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Crossroads participants tell Chicopee School Committee the program builds job and community skills
Summary
Students from the Chicopee Public Schools 18-to-22 Crossroads transition program described volunteering, paid work and life-skills training and told the School Committee how the program has increased confidence and independence.
Good evening. My name is Eric Dahl. I'm the transition specialist for the 18 to 22 transition program also known as Crossroads, I'm here again this evening with three of my extraordinary young adults, that have prepared some statements about their favorite aspects of our program. So you can hear directly from the participants of the program.
The Crossroads 18-to-22 transition program presentation at the March 5 Chicopee School Committee meeting included short statements from three program participants and a summary by program specialist Eric Dahl about the program's focus on employment readiness and community inclusion.
The visitors introduced themselves and described specific activities and goals. Emily “Em” Collins, 21, said she attends Crossroads at Fairview Elementary School and is working toward driving and paid employment; she volunteers once a week at ZuperZoo, where she helps feed and care for animals. “I have more self confidence, independence, and I'm ready for a real job at the mall,” Collins said, adding she plans to apply for positions at the Holyoke Mall when hiring opens.
Aiden Rafterty, 19, described daily routines the program supports: kitchen duties, making breakfast as part of a shared responsibility system, and volunteering in classrooms and at community events. He also told the committee the Crossroads team entered the Chicopee family chili cook-off and placed third.
Andrew “Drew” Pope, 21, said Crossroads helped him learn to self-advocate. He credited that skill with getting a new treadmill for the program and with regular paid work at Goodwill, where he does floor work for up to an hour and a half a day and joins community outings such as bowling and museum visits. “I learned how to advocate for myself and the program,” Pope said.
Eric Dahl framed those remarks for the committee, describing the program as an 18-to-22 transition program that provides vocational training, volunteer placements and community outings to help young adults move from school to employment and independent routines.
The school committee applauded the students and thanked Crossroads staff for the presentation before moving on to the superintendent's midyear evaluation presentation.
The Crossroads program is run by the Chicopee Public Schools and operates at Fairview Elementary School; participants described volunteer placements, paid work at Goodwill, and weekly program routines.
