Ten years of tenure with Nicci Kelley

“The past 10 years at Dungarvin, I have learned so much about Employment Services for the I/DD community.  When I started, there were no work opportunities for clients living in foster and group homes to be in integrated employment making a fair wage. I am proud to be a part of one of the first Employment First providers as well as starting Dungarvin Oregon’s Employment Program. We’ve been able to get dozens of clients jobs over the past 10 years, most of whom were considered “unemployable” by the community and sometimes even their own supporters. Getting to see people successfully employed and creating relationships with those not paid to be with them, having the money to go on vacations and buy their loved ones gifts over the holidays and to be able to be in the community independently are just some of the outstanding outcomes Employment Services helps to facilitate. I look forward to continuing to build this program and be an advocate and voice for why this service element is so much more than getting someone a job. We are in the business of changing lives and that is something for which I am extremely proud.”