|
|
|
Marrakech Expresses Hope
|
Business New Haven
9/4/2001
By: Priscilla Searles
|
Many Americans assume they have a right to gainful employment, if they so choose. But for some members of society, that assumption and reality can be at odds. Many disabled people need assistance in joining the workforce.
Since its founding in 1971, Marrakech Inc. has been addressing the barriers that mentally and physically challenged people face. The private non-profit corporation, based in Woodbridge, serves men, women and children with mental, economic, physical and psychiatric challenges through a range of programs designed to meet housing, employment, training and community experience needs.
“Our mission,” says Frank McCarthy, Marrakech's executive director, “is to provide residential, employment, support, referral and advocacy services to people with disabilities and people with similar service needs, to assist them in exercising their human rights as citizens and as contributing members of society.”
With service branches in New Haven, Cheshire, Bridgeport, Waterbury and New Milford, Marrakech in addition operates group homes and apartment programs in greater New Haven, Waterbury and Fairfield County. Each year Marrakech serves approximately 600 people across all its programs, with some 100 of that number in residential programs.
“The balance are in vocational training programs,” explains McCarthy. “As to placement of people in jobs, we've received a lot of support from the business community. Not all of our programs are geared to the physically or mentally challenged. Our human service training program is not geared toward disabled people, although they can participate if they choose.”
Marrakech's newest facility is a job training and employment center that recently opened at 524-526 Whalley Avenue in New Haven. The new facility, which took three years to complete, includes the Academy for Human Service Training. The comprehensive classroom and hands-on training program is designed to equip adults who are under-employed, under-educated or otherwise challenged to enter the human service needs field through education, internship, placement support and certification.
Additional services include the Riverside Education Academy, which provides employment readiness, preparation and placement services to high school students who are classified as “at risk.” The food-service training program provides classroom and hands-on experience through Marrakech Express, the cafeteria within the Mental Health Center. Marrakech Express catered the opening reception of the New Haven facility.
The new site also features a specially designed teaching kitchen, with commercial and residential appliances, designed for use by people with physical disabilities. AIDS Project New Haven volunteers will be using the kitchen facility daily to prepare 75 meals for people who are recovering at home.
“More than a dozen other programs are also housed in the center,” says McCarthy, “including a collaborative project among Marrakech, the Easter Seals Goodwill Rehabilitation Center and APT Vocational Services to engage individuals facing addiction problems. Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings will also be held at the site.”
“Our vision for Marrakech,” explains McCarthy, “is one that we hope for all people, that each person we serve will live and work in the community and be accepted by their neighbors, co-workers, family, friends and acquaintances for their individual qualities and contributions.”
|
Go FirstGo PreviousGo
NextGo LastGo
to Index
|
|
