Re: Agriculture Employment - Joe

November 21, 2008

Thanks . I too have enjoyed my time here. As for your question, I

don't know of any agriculture or landscaping programs that are widely

successful. All that comes to mind are three somewhat related things.

1) Thresholds has run Urban Meadows flower shop that hires people with

psychiatric disabilities in Chicago for a number of years and I recently

heard that they are finally making a profit from it. They have a

physical store and an online business. http://www.urbanmeadows.org/

2) I don't know if they still do it, but Seguin in Cicero, IL was at one

time doing landscaping and snow removal in a few townships. They

employed a handful of people with DD on a part time basis through the

name SeguinWorks. www.seguin.org

3) I recall a year ago, Allan Bergman, the CEO at Anixter Center

(Chicago) was talking very enthusiastically about some remarkable

success they were seeing in placing people with DD using a customized

employment model based on a pilot grant they received.

abergman@...

I know it's not much to go on, but I hope it helps.

Joe Chiappetta, Managing Director CPLN

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

200 E. Randolph, Suite 2200, Chicago, IL 60601

312-494-6729

Fax 312-861-0660

TTY 312-494-6722 jchiappetta@...

www.chicagolandchamber.org www.disabilityworks.org

2006 US Dept. of Labor New Freedom Initiative Award Recipient

Agriculture Employment - Joe

Hi Joe-

I just wanted to say that I have enjoyed the dialoque that you have led

on here related to business/job development.? It is a very exciting time

in the business world as more and more " brand recognizable " companies

outreach to the disability community as a powerful labor & customer

market.? Congratulations to you & disabilityworks for leading this

charge in Chicagoland.? As Randy from Walgreens says, " the quiet

revolution is on " .

My question is this:? I was recently contacted by a large investment

house who as part of their portfolio owns over 200 agricultural entities

across the country (farms, orchards, vineyards, greenhouses).? They are

exploring the possibility of agressively recuiting workers with autism

and further are looking at developing inclusive customized and supported

employment options for people with significant disabilities.? Do you

know of examples of successful outreaches in the disability community

related to agriculture or landscaping related employment?? I know a bit

about " We Grow Dreams " , but would love to know more or find other

examples of companies who have done this successfully.? Any thoughts

that you or the group has would be welcomed.

Thank you.

Emmett

November 21, 2008

Thanks Joe - Good information, I will research these.? This really just points

to the importance of us (as the disability community)

building models of success in various industries that we can provide to new

potential business partners.