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Diversify your Workforce

image of two people in interview with words employment services for businesses

For businesses who want to diversify their workforce, we can help! At any given time, we provide employment services to approximately 300 individuals with disabilities who are seeking meaningful career opportunities. This means that we can match a company’s needs with our qualified candidates and respond with dependable, motivated applicants at absolutely no cost to the business.

There are many benefits for businesses to recruit candidates from Easterseals Crossroads.

First and foremost, we will only refer a candidate if we truly believe they are a good match for the position and company. We make every effort to clearly understand the job requirements and expectations, as well as the company culture. We want to set up both the job seeker and the business for success. We have a great deal of information about each person we serve and can carefully vet candidates who are a strong match.

We can assist with the interview process. We can assist with any necessary accommodations and help the candidate complete pre-employment screenings and forms. If a sign language interpreter is required for the interview, we will set this up, and the cost will be paid for by our funder.

We can provide job coaching and support when needed after a hire. We also provide support to the supervisor as needed in how best to train the new employee, and we can provide disability awareness training as appropriate. If the new employee needs any accommodations to meet the essential functions of the job, we will work with the business to put these in place. If there are accommodations that require the purchase of assistive technology, these costs are typically covered by our funders for individuals we refer. We continue to provide support throughout the first four months of employment; our support can be on-going when needed to facilitate job retention.

We can help you meet your diversity, equity and inclusion goals. We provide services to a wide range of individuals in terms of ability, disability, experience, education and age. Many of our job candidates are first time job seekers who have completed transition training and/or internships to better prepare them for their first job. Another group of qualified candidates include those who have obtained education or training to qualify them for a new type of desired career. Since disability can happen at any point in a person’s life, many of our candidates are responding to a career change because of an accident, injury or illness. Our qualified candidates are primed and ready for a first position or they are prepared to reenter the workforce in a new capacity.

We can be your employment partner. We will work collaboratively with a business throughout the interviewing, on-boarding, and training process to make it a success. If a candidate we refer doesn’t work out, we will also support an employer in ending the employment relationship. Every employee is entitled to the opportunity to succeed or to fail as an employee; people with disabilities are no different in that basic assumption.

The final benefit is that all of our services are FREE to businesses. There is no down side to working with us to meet your employment needs. We are an excellent resource to employers in our community, and we are committed to facilitating employment matches that are good for both the employer and the employee. We have been a resource for over 85 years, and we know that businesses in our community can benefit from our knowledge and expertise in helping fill employment needs.

“We would love businesses to consider our participants for all their open positions! While many of our job seekers are looking at first time employment and entry level jobs, we do work with those who have work history and experience that will qualify them for more advanced positions. The best way to work with us is to find a way to share all job openings. We can then pre-screen our job seekers and refer as appropriate.'” said Marjorie Duryea, director of employment programs at Easterseals Crossroads.

Contact us to learn about potential job candidates plus link

2022-03-15T13:41:06-04:00March 14, 2022|Our Blog|

Easterseals Crossroads Receives Employment and Technology Awards

Annual awards recognize individuals with outstanding service in the field of employment for those with disabilities
Brandy Dickerson, a lead retention specialist at Easterseals Crossroads, received the IN-APSE Lois Curtis Personal Achievement Award – Person with a Disability.
Josh Anderson, ATP, BSPA, and Brian Norton, ATP, CEAS, accepted the IN-APSE Dave Hammis Innovation Award for the Easterseals Crossroads Assistive Technology Center.
INDIANAPOLIS (March 11, 2022) — Easterseals Crossroads is the proud recipient of two awards presented at the annual conference for Indiana ASPE (Association for People Supporting Employment). The conference took place Wednesday, March 9 and Thursday, March 10 at Marriott East Indianapolis.

Brandy Dickerson, a lead retention specialist at Easterseals Crossroads, received the Lois Curtis Personal Achievement Award, recognizing an individual’s personal achievement in advocating for inclusive, individualized, community-based employment and/or independent living.

