Supported Employment Lands Troy His Dream Job
Follow Troy’s journey from VCU ACE-IT student to RRTC employee Troy Carter is hard-pressed to choose a favorite: Obi-Wan Kenobi or Yoda? Rock or hip-hop? Marvel or DC? Photography or videography? Luckily, on the last count, he doesn’t have to choose. His new job at VCU’s Rehabilitation Research and Training Center allows him to apply his talents to both....
Chris Martin Appointed by Governor to State Rehabilitation Council
SOAR365’s Supported Employment program is growing fast under Chris’ expert leadership. If it wasn’t for one Boy Scout camp director, Chris Martin might have been a CPA. Chris was busy studying accounting at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) while working summers at the camp. One day, his boss made a fateful demand. “He wanted me to work with people...
Capable Campaign: Dylan Feels At Home
The Next Move Program launched the Capable Portrait Campaign in 2017 with the mission to showcase diverse perspectives on life in our community, provide adult role models for our youth and demonstrate the power of inclusion. Every year, models are nominated and selected to be featured at a portrait exhibition and their powerful stories are proudly shared...
Finding the Right Fit for Asia
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to helping people succeed. Each person you meet in life has it within themselves to thrive when put in the right situation, no matter their abilities. That sentiment holds true for Asia, a participant in SOAR365’s Supported Employment program, who recently went through a situational assessment to help...
SOAR365 Supported Employment Inspires DeCarlos to Dream Big
DeCarlos recently completed an internship with Virginia Delegate Rozia Henson. DeCarlos Savage never dreamed he’d be an intern on the floor of the Virginia General Assembly. Seeing legislators debate political issues in real life was surreal. It was nothing like watching on TV. “I was in a state of shock during this whole thing,” says DeCarlos. “I was...
Meet Iffad
Iffad has grown by leaps and bounds during his time with SOAR365 Supported Employment. When Iffad first came to SOAR365 Supported Employment in December, he wouldn’t say a word. He would only communicate through his father. And he wouldn’t even make eye contact. Things didn’t look promising. Luckily, Iffad was paired with Leeanne Jones, one of our...
Meet Tony
TWISTED TACO WELCOMES TONYTony at Twisted Taco.jpgThe Twisted Taco at VCU is preparing to welcome a new employee! Tony has been a participant in SOAR365’s Supported Employment program since before the pandemic, and he has been patiently waiting for his chance to shine. Tony’s longstanding interest in kitchen work kept him focused as he and Leo Castro, his...
Meet DeAngelo
At SOAR365, it’s important to us that our Supported Employment participants with disabilities not only find work, but that they find the right job for them. Sometimes the journey is a winding one. When DeAngelo first came to Supported Employment, he had previous experience doing laundry — so a job cleaning bedding and other materials at the Richmond SPCA...
Meet Dori
Chris Martin, Director of Employment Services, established SOAR365’s partnership with Underground Kitchen and its non-profit arm, UGK Community First. To date, UGK Community First has delivered over 175,000 healthy, nutritious meals to food insecure communities in the Richmond metropolitan area while prioritizing disability employment. SOAR365 is happy to...
Meet Jeff
A few years ago, Jeff was working at a local grocery store, and while it was a good environment, Jeff was not thriving. In fact, the job seemed to be perpetuating some of the behaviors associated with his autism. When the 29-year-old was referred to SOAR365’s Employment Services to help acquire career skills and find the right job in the community, he met...
Meet Dylan
No matter where he is, Dylan’s smile lights up the room. And so, when he’s a work, his smile lights up an entire warehouse! That’s because Dylan works at Brandito, a local supplier of corporate apparel and promotional marketing materials, where he is an e-commerce warehouse associate and helps to prepare orders to ship to clients. Dylan started working at...
Meet Leo, SOAR365 Job Coach
Leonardo Castro brings his friendly, positive outlook and love of hip hop to everything he does at SOAR365. As his career has moved him from Miami to Austin to Richmond, he’s displayed a continuous passion for empowering people from marginalized communities. Whether mentoring his students within the school system or working with nonprofits to teach digital...
