I was reading a recent WSJ
article by Yochi J. Dreazen , dated March 25,
2008 entitled "Veterans
Struggle to Join Work Force". The
article highlighted how "military
and civilian policy makers increasingly are
concerned about a different outcome of the long
war - the physical, mental and financial
well-being of the young veterans who leave
military service and attempt to reintegrate into
the civilian world" and how "many
veterans are struggling with physical wounds and
psychological maladies such as post-traumatic
disorder, which can cause depression,
sleeplessness and even suicide."
Furthermore, the article indicates that "transitioning
into civilian life and the workforce requires
help and guidance." These facts point out
a current need in society for job opportunities
that accommodate this experience. We have a
desire to address this need.
Struggling to enter the workforce is hard enough
and coupled with the advancements in medicine
and the availability of prostheses, there is a
greater need for work that addresses the entire
human experience that these soldiers are
having. We have created a project, the
Companionship of Work, which will accommodate
for this experience and provide a roadmap for
successful and complete involvement in society.
Next month, I will write to you about the
Companionship of Work project and how it will
address this need. Thank you for your continued
interest in our organization.
Cordially,
Guido Piccarolo
Los Angeles Habilitation House, President and
Co-Founder
In
March of this year, Montreal was hit with an unusual and
unseasonal snow storm and the city stopped! During this
day, Guido was waiting to visit with Ms. Paula Celani,
Director of Adult and Family Services - West Zone, of
the
West Montreal
Readaptation Centre.
With the transportation system of the city shut down,
Guido had to ask what he was doing in Montreal in March!
He later shared with me, that the snow storm didn't
diminish, didn't discourage, and didn't overcome the
enthusiasm and desire of the reason why he was there.
After the snow subsided, he was welcomed warmly by 10 or
so veteran-employees of the Centre.
After attending the weekly staff meeting, Guido was
impressed that the main focus of the staff meeting was
the care and attention provided by the Center to their
users and their users' families. Paula was set up a tour
of the company, the
reBOOT
Network, where the employees disassembled
computers for recycling purposes. The supervisors' role
was not to point out mistakes, but rather follow the
employee through the disassembly process. The generosity
of Paula did not stop here. Additionally, Guido was able
to tour a company called,
Saim,
which makes ski poles and is located on a hill
overlooking a beautiful lake. The director of Saim made
note to Guido that the natural beauty of the location
was one of the main criteria for picking this facility.
The dignity that is given to the employees of Siam
through this beauty cannot be reduced. Saim not only
employees persons with disabilities, but it has the
desire to give them the best in location and work
environment. The dignity that a person has for their
work is directly related to the environment in which
they perform this work. It was a hope-filled trip for
Guido as he boarded the plane to come home to Los
Angeles. To witness three successful companies taking
seriously the needs of disabled persons and provided
those persons with the best there is in location and
work, gave much encouragement and hope to Los Angeles
Habilitation House.
Affiliation
and Volunteering
April 16th marked the last official
meeting with the volunteers from
LoyolaMarymount
University. Michelle, Jessica,
Sierra, Lalindri, and Lauren were working to finish
their presentation on the work they had completed
for LAHH. They were full of questions for us as we
sat in the Lion's Den coffee shop and contributed
our answers to their presentation. It came to
light, through this casual Q&A, that they most liked
the openness and the freedom that we allowed them in
choosing their role in this project. Guido and I
commented that for us it was a true gift to receive
each one of their unique contributions to our
organization.
LAHH Volunteers with Nancy
and Guido
Additionally, from this experience, we were reminded
of the importance of sharing our desire and mission
with others as it provides a beautiful platform for
new ideas and movement toward the goal to
materialize in 5 smart, wonderful, generous young
women. We are so proud of each one of them and the
hard work and dedication they gave to LAHH. We know
each of them will continue to pursue excellence in
all that they do. Click
here
to read the comments from some of our interns.
Thank You to Our Donors
Recently, LAHH
received the generosity of
SCM
Group, which has
SCM Group
as its president, Ms. Linda Gemmani. Ms
Gemmani and SCM Group endeavor in
their work to give the opportunity
to a wider number of people to be
employed and be achievers in their
life. SCM Group will be underwriting
the costs of Janitorial University
which was developed by
Managemen, where
Guido will learn OS1. The
Companionship of Work project will
use (OS1), which is a complete
Custodial Operations Management
System. Janitorial University will
allow Guido the skills necessary to
train our first disabled employees
this coming fall. Our deep gratitude
and sincere thanks go out to all the
employees and Ms. Gemmani for the
opportunity they are affording LAHH.
With
excitement for the present,
Nancy Albin
Los Angeles Habilitation House, Vice
President & Co-Founder
LAHH is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in need of
support to develop the programs of the organization.
Board of Directors Spotlight
Nancy Albin,
Treasurer,
Los Angeles Habilitation House
"Every morning
in Africa a gazelle, wakes up. It knows it
must outrun the fastest lion or it will be
killed. Every morning in Africa a lion wakes
up. It knows it must outrun the slowest
gazelle or it will starve. It doesn't matter
if you are a gazelle or a lion, when the sun
comes up, you'd better be running!"
Maurice Greene (attributed to Roger
Bannister shortly after running the first
sub-4 mile)
This is how Nancy likes to approach each
day. Graduating from the
UniversityOf
Illinois
in finance with a concentration in
accountancy, which is located in beautiful
farmlands of east central Illinois, the
African safari is approximately half of a
world away. Taking her first job as an
auditor with
KPMG,
LLP,
in Chicago auditing cities, non-profits, and
foundations, Nancy learned the importance of
this saying. When a client walks into the
conference room full of auditors, someone
has to be able to answer. Setting client
expectations and managing them accordingly
with timeliness and truthfulness, allowed
for a strong client service oriented
framework to take place. Additionally,
auditing provides for an order and a harmony
in the way the work is completed. Moving
from Chicago to Los Angeles, Nancy
transitioned with KPMG and worked on the
County of Los Angeles as well as several
foundations. Concrete industry experience
was needed, so with Hollywood not a stone's
throw away, the happiest place on earth
seemed like a solid next step. The
Walt
Disney Company
hired Nancy in the winter of 2002
into a small animation studio doing
financial analysis on direct-to-video
titles. Six years later, Nancy
manages the overhead and
capital budgets and performs profit & loss
analysis, while supporting her colleagues
with the SAP financial reporting system. The
desire to create and work for a non-profit
with a focus on disabled adults attracted
Nancy after the tsunami that hit the Sri
Lankan islands in late 2004 and she
questioned if she was doing enough
for people in need. The need presented by
the returning soldiers and the high number
of unemployed disabled adults, proved to be
enough fuel to start dedicating time and
resources to this company.
Habitatfor
Humanity,the
Little
Sistersof
the Poor, and AIDS
Project LA are other wonderful
services to the community that Nancy
supports. "Everyone has a contribution to
make in this world. Everyone! If it is not
made, it will be missed. I am so fortunate
to be able to work with others and help them
make their unique and needed contribution."