“Brandy never lets her own disability (cerebral palsy) limit her in any area of her life; her personal goal is to educate and advocate on disability in her words and actions, yet most of all by example. Brandy’s motto in life is based on determination and never giving up. She believes that all things are possible when focusing on the end result,” said Easterseals Crossroads Director of Employment Programs Marjorie Duryea.

In addition, the Easterseals Crossroads Assistive Technology Center received the Dave Hammis Innovation Award, awarded to individuals or organizations who demonstrate innovation in the area of technology, customized strategies and/or self-employment for individuals with significant disabilities.

“The assistive technology program at Easterseals Crossroads consistently demonstrates exceptional outside-the-box, creative thinking when common technology solutions are not readily available for on-the-job accommodations,” said Easterseals Crossroads Vice President Bruce Schnaith. “These often non-technology solutions include one-of-a-kind devices and tools conceptualized and created to accommodate individual needs to ensure successful employment outcomes.”

IN-APSE is a membership organization formed in 1988 to improve and expand integrated employment opportunities, services and outcomes for persons experiencing disabilities.

About Easterseals Crossroads
As one of 68 Easterseals affiliates, Easterseals Crossroads has been helping individuals with disabilities and their families live better lives for more than 85 years. Whether helping someone improve physical mobility, return to work or simply gain greater independence for everyday living, Easterseals Crossroads offers a variety of services to help people with disabilities address life’s challenges and achieve personal goals. We provide top-quality, family-focused and innovative services tailored to meet the specific needs of the individuals we serve. For more, visit eastersealscrossroads.org.
2022-03-11T08:17:27-05:00March 11, 2022|News Releases|

Meet Brandy – Disability Awareness Advocate

Brandy Dickerson is a lead retention specialist in the Employment Division at Easterseals Crossroads. She has been a strong advocate for people with disabilities for her entire career as she works toward competitive, inclusive employment for approximately 40 individuals each year. On a daily basis, Brandy assists people with disabilities by providing education toward self-advocacy, which can include benefits counseling to address and reduce fears around work and the potential loss of benefits in gaining employment. Brandy works with people in our community to break down barriers that prevent inclusion for people with disabilities.

“Not only is Brandy an advocate for individuals with disabilities, she is also an example of a person with a disability living life to the fullest. She wears multiple hats, works several jobs and has a rich/vibrant life full of activities with family and friends,” said Wade Wingler, Vice President, Easterseals Crossroads.

Learn More about Brandyimage of Brandy from 2019 Disability Awareness campaign from the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilties

Brandy has cerebral palsy, which is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. Noted as a common motor disability that begins during childhood, cerebral is associated with the brain and palsy is associated with weakness or problems using the muscles.

Brandy’s mom started her in physical therapy at one and half years of age. A friend recommended an early intervention program to Brandy’s young mother recognizing the disability that was later defined as cerebral palsy for Brandy. Brandy’s mother learned to advocate for Brandy refusing some procedures and embracing others; and her family participated in her physical therapy and speech therapy. Her entire family assisted her with writing, reading, walking and many other life skills. Brandy did not learn to read until later in elementary school when she perfected her ability to memorize words and then sound them out. Brandy’s mother found the benefits of early intervention to assist with later life for her daughter even before early intervention was widely recognized as beneficial for young children.

Learn more about early intervention services at Easterseals Crossroads.

Throughout the years, Brandy has felt as though she had to prove herself in ways that individuals without disabilities have not had to do. “Sometimes an employer’s expectations of me seemed low because of my disability. After I showed the employer that I could do the job that I was hired to do, the expectations of me were readjusted,” said Brandy.

Misperception of her ability has challenged Brandy at times. “My muscles become weak when I am physically tired or when I am extremely nervous. As a driver, I have been pulled over by police officers in the past because of confusion about my disability. Since my muscles can become weak, which can affect my walking, officers have questioned my sobriety after seeing me get in a car. I have had to assure officers that I am not drunk, I am just going home to sleep. So far, I have been lucky in that I have not been arrested, which has not been the case for other people I know who have cerebral palsy,” said Brandy.

