Celebrating 1 Year in Our South Side Location!

Posted on by Kaitlin Pugh

On August 10, 2020 (one year ago today), Life’sWork of Western PA moved from our previous Forbes Avenue location into a new facility located in Pittsburgh’s South Side. Our new location was renovated to have a light, open feel and has allowed us to offer a welcoming space for clients that work in the facility daily while also providing more opportunities to engage with one another and the community.

Those who work with Life’sWork know our passion for finding meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities and other socioeconomic barriers. However, what some may not realize is the extent of our commitment to evolve what the experience of meaningful employment includes. Our new location signals the growth in employment opportunities that we have created for our clients. Since we made our move just last year, 10 new partnerships have been created to provide different job experiences for the individuals that we help to employ. In this new location, Life’sWork has also successfully grown the RECOVER program, in which we help individuals recovering from substance use disorder and navigate the many challenges of obtaining employment.

Life’sWork of Western PA looks forward to a new era of growth while searching for opportunities for innovative solutions when considering how we can best serve their clients and the Pittsburgh Community.

Looking Back: 2021 Client Celebration Picnic

Posted on by Kaitlin Pugh

We are taking the time this week to look back at our 2021 Client Celebration, an annual event in which we honor the hard work and milestone anniversaries of the clients that Life’sWork of Western PA serves! This year was especially meaningful to our clients, who missed out on a year’s worth of celebrations, events, and parties due to the pandemic. Luckily, this May we were able to throw our biggest and best celebration yet to show our clients the appreciation that they deserve!
Our milestone anniversaries at this year’s celebration ranged from 5 years to 40 years! Many of the individuals that we recognized have transitioned through the many services that we offer throughout their tenure. While some may have started in our Facility Based Vocational Rehabilitation (FBVR) Program and remained there, we have still watched them flourish and find a sense of independence through meaningful employment. Other clients have made the transition from FBVR to our Small Group Staffing Program, Competitive Integrated Employment, or may even have a hybrid schedule working in many different programs. No matter what employment opportunities our clients have been involved in, we recognize and proudly celebrate their hard work and dedication. Meaningful employment has been a constant in the century that Life’sWork has served its clients and we continue to grow the opportunities available for each individual that we support today.
Click here to view our event highlight video!

31st Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Posted on by Kaitlin Pugh

This week marks the 31st anniversary of a landmark piece of legislation that outlined the rights and protections for people with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law on this day in 1990 and protects individuals with disabilities against discrimination in all areas of public life- including employment. There is so much within this act that we celebrate, even as we work hard every day to continue to fill the gaps in disability inclusion.

31 years later, only four out of ten working-age adults with disabilities are employed- Life’sWork of Western PA is committed to changing this statistic here in our community. We envision a community where every individual can equally participate in meaningful employment. We ask you to celebrate by exploring more of our website to learn about the impact our programs have made on the individuals with disabilities that we serve.

John Iskey- A Hero at Life’sWork

Posted on by Kaitlin Pugh

A client from our Belle Vernon location has been deemed a hero following a motor vehicle accident this past month. John, an individual employed through Life’sWork’s Direct Facility-Based Employment Services, suffers from seizures and other intellectual disabilities. Though he may be shy at first, his mighty smile and friendly personality let you in on the fact that he is just the type of man who would be kind and brave enough to save the day.

In May on their way to dinner, John and his sister were in an accident that caused their vehicle to go off the road and down a hill, out of visible sight. John, despite his fear from the accident, quickly sprung into action. He was able to remove himself from the vehicle and ran to the road for help for his sister who was stuck. John flagged down a firefighter and is the reason his sister was able to get help quickly.

Like a true hero, John never complained about the incident. Instead, Life’sWork found out weeks later only from his support coordinator. What is even more special is how John was able to persevere and act as any great brother would, regardless of any of the challenges he faces on a day-to-day basis.

John is most excited to be featured at Life’sWork’s infamous “Wall of Fame”- a section in the facility where all clients who do something special are featured. Life’sWork is so proud of John!

John and his sister are both doing well since the accident.

