Open Sky Co-Op is actively looking for applications for its BYOB (Be Your Own Boss) Program.
The three week program is geared towards people who experience difficulty finding employment due to disability and/or mental health challenges.
Executive Director Margaret Tusz-King is excited to get the program going in the new year.
Her full remarks are available here:
The program is put on in the spirit of accessibility, so the Open Sky team is addressing multiple potential barriers that may keep people from attending.
The program is free thanks to fundraising efforts and donors, and if transportation is an issue then Open Sky is happy to arrange for a taxi.
Better yet, Tusz-King says that participants will be paid $10 per day just for attending.
There will also be lunch, so that all participants can "start with an even playing field."
There is room for 16 people, who can apply by contacting their local employment office or Open Sky.
Applications are due by email on December 15th.
The employment options for those with disabilities or mental illness is often limited, and Tusz-King insists that there is another path that does not involve fast food or janitorial work.
She says this program is intended for those who may have lost hope, or feel they have nowhere else to turn.
"We think we can create better new things for people by collaborating with them, and helping them realize their own goals. That’s what we want to do, we want to also give people hope. There’s so many people… we’re just not looking for them in our community. They fall off our radar. Those are the people we want to see here."
Participants of the program will have a mentor following the training, who can help them with incorporating, connections, taxes, and anything else they may need to start their own business.
There is also $5000 available to help get the new businesses off the ground.
Tusz-King strongly encourages those with family members or friends who are struggling with employment to approach them with information about the Be Your Own Boss program.
More information can be found on Open Sky’s Facebook page, or by calling (506)-536-4565.