“My childhood doctor told my mom that I would not be able to accomplish much in my life,” said Brandy.

That was in the mid-1970s and since then, Brandy has:

  • Learned to ride a bike
  • Canoed Boundary Waters in Minnesota and Canada
  • Climbed a tree that had no branches
  • Snow skied and water skied
  • Graduated college
  • Been employed as an independent advocate and employment advocate for people with disabilities
  • Been (and currently still is) an active member of the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities
  • Worked weekends as a supervisor/runner/expeditor for a catering company for large venue sports events
  • Bought her own condo
  • Obtained her real estate broker license
  • Obtained her license to drive her own car
  • Bungee jumped in New Zealand
  • Traveled around Australia, Europe, Mexico, Canada, Caribbean and most of the US

“I guess my childhood doctor was completely wrong when he said that I would not accomplish much in my life. My future goals are like anyone else – I would love to see myself eating healthier and I would love to exercise more. I still want to parachute out of a plane. Professionally, I would like to continue to obtain educational training regarding employment and disability services. I feel that continuing education will help me better serve those with whom I work,” said Brandy.

“I know I will never be a waitress or a surgeon. I admire waitresses who can carry lots of glasses and plates and not fall! My hands and arms are not sturdy, so carrying that much weight would be a disaster. I also know that I will never be a surgeon because my hands are not stable. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a singer. I was a big Olivia Newton-John fan and wanted to be like her. If I practice, I can sing, but I don’t have the voice and the talent to be famous,” said Brandy.

Realizing the importance of her goals and dreams has helped Brandy achieve so much of what is important to her. “Some days, a great day for me is when I see beautiful scenery. It reminds me of how much God loves us. That truly makes my day,” said Brandy.

Diversity and Inclusion

Brandy knows that a community is more diverse and inclusive when it is exposed to more people with disabilities who are working, engaging, socializing and being active. “The strength of a community is dependent upon understanding that a person with a disability is not a hero. Disability is just one part of a person. A person with a disability just wants to be treated as any other person would want to be treated.,” said Brandy.

“Brandy never lets her own disability limit her in any area of her life; her personal goal is to educate and advocate on disability in her words and actions, yet most of all by example. Brandy’s motto in life is based on determination and never giving up. She believes that all things are possible when focusing on the end result,” said Marjorie Duryea, Director of Employment Programs, Easterseals Crossroads.

Easterseals Crossroads is leading the way to 100% equity, inclusion and access for people with disabilities, families and communities. As a business, learn more about employment services at Easterseals Crossroads.

2022-03-02T10:07:48-05:00March 1, 2022|Our Blog|

February 2022

Easterseals Crossroads spoke with Katiera Winfrey from WISH TV 8 about working with the Indiana BMV to make the computerized tests available in American Sign Language for Hoosiers are Deaf.

2022-02-17T15:10:36-05:00February 17, 2022|Media Appearances|

Century 21 Scheetz Partners with Easterseals Crossroads on $10,000 Raffle to Benefit People with Disabilities

Winner of $10 Grand in your Hand drawn on Thursday, March 17

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (February 15, 2022) – Easterseals Crossroads, a local nonprofit organization providing disability services, has partnered with Century 21 Scheetz and HSA Home Warranty to present the “$10 Grand in Your Hand” raffle to benefit programs and services for people with disabilities at Easterseals Crossroads. (License 000834)

One $10,000 prize winner will be drawn via Easterseals Crossroads Facebook Live on Thursday, March 17, at 12 p.m. EST.

Raffle participants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of ticket purchase. Tickets are $50 and will be sold February 15 through March 16 or until all 600 tickets are sold. According to charity gaming laws, tickets can only be purchased via cash or check. Only 600 tickets will be sold.

Since the raffle is only two days away, only in-person ticket sales are being processed. Please do not mail order forms as of March 14, 2022!

