Boulder Treasures

Our first endeavor is a retail clothing store, Ramble On Pearl. In our program, apprentices will learn transferrable job skills while gaining valuable experience working alongside our retail staff. Individuals will work up to 20 hours per week under the supervision of a skilled job coach and alongside our retail staff who have been trained to provi... de natural supports to ensure their success. After demonstrating independence, our apprentices will continue to gain work experience without a job coach. After approximately 3 months in training, our apprentices will then be provided job placement services to secure independent, competitive, and sustainable employment in the community. Our businesses will showcase the employability of our apprentices to future employers, while enhancing our customers' awareness of the many contributions our staff with developmental disabilities have to offer. Our initial goal is to train and successfully place 20 apprentices a year into permanent employment by 2015. Our ultimate goal is to become a trusted source of enthusiastic and reliable employees for the broader employment market in Boulder. While not yet proven in Colorado, this business model has been proven effective elsewhere. Cornucopia, a pioneering organization in this field located near Cleveland Ohio, has been successfully operating a job training program at its' Nature's Bin natural food store since 1975, and has expanded into six other venues in recent years. In their program, which serves approximately 200 people per year, 80% of trainees are hired directly after graduation with a 70% one year retention rate in typically high turnover, entry-level, jobs. According to Ronda Van Den Bossche, Director of Vocational Services at Cornucopia, "Our success and longevity can be attributed to a unique framework for working alongside our trainees. It really is all about people, relationships, and a sense of purpose. Cornucopia has clearly demonstrated that individuals with developmental disabilities can become valuable ...Read More