Remembering Vickie Sitton

Posted on by Babs Sefiane

The employees, staff and fellow clients at Life’sWork offer our deepest condolences to the family of Vickie Sitton.  It was with great sadness that we learned of her passing on April 10,2021. Vickie was a fundamental member of the Life’sWork team and had a tremendous impact on so many.  We honor her memory and all the lives she touched and will never forget her infectious smile that warmed up any room.  Who could forget Vickie’s love for the Pittsburgh Steelers!

Life’sWork had the pleasure of working with Vickie during her 30-year tenure as a client of Life’sWork (Pittsburgh location).

Thank you, Vickie, for being such an inspiration to us all and you will live in our hearts forever!

Keeping Hydrated Thanks to Creekside Springs

Posted on by Babs Sefiane

Life’sWork would like to give a huge thank you to Creekside Springs!​ ​Creekside Springs is donating 30 cases of bottled water to support the ​Life’sWork of Western PA 29​th Annual Golf Invitational​. We are so grateful to Creekside Springs​ as they provide quality through their people, product and services. Through Creekside Spring’s generous donation, our golfers will stay hydrated in the hot august heat!​ ​

Creekside Springs is a​ ​local supplier​ of bottled water. The company bottles water that comes from their protected natural springs which are located in Salineville, Ohio. Creekside also operates bottling facilities in Ambridge, PA. Their spring water is never treated with any harsh chemicals or additives and is very refreshing and helps us all stay healthy and safe! All of Creekside Springs water is of the highest quality. In addition to following quality protocols of the SQF Institute and GMP, they are also inspected by the FDA, PA and OH Department of Environmental Protection, NSF, IBWA and the Bureau of Food Safety.

Thank you, Creekside Springs!

Proactive Steps to Address COVID-19

Posted on by Babs Sefiane

Our main goal is to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals who receive services or who visit our facilities. Due to the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and increasing concerns in our community, this letter is to inform you of the steps that Life’sWork of Western PA is taking to reduce the risk of infection.
We remain open at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis and will inform you if that changes. Based on recommendations from Centers for Disease Control and discussions with senior leadership at Life’sWork, the following actions are now in place:
1. Ongoing disinfection of our facilities – We will continue to clean and disinfect our facility on a daily basis, which includes but not limited to bathrooms, tables and chairs in our production area, tables and chairs in our cafeteria, floors, doorknobs, railings in stairwells, and elevator buttons.
2. Staff Recommendations – All staff have been given guidelines to follow to practice good hygiene, which includes washing their hands upon arrival to work (mandated), stop handshaking, avoid touching their faces, and covering coughs and sneezes with the crux of the elbow. In addition, if meetings are needed they will occur in open, well-ventilated spaces. Staff will be sent home if they have signs of an illness.
3. Client Recommendations – All clients are encouraged to wash their hands upon arrival to work, before breaks, and before lunch. Staff will supervise to ensure proper cleaning techniques. Also, clients must not share food with each other. Again, staff will monitor this and politely remind them to not share. In addition, individuals will be encouraged to stop handshaking/fist bumping/etc., avoid touching their faces, and cover their coughs and sneezes with the crux of their elbow. Client caregivers will be contacted to make arrangements if the individual shows any signs of illness.
4. Visitor Requirements – Any visitor who enters our facilities must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer, which will be available at the front desk upon entering the building.
We understand that this is a stressful and uncertain time in our lives. We believe that the efforts listed above provide common sense solutions given the information we have today. We strive to provide our services in a safe and healthy environment and look forward to continue to work with you and all our participants to help them reach their personal goals. Please contact Chris Phelps at (412) 471-2600 x.330 or cphelps@lifesworkwpa.org with any questions or concerns.

Tips For Interview Success

Posted on by imagebox

Finding a job can almost feel like a job itself. Updating your resume and filling out applications can be stressful enough. But that’s usually the easy part compared to what comes next: the interview.

A good interview can start the next chapter in your life, but a bad one can cut your search short.

Check out these tips to ensure that your next interview leads you to your next career.

Research

  • Learn what you can about the company to ensure that it’ll be the right fit for you and that you’d be a good fit for them.
  • Find out who you will be interviewing with and who your potential supervisor will be.
  • Make a “test” trip to the job site beforehand to ensure you’ll be able to make it to the interview on time and to imagine what your average commute may be like.