Easterseals Crossroads (Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.)

  • 4740 Kingsway Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46205 (317-479-3249)

Century 21 Scheetz Locations

  • 4929 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240 (317-705-2500)
  • 270 East Carmel Drive, Carmel, IN 46032 (317-844-5111)
  • 135 East Sycamore Street, Zionsville, IN 46077 (317-873-1700)
  • 11504 Lakeridge Drive, Fishers, IN 46037 (317-595-0021)
  • 1533 Olive Branch Parke Lane, Suite A, Greenwood, IN 46143 (317-881-2100)
  • 643 Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317-814-5500)
  • 1155 South College Mall Road, Suite C, Bloomington, IN 47401 (812-336-2100)

Visit eastersealscrossroads.org for more about the services offered through Easterseals Crossroads.

 About Easterseals Crossroads

As one of 68 Easterseals affiliates, Easterseals Crossroads has been helping individuals with disabilities and special needs, and their families, live better lives for more than 85 years. Whether helping someone improve physical mobility, return to work or simply gain greater independence for everyday living, Easterseals Crossroads offers a variety of services to help people with disabilities address life’s challenges and achieve personal goals. We provide top-quality, family-focused and innovative services tailored to meet the specific needs of the individuals we serve. For more, visit eastersealscrossroads.org.

 About Century 21 Scheetz

Century 21 Scheetz is a valuable partner dedicated to making our community a better place to live, learn, work and play. For over 20 years, Century 21 Scheetz has supported Easterseals Crossroads as a vital resource for individuals and families in central Indiana.

 ###

2022-03-14T09:44:49-04:00February 15, 2022|News Releases|

$10 Grand in Your Hand Raffle

Presented by Century 21 Scheetz and HSA Home Warranty

century 21 scheetz logo

The Raffle

(Crossroads Rehabilitation Center – License #000834)

One $10,000 prize winner will be drawn via Easterseals Crossroads Facebook Live on March 17, 2022, at 12 p.m. EST.

Where to Buy Raffle Tickets

Tickets are $50 each and available now. According to charity gaming laws, tickets can only be purchased via cash or check. Only 600 tickets will be sold; purchase early.

Purchase by Mail (Checks Only)

Easterseals Crossroads, Raffle
4740 Kingsway Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46205
After payment is received, we will enter your name in our raffle and mail you the ticket stub.

Purchase in Person

Purchase tickets via cash or check (payable to Easterseals Crossroads) at the following locations. Please call the location to confirm ticket availability.
Easterseals Crossroads (Mondays – Fridays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
• 4740 Kingsway Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46205 (317.479.3249)

Century 21 Scheetz Locations
• 4929 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240 (317.705.2500)
• 270 East Carmel Drive, Carmel, IN 46032 (317.844.5111)
• 135 East Sycamore Street, Zionsville, IN 46077 (317.873.1700)
• 11504 Lakeridge Drive, Fishers, IN 46037 (317.595.0021)
• 1533 Olive Branch Parke Lane, Suite A, Greenwood, IN 46143 (317.881.2100)
• 643 Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317.814.5500)
• 1155 South College Mall Road, Suite C, Bloomington, IN 47401 (812.336.2100)

About Easterseals Crossroads
Easterseals Crossroads is leading the way to 100% equity, inclusion and access for people with disabilities, families and communities. For young families, we provide early intervention therapy for babies/toddlers and therapy services for children. As families age, we assist with transition services, employment assistance, veteran programs and community day supports. And when a family changes, we provide autism services, assistive technology, deaf services and home modification services. Donations help Easterseals Crossroads remain the resource that anyone of us could need at any point in our lives.

About Century 21 Scheetz
Century 21 Scheetz is a valuable partner dedicated to making our community a better place to live, learn, work and play. For over 20 years, Century 21 Scheetz has supported Easterseals Crossroads as a vital resource for individuals and families in central Indiana.

