February, 2024

We want to inform and connect with the entire Job Path community

 so we are all on this path together.

Community Connections

Meditation Group finds their Zen

When things get stressful out and about in the world, Job Path participant Keith M. says he thinks back to his Community Connections meditation group. 

“When I hear noise outside, it helps me calm down,” he says.

Russell with the singing bowl and Keith.

Every week, the hustle and bustle of life falls away just a little bit at the group, led by meditation specialist Russell Hill. Says Anthony N.: “It elevates my mind, my body, my soul.”

Hill started meditating as a kid to help with nightmares and insomnia and learned from his dad, a yoga instructor. He continued studying meditation as a teenager and started teaching classes himself in 2014 within the City University system. He joined Job Path in 2020 and completed his yoga teacher training in 2023. 

“I also use meditation and breathing to help with my anxiety and my autism, especially since I can get sensory overload sometimes,” says Hill, who also has certifications in singing bowls and sound healing. In the group, Hill says his favorite part is the community and “open sharing from the heart.” 

Employment highlight: Bronx Defenders

From now until July as we celebrate this exciting anniversary we'll be sharing "45 years - 45 stories."

Job Path Employment Specialist Maria Mercado takes a selfie with Mary (right.)

2013

When Job Path participant Mary S. joined The Bronx Defenders in 2013, she assisted in the reception area by entering data that helped with tracking very important client information, says the organization’s Marterra D. Walker, Managing Director of Administration. 

“Since then, Mary has been a part of many client retentions that have been invaluable,” Walker says. “Her strong work ethic, as well as her positive attitude and adaptability to the ever-changing processes, has been irreplaceable.”

Mary says her best assets are her reading skills and newly-acquired computer skills. Plus, she says, “What makes me good at my job is that I am myself.” She says she can’t pick a favorite part of her job because she loves it all, “but if I had to pick it would be how welcoming and supportive my team is to accommodate my needs.” 

Walker says: “We are so happy and proud to have Mary be an employee at The Bronx Defenders!”

Every week, we're sharing more stories like these

on our social media platforms.

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Welcome to New York City!

It took almost two years of effort and persistence, but a new resident moved into 4G, one of Job Path’s certified apartments in Washington Heights. 

The process is extremely complicated, says Cerezmy Salcido, Senior Director of Residential & Self Directed Supports & Services. Not only are there strict regulations to follow from the Office of People With Developmental Disabilities, but it also has to be a good fit for both the new resident and the existing participants who live there. Dozens of possible residents were screened. Some might seem like a good fit on paper, but in person the group didn’t fit well together. 

On move-in day In January, staff helped the new resident unpack her handbags, scarves, and other belongings into her own bedroom with the pink bedspread and planned a Chinese food lunch.

“The entire 4G team is compassionate and dedicated,” says Salcido. “They received her with open arms and have been working together to ensure she has a smooth transition as she gets settled in her new place and discovers the magic of New York City.” 

One of the most important things we can do to make the world better for people with disabilities is to advocate for higher pay for our front-line staff. Now, during the New York State budget planning, is the perfect time to do that.

Right now there is a proposed 1.5% Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) in the New York State budget. This is a good step, although still far below the recommended 3.2%.

I’m spending time to lobby our New York lawmakers and Gov. Hochul for two things, and I hope you can join me: 

• Increase the COLA to 3.2% to more closely reflect inflation 
• Establish a Direct Support Wage Enhancement, which would also help increase wages and allow us to strengthen recruitment and retention of DSPs.

You can also do you part! Leave a message for the Office of the Governor at 518 474-8390 (Press #1 to leave a message) and you can learn more here from the NY Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation. Together, we can hopefully influence change in Albany.

February

As part of Black History Month we are happy to feature some of the Black-owned or Black-focused businesses and organizations that employ Job Path participants:

Harlem Grown, operates local farms, increases access to healthy foods, and provides farm-based development programs to Harlem youth.

A Better Chance, a nonprofit that places high-performing students of color into the nation's leadership pipeline through increased access to top schools.

Leading into Black History Month, Job Path artist Anthony N. and DSP Valerie Wang went in late January to two art exhibits focused on Black artists. One, seen here, was on children's book illustrations at the Society of Illustrators, and the other was the exhibit, Brilliance Behind the Line by artist Frank Morrison at the Richard Beavers Gallery in Soho. 

Anthony says he was inspired by the works to start creating his own children’s book about a young Black girl who wants to grow up to be an artist. He says he loved how colorful the exhibits were, and that it showed the magic of childhood and imagination: “There’s no limit to what children can create!” - Photo by Valerie Wang.

As part of our efforts to highlight and celebrate the great diversity within our Job Path community, we will be featuring racial, ethnic, cultural, and identity pride commemorations here each month.

Our Board of Directors are professionals - both within the world of disability services and from other fields - who provide Job Path with oversight, guidance, and expertise on issues of finance, programs, governance, planning, policies, and staffing.

Dawn Khan

Elected to the board in 2021

What type of work do you do? 

I am a Customer Success Manager at RoundTable Technology. We provide technology support to nonprofit organizations and mission-driven small businesses. I meet with clients regularly and work with them on tech strategy, cybersecurity, budgeting, and issue escalations. My favorite part of the job is getting to know the missions of the clients we serve and connecting with the humans behind the missions.

Do you serve on any other boards or give back or volunteer in any other ways to other groups or charities? I do not serve on any other boards, but I do volunteer as a mentor at iMentor, an organization that matches volunteers with 11th and 12th grade high school students in underserved communities to assist them with navigating the college application and selection process.

Why is board service something you prioritize in your life? I have a cousin who has a developmental disability, and his parents have worked miracles to ensure he is able to live a fulfilling life. The services that Job Path offers provide invaluable resources to families like my cousin's, so I feel it is the least I can do to contribute what I can to Job Path's mission.

What do you feel is your greatest strength that you bring to the board? I serve on the internal Cybersecurity committee, and I believe that my greatest strength is bringing my 20+ years of experience in nonprofit technology to Job Path's technology strategy.

What things about JP's mission and work do you find most compelling? I love the programs that Job Path runs for its members as well as the customized employment program, which I believe is so unique and impactful.

After a backlash, the U.S. Census Department announced Feb. 6 that it would pause its plans to change the way disabled people were counted in the survey. Advocates had argued that the plans would have improperly reduced the numbers of people considered to be disabled by 40%, leading to massive cuts in resources and services.

Click here to learn more.

Staff Anniversaries

Special recognition to staff who celebrated their anniversary at Job Path in January. Thank you for all of the contributions that you have made over the years in making Job Path successful.

Douglas DeCesare - 12 years

Daphnaella Joseph - 11 years

Karina Moreno - 11 years

Henry Choy - 10 years

Harvey Pacht - 10 years

Joel Saperstein - 10 years

Daniel Wu - 10 years

Colette Young - 9 years

Edna Paradise - 5 years

Karina Alvarez - 3 years

Vanessa Freeman - 3 years

Chris Lawrence - 3 years

Danielle Pittari - 2 years

William Spritzler - 2 years

Nijah Garry - 1 year

Patrice Wongsam - 1 year

Job Path supports people with autism and other developmental disabilities as they find jobs, live in their own homes, and become involved in community life. To learn more, visit our website.