Just recently I was asked an important question,
"What is the accident that brought you here
(being part of the janitorial industry - see On
The Road below)?" As many others to whom this
question was posed, I gave my answer too. The
"accident" was referred to the fact that I
founded and currently direct a non-profit
organization, which will have people with
disabilities working in the janitorial industry,
being it the initial service offered to the
public. So, I explained briefly what "the
accident" was; the encounter with some people,
my desire and the passion for work and love for
other people and so on and so forth. Later on,
I kept thinking about this question and I began
to ask myself; "Is it really an accident the
reason why I have begun this work and that it is
changing my life so much?" An accident can only
partially explain it. So what is it? It is a
gift! Something unexpected, that I have been
given, while facing reality and the needs around
us. So much so that each single step we have
taken is like unwrapping this beautiful gift,
which is the gift of life and its true meaning.
It is the wonder for this gift that is giving us
the courage to continue and to offer to others
this gift along with the possibility of a work!
The wonder we experience causes us to desire for
our workers to be winners!
As you celebrate and enjoy the gift of freedom
on this national holiday, let us call to mind
the famous words by one of the founding fathers
of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, in the
Declaration of Independence adopted 232
years ago today, "We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable Rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Man
fully alive, with all of his vibrancy and energy
at work, taking a step toward his destiny, fully
free with his companion by his side - this is
life!
May you experience this life, freedom, and
friendship today,
Sincerely,
Guido Piccarolo
Los Angeles Habilitation House, President and
Co-Founder
Team Photo at Janitorial University, Salt Lake
City, Utah
I had the privilege to participate to the Janitor
University (JU) in Salt Lake City from June 15th to the
21st, with other 30 Executives, Managers and Users of
the OS1 cleaning process. Mr. John Walker, President of
ManageMen, Inc. and the founder of the Janitor
University was the master-trainer of the most engaging
and productive university and training program in which
I have ever participated.
Mr. John Walker during a "hands on" class at
Janitorial University, Salt Lake City, Utah
As a novice, as I am in the cleaning world, I have had
the opportunity to learn, discuss and understand about
the only standardized cleaning system present in the
janitor industry. This took place through perfectly
planned lessons, audio-video learning, team building
sessions, hands on training, and an impressive amount of
material, samples and rewards, including the final exam
and graduation diploma! This experience and the
knowledge acquired has confirmed and validated our
commitment to create and maintain successful and
professional careers for persons with mental and
physical disabilities.
Restroom Specialist Cart and Tools
Cleaning is not the result snapping your fingers and
saying "Abracadabra" or of solutions applied several
times to an "unknown" infinite number of surfaces. None
of this! But a clear, linear, simplified and
standardized system, which consider all the factors
involved in the cleaning process - a process which has
as its locus to clean for health first and then
appearance.
With the help of Mr. Walker and all the ManageMen team,
which I had the honor to meet at JU, along with the
professional experience that I am receiving from my
employment at KBM, we are on the way to begin our
Companionship of Work Program in Janitorial.
Super Coach Vacuum for Vacuum Specialist
This is our commitment, and as Mr. Walker said about
(OS1) during JU: "We have chosen a path, we will go down
that path together, and we will not turn back."
On a final note, we want to renew our gratitude to Ms.
Linda Gemmani and the
SCM Group, who made possible our participation at JU.
Thank you from the bottom of our heart!
LAHH is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in need of
support to develop the programs of the organization.
Spotlight on Marketing Specialist
Simone M. Rizkallah,
Marketing Specialist,
Los Angeles Habilitation House
Simone is thrilled to be a part of
the amazing team at the Los Angeles
Habilitation House! Her involvement
allows her to blend two of her
passions: marketing and
philanthropy. Simone is currently
working as Internet Marketing
Specialist for
Crescendo. She provides
marketing, senior and donor friendly
web site design, and planned giving
support to healthcare, university,
social service, and art non-profits
and charities across the nation.
Previously she worked in the media
department at the
Family Research Council in
Washington, D.C. and as the
marketing manager at the Hillcrest
Center for the Arts in Ventura
County. She also has enjoyed
organizing special events and
grant-writing for programs such as
Conejo Theatre for Everyone
which provides the opportunity for
disabled children to perform in
popular Broadway musicals. She hopes
to assist the Los Angeles
Habilitation House primarily in web
site design and marketing as well as
to help meet their fundraising
goals. Simone received her B.A. in
Marketing Communication from
California Lutheran in Thousand
Oaks, CA.
