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Boone Center Programs Recognized in St. Louis Television Feature
The Skills Center operated by Boone Center Inc. in St. Peters was the recent focus of an in-depth feature by KMOV 4 in St. Louis.
The effort by reporter Caroline Hecker provided a remarkably in-depth look at BCI’s efforts to help adults with disabilities find belonging and self-esteem, as well as employment. The story she presented includes details of workshop challenges and successes that are rarely seen by those not directly involved.
Hecker begins with a key fact: only 21 percent of Americans with disabilities over 16 are working or looking for work, compared to three times that number (67 percent) for those without disabilities. She then details Boone Center’s founding in 1959 to help bridge this employment gap.
“They want to be out of their mom and dad’s house, they want to be living on their own and going to work just like any of us do,” CEO Troy Compardo said in the article. “Sometimes it just takes them a little bit longer and they need a few more helping hands along the way and that’s what we provide.”
Hecker took time to interview several employees during her tour of the workshop. She noted the positive atmosphere, the many waves and smiles from employees as she walked through.
One worker was a good example. She had tried multiple “outside” jobs in the food industry, including five years at a hamburger chain, before applying at BCI.
“I like it here better,” the woman told Hecker. “I like all my supervisors and friends.”
The feature spends considerable focus on BCI’s Skills Center, a training program that has graduated 100 students into full time jobs at competitive wages. As with workshops across the state, many of the programs’ biggest fans are parents of those with disabilities.
To see the entire article and video, Visit This Link. More information on the skills center is available at This Link.