involving: self-advocacy; public speaking and facilitation; leadership roles at the coffee shop; and transferable job skills through this paid work experience. Ambassador presentations highlight personal employment stories and share the benefits of hiring people with disabilities. In addition, every in-person Ambassador presentation includes catering from the coffee shop creating more revenue and employment opportunities for people with I/DD.
Support of this program will allow us to deliver more presentations that change public perception, strengthen the financial viability of the coffee shop, and train and employ more people with I/DD as community leaders.
If you are part of a business, community group or school that would like to learn more about initiatives that support people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the workforce, please email us at: info@miworkmatters.org