Prepare

  • Dress appropriately. Make sure you arrive dressed how you would if you had the job. Learn the work site’s dress code beforehand.
  • Bring multiple copies of your resume, references, and/or portfolio as well as a few pens and something to take notes on.
  • Switch off your cellphone and other electronic devices before entering.
  • Try not to smoke right before the interview. If possible, brush your teeth or use mouthwash beforehand. Spit out any gum before the interview.

Practice

  • Look up common interview questions. Sit down with a friend and have them ask you those questions.
  • Don’t memorize answers, but formulate your thoughts and develop talking points.
  • Prepare to give anecdotal, story-based answers instead of short, one-word answers.

Engage

  • Make small talk with the interviewer, try to get to know them as a person and give them a chance to get to know you.
  • Ask insightful questions about the company to show that you are legitimately interested in the job and have done your research.
  • Thank your interviewer in person before leaving, and the follow up by phone or email.

Confidence

  • Stand tall and proud. Make firm handshakes. Wear clothes that fit and are comfortable.
  • Remind yourself that, no matter what anyone else says, you have value. You are worth it.
  • Don’t try to convince the interviewer that you are the best candidate. Convince them that you are the only candidate.

While research, practice, preparation, and more can help you have a good interview, the only thing that can truly guarantee a great interview is effort. Apply these tips and work hard toward your goals to finally land that dream job.

Life’sWork 3rd Annual Spring Gala

Posted on by imagebox

It was a full house on Thursday, March 14 when Life’sWork held its 3rd Annual Spring Gala in the Rivers Casino Ballroom. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and live music all while supporting and learning about the important mission of Life’sWork of Western PA.

While their words were meaningful, no one tells our story better than our clients and the business partners who provide them with valuable employment opportunities. Mason is one such client, employed at the Allegheny Fire Academy. The evening officially kicked off with a video sharing Mason’s story, which you can view below.

With that, food and drinks were served and the Bachelor Boy’s Band took the stage for a night of fun and networking with other guests, including over twenty members of the Life’sWork staff and Board of Directors.

As the night continued, we also honored our Business Partner of the Year for 2018: Adams Manufacturing. Adams is one of our newest business partners, having established a robust working relationship with them last spring. Through the partnership, Life’sWork and Adams Manufacturing were able to provide meaningful employment for over 50 individuals with disabilities, giving these individuals heavy doses of self-esteem, engaging work, and a paycheck for many of the weeks during the spring and summer of 2018.

The previous recipient of our Business Partner of the Year award, DreBo, America Inc., were highlighted once again in another video presentation. In addition to providing work for the clients in our Mon Valley office, DreBo also employs our client Jeremy, whose story was told in the second video of the night. Jeremy himself was also present at the event, ready to talk about his work with anyone who asked.

The evening came to a close with the drawing of the winners of our many raffle baskets, provided by many community partners including the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, the Mario Lemieux Foundation, and more.

To conclude the evening, we presented one final video spotlighting another client from our Mon Valley office, Brittany, who is employed by Diann Donaldson at the Jazzy Boutique. We were lucky enough to have Diann present with us to share Brittany’s story.

The evening would not have been possible without our sponsors: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc, S&T Bank, Rivers Casino, Staley Capital, and University of Pittsburgh. Whether they are connected to Life’sWork through our business services or a personal connection to our mission, our sponsors provide the support necessary to allow us to continue serving our clients each year.

The Spring Gala is not just a night of food, drinks, and fun. It is a way for members of the community to learn about the mission of Life’sWork and the important service we and our business partners provide to our many clients.

If you are interested in learning more about the programs and services at Life’sWork, click here. To make a donation, click here.

First Customer Service Training Course of the Year Commences

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Today marks the commencement of another Customer Service and Technical Skills Training Course here at Life’sWork. This 8-week program prepares students for the working world with computer and customer service skills necessary to find a job as a customer service representative.

As always, we had a truly inspiring group of students this time around. Each student has worked hard to get this far and their dedication has finally paid off. We wish them all great success in their futures.

Are you or anyone you know interested in learning the important skills necessary to land a job in today’s working world? Life’sWork offers a Tuition Free training program that may be right for you!

For more information, contact Ed O’Rourke at 412-471-2600 x218 or at eorourke@lifesworkwpa.org