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MOBILE CREW MEMBER EXTRAORDINAIRE Basilo’s work attendance is as reliable as the sunrise, and he has the warm, beaming smile to match. Each weekday morning, he travels on the city bus system to SOAR365 @Westwood, navigating (occasional) unpredictable schedules and making multiple transfers before arriving for his 7:30 am shift. But these obstacles can’t...
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...
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...
In June 2019, Zachary Owens started working on SOAR365’s contract with the Visitor Center at the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation base in Chesterfield County (also known as the Defense Supply Center Richmond at Bellwood). He was in a part-time position, and his primary responsibility was to verify credentials of people entering the base. Zachary quickly...
At about 4:30 p.m. each weekday, the halls of SOAR365 come alive with the sound of music. Saxophone music, that is. And the musician is Trey, a tall, lean, dark-haired 18-year-old student who comes to SOAR365 after his school day at Godwin High School in Henrico County. “Early on, he had a knack for music. Seems like any instrument he picks up, he can...
Samuel is a shy, sweet 10-year-old boy and an outdoor enthusiast. Whether it’s horseback riding, exploring fields, or swimming, Samuel loves being outside in nature. In fact, he loves it so much, it was part of the reason his family moved to the country – so that they could have more space for Samuel and his siblings to explore. “I call him a horse...
Heather Dyson is vivacious and friendly, and that is instantly clear to anyone who meets her. “Heather has always been happy – it’s as if she doesn’t know anything about being mean,” remarks her aunt, Brenda. Born with cerebral palsy, Heather uses a wheelchair, but she doesn’t let that stop her from bouncing up and down with excitement and glee when...
Melicka tearfully remembers her daughter Justice’s first five months: she couldn’t keep milk down, had trouble eating and was constantly vomiting. “We rushed to the hospital more times than I can remember and in fact, one time, on the way to the hospital, Justice stopped breathing, so I had to perform CPR in the car.” The doctors were finally able to...
When Mark came to SOAR365 in June 2018, he didn’t speak or respond, he couldn’t identify himself or his mother, Yadira, he had little (if any) attention span and he couldn’t communicate what he wanted. Today, he’s a totally different little boy. “He knows his name, he knows my name, he can tell you his address and phone number. He can say his prayers,” says...
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