The Fine Print

Raffle participants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of purchase. Confirmation of your ticket number(s) will be sent to you upon receipt of your order form and payment. If sold out, your order form and payment will be returned to you. The drawing will take place on March 17, 2022, at 12 p.m. EST via Easterseals Crossroads Facebook Live. Payment of all applicable federal, state and local taxes are the responsibility of the winner. Winner must complete a W-9 form and will receive an IRS tax form W-2G stating the prize value. Winner must take possession of the prize within (60) sixty days of the drawing and must present a photo ID and completed W-9 form to claim prize. For federal income tax purposes, 24% of the $10,000 prize will be withheld as required by the IRS. Prizes are not transferable.

2022-03-17T13:01:32-04:00February 14, 2022|Our Blog|

Recreation Therapy Month

Recreational Therapy, also known as therapeutic recreation, is a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions as a means to psychological and physical health, recovery and well-being. The purpose of the recreational therapy process is to improve or maintain physical, cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual functioning in order to facilitate full participation in life.

Services are provided or directly supervised by a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). Recreational therapy includes, but is not limited to, providing treatment services and recreation activities to children, teens and adults by using a variety of techniques, including arts and crafts, animals, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music and community outings.

At Easterseals Crossroads, we have the best recreation therapists! Thanks to Kaylee Banco, Payton Chelmella, Michaele Gambrall, Gina Schulz and Jennifer Weber for providing such a vital service for our consumers.

Learn more about recreation therapy at Easterseals Crossroads.

images of 6 people enjoying time spent on recreation therapy

2022-02-09T11:22:05-05:00February 9, 2022|Our Blog|

Black History is Indiana History

contributed by Michael Ferron, Easterseals Crossroads Board Member

In 1921, a white supremacist mob violently attacked the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Greenwood—popularly called Black Wall Street—was a prosperous community replete with Black business owners, restaurateurs, lawyers, doctors, and other professionals.

The Tulsa Race Massacre left ten thousand people homeless, eight hundred injured, and at least three dozen dead—though many researchers estimate the death toll to be as high as three thousand. Additionally, the two-day race riot decimated decades of Black socioeconomic progress. It destroyed more than thirty city blocks in the Greenwood community, including more than two million dollars (approximately $33 million in 2020 dollars) in property damage.

John (The Baptist) Stradford

portrait of JB Stradford by Jay ParnellAmong the wreckage and ruin was the Stradford Hotel, one of several Greenwood hotels J. B. Stradford and his wife Bertie Eleanor Wiley Stradford owned. At the time, Mr. Stradford was one of the wealthiest and most prominent Black entrepreneurs in the United States. He graduated from the Indianapolis College of Law, a predecessor to the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis. Mr. Stradford practiced law here and opened his first hotel in Alexandria, Indiana, in 1899. Later that year, he and his wife moved to Tulsa and began developing hotels and real estate. (portrait of JB Stadford at right by Jay Parnell).

The Stadfords purchased large tracts of land, developed them, and sold some of the properties exclusively to Black people for housing and the opportunity to start their own businesses. They believed that combining resources would give other Black people the same economic opportunities as white people. This ethos inspired other Black business owners to do the same and created immeasurable wealth during a period of pervasive racial segregation and discrimination.

During his first two decades in Tulsa, Mr. Stradford became a prolific business magnate: his home was worth $125,000 ($1.95M in 2020 dollars), and he owned two dozen rental houses, a 16-room brick apartment building, pool halls, shoeshine parlors, and spas. By the mid-1910s, Mr. Stradford earned over $8,500 (2020) per month in revenue. Then, in 1918, he purchased the crown jewel of his real estate portfolio at 301 North Greenwood Avenue.

 

Stradford Hotel imageThe Stradford Hotel

Mr. Stradford founded his namesake hotel to give Black Tulsans access to the same amenities as segregated hotels. “The Stradford would be a monument to the thrift, energy, and business tact of the race in Tulsa [and] to the race in the state of Oklahoma,” he remarked during the hotel’s grand opening. At the time, the Stradford Hotel was the largest Black-owned and operated hotel in the country. It had 54 rooms, a casino, pool hall, bar, and restaurant. Along with the Commodore Cotton Club across the street, the hotel filled Greenwood Avenue with jazz music, giving Black residents the freedom to dance and commune without fear.

