Physical Health United States Project #5805

Army of Angels

by Albertina Kerr Centers Foundation

Project Report | Aug 17, 2016
Kerr Hosts Exhibition for Portland Biennial

By Chris Wiens | Grant Writer

Albertina Kerr's Project Grow has been selected as one of the exhibition sites for this year's Portland Biennial. Project Grow is one of 25 partner venues hosting exhibitions of the event, curated by Michelle Grabner and presented by Disjecta Contemporary Art Center.

Project Grow will be showcasing the work of Oregon artist Colin Pickhardt Kippen. Project Grow Artists Ricky Bearghost and Lawrence Oliver were chosen by Grabner after several studio visits to have work features in Salon: Portland2016, The Studio Visits, a salon-style exhibition at Disjecta Contemporary Art Center. Project Grow's participation establishes the Biennial program and artists as strong, relevant voices in our region's contemporary art community.

Project Grow is a program of Albertina Kerr's Port City Development Center, an activity and recreation program that provides career ans social support for adults with developmental disabilities from Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties in Oregon. Project Grow provides a space for artists with developmental disabilities to explore personal expression through an array of artisistc mediums, as well as gan skill and experience working on a chemical-free garm with an emphasis on sustainability. Project Grow is a space where creativity is fostered and supported, and where no limits are placed on the projects artists choose to undertake.

"Project Grow aims to create a shared art experience by connecting individuals with artists in the community," said Carissa Burkett, Albertina Kerr Program Manager. "We are honored to showcase the art of talented local artists and have our artists' work o exhibition for the community to see."

The opening reception was held at Project Grow on Saturday, July 9. Exhibitions run until September 18, 2016. To learn more visit www.portlandbiennial.org.

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May 19, 2016
Austin's SEARCH for his Dream Job

By Chris Wiens | Grant Writer

Austin at work in his new position.

People with developmental disabilities experience significnatly less opportunity in the workforce than their non-disabled peers. Austin, a young adult with a developmental disability, has accomplished a significant feat that unfortunately few of his peers can claim; he has found competitive employment in an integrated setting. However, just finding employment was not enough for Austin. He came to Albertina Kerr last year because he was unhappy in his job as a bottle room clerk at a local grocery store and looking for a new employment opportunities.

Austin decided to take a leap of faith by beginning Kerr’s Project SEARCH program, a brand new internship program in the state of Oregon for young adults with developmental disabilities. Project SEARCH teaches real-life job skills through a partnership at host businesses. The goal for Project SEARCH is employment at the host business or another business using the skills gained from the progam. Austin’s internship site was the Kaiser Permanente Westside Medical Center in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Before attending Project SEARCH, Austin’s ideal job was working in a kitchen setting. To help gain the required skills needed for this position, the Project SEARCH team placed him in the kitchen at Kaiser for one of his rotations. In this role, he learned how to do dishes, put together orders for patients, bus tables and cashier. He gained significnat experience and skills for the position of his dreams.

After Austin graduated from Project SEARCH, he began applying for jobs with the assistance of one of Albertina Kerr’s Job Developers. Austin identified an open position for a dishwashing position at Bon Appetite, the cafeteria located on the Intel Campus in Hillsboro. He applied, interviewed and was hired full-time. While working at Intel, Austin has been paired with a job coach who initially needed to help Austin with job coaching for every shift. As Austin advanced in his skills in the kitchen, he began his journey of being independent and the job coaching slowly faded.

After working at Intel for approximately five months, Austin decided he wanted to be completely independent and no longer long term coaching supports. While this transition is still in process, it is our hope and wish for Austin that he becomes completely independent. Job coaches close to Austin has expressed their joy to witness Austin’s growth and to see the person and employee he has become with the help of the Project SEARCH program.

Albertina Kerr is currently offering Project SEARCH in two locations in the Portland metro area with expectations for the program to grow in the future. Albertina Kerr’s Project SEARCH program challenges the norm in our society to create a society that has no barriers for people with developmental disabilities.

More information about Project SEARCH and other Albertina Kerr Employment Services can be found at: http://albertinakerr.org/DevelopmentalDisability/EmploymentServices.

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Jan 20, 2016
Albertina Kerr Community Based Services

By Nanda Sturm | Associate Director of Corporate Development

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