EVOLVE Receives MSS Community Partner Award.

This week, EVOLVE received an award from the Midwest Special Services Inc. This award honored EVOLVE for being an inclusive workplace. Samantha (pictured middle), started with EVOLVE as an intern in October of 2017. Two years later, Samantha has moved on to become an employee of EVOLVE. We wouldn’t have it any other way!

 “What Evolve also offers, that you won’t necessarily find listed on their website, is an open and inclusive employment environment. A place where people are members of a community, and recognized for the strengths and talents they have to offer,” shared Taylor McLaughlin of MSS. Thank you to MSS and to Samantha, for being an amazing employee! View more award winner pictures here.

A Statement from Taylor McLaughlin of MSS

Colleen and Susan,
 
Thank you so much for honoring us with your attendance and for bringing Samantha with as well. Your organization does fantastic work, and it is an honor to have the opportunity to work with you. Text of the speech below, feel free to use it as you would like.
 
Customized employment is very popular concept in our field right now. At the heart of this concept is the right match, a good fit, and a strong sense of community.
              
Evolve Family Services offers adoption, foster care, pregnancy support, and a host of other services at locations in Bloomington, West St. Paul, and Stillwater.
 
What Evolve also offers, that you won’t necessarily find listed on their website, is an open and inclusive employment environment. A place where people are members of a community, and receive recognition for the strengths and talents they have to offer.
 
Samantha started at Evolve with an internship, a foot in the door, in October of 2017. Evolve recognized a need they had within the organization, and saw the perfect fit in Samantha’s skills and experience.  They were transparent from the beginning as well; as a nonprofit with limited funding, they did not have any room in the budget for the position, but were willing to try it out and see what could be possible. 
 
Here we are, almost two years to the day since Samantha’s internship began, and Samantha is a happy employee at Evolve. Thanks to Samantha’s hard work, Evolve’s inclusive approach to employment, and the support and advocacy from Susan Kollaja and Colleen Stewart, Evolve’s Board of Directors approved a permanent position to fit the work Samantha had been doing since day one.
 
Evolve’s vision as an organization reads: “A world where everyone has nurturing, supportive, and permanent familial relationships.” This vision is more than just words on paper to Evolve; it informs the culture of the organization at every level.

Thank you, Samantha, for all of your hard work. Thank you Evolve for living your vision and serving as a shining example of what truly inclusive employment can be. With honor, we present you with this MSS Community Partner award for your innovative approach to creating employment opportunities for adults with disabilities.
 

Taylor McLaughlin, MSS

Learn more about Employment at EVOLVE