Have you ever been on a merry-go-round?  You know, the playground equipment that spins and spins and spins and, well, you get the idea.  I have been thinking a lot about the merry-go-round lately.  Not because I want to head to the park to make myself dizzy, but I have been thinking about the merry-go-round because it seems to be an analogy for the lives of the individuals I am so privileged to work for.

When on a merry-go-round, you must hang on for dear life, do your best not to let the constant spiral make you sick, and wait to get off until it has finished spinning.  As a kid, I remember losing my grip and flying off the side (I still have the scar), the fright that came before each time my friend, brother, or parents started running to get it going as fast as they could, and the feeling that came over me when the spinning became too much for my stomach to handle.  I think I remember the merry-go-round experiences I had on the playground because they are the experiences that caused the most fear and injury than any other playground equipment when I was a kid.

I see the effects of life's merry-go-round a lot. 

Especially in a competitive job market, employers are always looking for experienced individuals, but how do you obtain that experience without a job?  You start spinning.

The pressure to find a job and the difficulties of unsuccessful attempts make the merry-go-round pick up speed and before you know it, you are holding on for dear life hoping not to fall and scrape yourself up.

This is why job-training is so important.  It gives our residents the opportunity to gain the experience that all employers look for.  We are able to slow the merry-go-round as we gain and enhance the skills necessary for employment.  Lives change when our job-trainees are able to get back on their feet with the responsibility, knowledge, experience, and self esteem that come with work.

I encourage you to contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or to pass along any contact information for individuals who would be interested in learning about our Employment Development Program.  Help us in our mission to eliminate the anxieties of life's merry-go-rounds.