 

 

Civil Rights Activist

In addition to his business acumen, Mr. Stradford was a fervent advocate for racial and economic equality and a follower of W. E. B. Dubois, co-founder of the NAACP. He sponsored Mr. Dubois’s March 1921 visit to Tulsa as part of Dubois’s nationwide book tour.

Mr. Stradford’s activism included refusing to move to the back of a segregated train car resulting in his expulsion—he would later sue the rail company for discriminating against Black riders. He also fought against police brutality and corruption, championed women’s reproductive rights, and used his legal training to represent numerous Black men who would have faced certain death whether convicted or not. Moreover, Mr. Stradford often organized large groups to protest the lynchings of Black people.

On several occasions, Mr. Stradford’s army of protesters outnumbered the lynch mob saving many Black Tulsans from a horrific death. He collaborated with the editor of the Tulsa Star to write articles about his advocacy, including one entitled “Near Lynch Victim Proved to be an Innocent Man.” Following back-to-back lynchings and the arrest of a Black man—who surely would have been lynched—after winning a bar fight against a white man, Mr. Stradford became even more passionate about police accountability and the scourge of racial violence.

When the City of Tulsa enacted a law mandating housing segregation, Mr. Stradford unsuccessfully lobbied the mayor to veto it and Tulsa’s district attorney to condemn it to the ire of local segregationists. The Oklahoma Supreme Court later invalidated the ordinance, and the United States Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional. But the law remained on the books until the 1960s with police enforcement. Some historians believe Mr. Stradford’s remonstration precipitated the deadly attack a few years later.

“The single worst incident of racial violence in American history.”

On May 31, 1921, police arrested a young Black man who became at risk of being lynched by a white mob. Mr. Stradford had no confidence that the police chief would protect the young man, so he a group and went to the courthouse. Violence broke out, and Mr. Stradford fled to his hotel to protect it. Machine gun fire destroyed the hotel’s windows and façade, and Mr. Stradford fought to fend off the rabid crowd throughout the night. Eventually, the National Guard arrived and attempted to evacuate the Greenwood District. However, Mr. Stradford and other hotel owners refused to abandon their property. The National Guard promised them that their properties would not sustain further damage if they surrendered.

Mr. Stradford and the others sheltering at the Stradford Hotel agreed, but the National Guard confiscated all the money in his hotel and burned it to the ground. A few days later, Mr. Stradford was the first person charged with inciting a riot, for which the penalty was life in prison or death. Well aware of his fate, Mr. Stradford gathered his remaining cash and escaped on a train to his brother’s home in Independence, Kansas.

Shortly after his arrival, the local police showed up at Mr. Stradford’s brother’s house. They asked him to turn himself in, to which Mr. Stradford replied, “Hell no!” Nevertheless, police arrested and booked him in the local jail. While out on bail, the police told Mr. Stradford to appear for court about a week later. Instead, Mr. Stradford and his son Cornelius Francis Stradford, also an attorney, fled to Chicago. He fought extradition to Tulsa and settled in the Windy City, where he remained branded a fugitive from justice for the rest of his life.

Resilience and Remembrance

Mr. Stradford was born into a formerly enslaved family in Kentucky on September 10, 1861. After a lifetime of building the kind of wealth and social status that Black people in that era could only dream of, Mr. Stradford lost everything during those two days in Tulsa. Like all the other Black property owners in Greenwood, insurance companies refused to pay any claims. In the end, Mr. Stradford lost his hard-earned fortune and reputation.

Always a shrewd businessman, Mr. Stradford rebuilt his life and started new businesses in Chicago. While he never regained his former affluence, Mr. Stradford opened a candy store, barbershop, and a small pool hall. His descendants said the injustice Mr. Stradford endured during the Tulsa Massacre always affected him. Mr. Stradford died in Chicago on December 22, 1935.

