Pathways to Employment for Individuals With Disabilities: House of Possibilities Launches New Venture at the Boston Public Market
House of Possibilities (HOPe) is pleased to announce the launch of HOPe Unlimited. HOPe Unlimited is a social enterprise operating out of the Boston Public Market providing retail workforce development and inclusive employment for individuals with disabilities. The Boston Public Market is an indoor, year-round marketplace featuring New England artisans and food producers housed under one roof.
HOPe Unlimited will operate two spaces within Boston Public Market; the first, a 48-square-foot American Stonecraft retail space staffed by HOPe Unlimited trainees and employees. American Stonecraft creates food slabs, cooking stones, coasters, trivets, bowls, and custom engraving using New England sourced stone. The second, a 98-square-foot HOPe Unlimited retail shop will sell items produced by artists and craftspersons with disabilities from across the country. Both retail spaces will provide critical on-the-job skill training, skill development, real-world experience, and for some HOPe members, their first job and first paycheck. The grand opening of both spaces will take place on December 1, 2021, and in time for the holiday shopping rush.
“Our first and highest priority is always our members and advancing their path to independence, and for many, access to employment is critical to achieving this. Our partnerships with American Stonecraft and the Boston Public Market open new doors for individuals with disabilities pursuing a career in retail, providing hands-on training, a safe place to practice new skills, and, ultimately, employment opportunities. We are excited for this new chapter for House of Possibilities and the inclusive employment and advocacy that the launch of HOPe Unlimited will bring.” said Katie Terino, HOPe’s Executive Director.
According to a Current Population Survey (September 2021), Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 36.5% of individuals with disabilities aged 16-64 are employed in the workforce compared to 75.6% of individuals without a disability of similar age. In spring 2021, House of Possibilities partnered with Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) to open the Career & Community Access Program (CCAP) at JVS’s Economic Opportunity Center at 75 Federal Street, Boston. This program is designed to provide young adults with disabilities aging out of Boston Public Schools with a stronger pathway to employment and fuller, richer lives in their communities. Walking distance from the Boston Public Market, CCAP participants will be among the first to enter HOPe Unlimited’s retail credentialing.
To learn more, or to submit a request to have your product(s) sold at HOPe Unlimited, visit houseofpossibilities.org/hopeunlimited.