Fifteen young adults with disabilities graduate from the 2024 UP Employment Professional Cohort
December 23, 2024
The Barbara Stone Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on supporting visionary and creative programs for individuals with disabilities, held a graduation ceremony for the 2024 UP Professional Cohort participants to celebrate their completion of a year-long professional development program. Fifteen participants were celebrated on stage at the Kroc Center for completing the program, which aims to increase independence, self-advocacy, and professionalism while gaining new job skills through the program’s curriculum and team-building activities.
The UP Employment Initiative is a trailblazing program that began in 2022 as a partnership with the Barbara Stone Foundation, Windsor Aughtry Hotel Group, and Hospitality America to create more inclusive employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. In 2023, The Barbara Stone Foundation created The UP Professional Cohort to offer participants of the UP Employment Initiative and others in the community seeking more training around personal and professional development, leadership, soft skills, and job readiness.
The 2024 UP Professional Cohort graduates honored on stage on December 17 were Colin Brown, Andrew Clark, Taylor Eliason, Samuel Fitzgerald, Kadence Graham, Clara Hall, Amanda Hughey, Jake Kellett, Sophia Mauro, William Pearson, Cameron Sanders, Scott Shaner, Aidan Sisam, Hank Weiss and Allison Zehr.
“Many people living with disabilities desire independence, success, an opportunity to upskill, engagement with peers and meaningful employment,” said Lara Ceisel, Executive Director of the Barbara Stone Foundation. “The UP Professional Cohort supports these endeavors by increasing confidence and independence, which leads to more community involvement and engagement. We are so proud of their achievements and celebrate the expanding opportunities for more inclusive employment of people with disabilities.”
The next UP Professional Cohort class begins in January 2025 and is managed by the Barbara Stone Foundation’s Employment Job Liaison, Hadlee Hoeksema. Interested participants should contact Hadlee or Barbara Stone Foundation’s Executive Director, Lara Ceisel soon as space is limited. Visit barbarastonefoundation.org/up-employment-initiative for more information.
About The Barbara Stone Foundation
Since 1991, the Barbara Stone Foundation’s primary focus has been to influence community systems, policies, and culture to result in equitable opportunities for individuals with disabilities in South Carolina’s Upstate. We do this by identifying gaps in services, investing in, or creating our own, innovative programs, leveraging partnerships in the community, and through our signature initiatives Greenville CAN (Collaborative Action Network) and the UP (Upward Professionals) Employment Initiative. To learn more, visit www.barbarastonefoundation.org or find the organization on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