In 1996, with the help of an Oklahoma legislator, Mr. Stradford’s great-grandson fought to clear his name. The Tulsa district attorney re-examined the case, determined that Mr. Stradford and several other Black were wrongly charged with rioting, and exonerated all of them 75 years after the infamous bloodbath.

Last year, the I.U. McKinney School of Law held a ceremony to honor Mr. Stradford’s legacy. His family members attended the event, where the law school unveiled a portrait of Mr. Stradford that commissioned Indianapolis artist Jay Parnell to paint. Students and visitors can see the portrait on display on the second floor of the law school.

—

Michael Ferron joined the Easterseals Crossroads board of directors in 2016 and has served as ESC’s development committee chair for the past three years. In addition to being a disability advocate, Mr. Ferron is a real estate broker and instructor. His professional and research interests focus on the intersection of race, housing, and poverty. In May 2022, Mr. Ferron will earn a law degree and graduate certificate in civil and human rights law from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law—Mr. Stradford’s alma mater.

2022-02-02T09:31:04-05:00February 2, 2022|Our Blog|

College InternXperience Program works with No Label at the Table

No Label at the Table is a gluten and dairy free food company located in Carmel’s Arts and Design District on Main Street. In their dedicated gluten and dairy free facility, employees make everything from wedding cakes to casseroles. Shelly Henley, owner and founder, started the company five years ago when her son who has autism was transitioning to adulthood. When looking to hire, Shelly has focused on employing individuals who have autismJose with Cupcakes at No Label at the Table.

When Rhonda Wood, an internship development specialist at Easterseals Crossroads, saw the bakery highlighted on the local news one morning, she contacted Shelly. Rhonda has been involved with the College InternXperience program at Easterseals Crossroads since its creation in 2016. The program relies on partnerships with participating area colleges and universities to provide paid internship opportunities for college students who have been diagnosed with autism. The program is designed to provide hands-on experiences for students within their chosen fields of studies.

After the success of her first placement from the program, Shelly has since been a huge supporter and has hosted many culinary interns through the years from Ivy Tech and Ball State.

The employees gain valuable work experience in the kitchen and front of house. The most popular item they make is an oatmeal dream sandwich, but they are busy gearing up for the holidays. They offer allergen free pies and sides for holiday meals that allow everyone to be included at the table.

“Working at No Label at The Table has been a great learning experience for me! I’m getting an associate degree in baking and pastry arts from Ivy Tech and I have been able to get real world experience on how to bake different types of pastries and work around the kitchen. I have also learned about greeting and serving our customers with the delicious pastries we make,” said intern Jose (photo at right).

Rhonda Wood and Suzanne McVey are both college intern development specialists for the College InternXperience progam. Since the program began in 2016, it has provided 93 intern experiences for individuals who attend Ball State, IUPUI, IvyTech, Purdue or UIndy.

Contact us to learn more about our College InternXperience program.

2022-01-31T10:48:08-05:00January 31, 2022|Our Blog|

Valentine’s Day Rose Sale

bucket of rosesThe Sertoma Club of North Downtown Indianapolis is once again holding a Valentine’s Day Rose Sale to benefit Easterseals Crossroads.

The club is now taking orders for their beautiful, florist-quality roses. You can place your order online or you can call the Sertoma Club of North Downtown Indianapolis and speak with president Brad Polo at 317.446.6760.

The roses sell out quickly, so plan to place your order soon!

Prices:
One Dozen (boxed with greenery): $50
1/2 Dozen (vase with greenery): $30
Spray of 3 roses (vase with greenery): $20

Pickup Location (date and time):
4740 Kingsway Drive, Indianapolis, IN  46205
February 14, 2022 (12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., local time)

Click here to order

2022-01-07T07:56:12-05:00January 7, 2022|Our Blog|
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