- MassAbility
With the ink on his certificate from the Pine Street Inn Food Services and Housekeeping barely dry, Lincoln Latham Jr. is already looking forward to taking his skills to a new job where he can give back to the community.
For a decade, Lincoln worked diligently as a janitor, taking great pride in earning his own money. But after he was let go from his position Lincoln knew he needed outside support to continue his career pursuits and maintain his financial independence.
As a Roxbury native, Lincoln specifically sought out resources and support offered in his own neighborhood, like MassAbility Career Services. “I wanted support on how to find a job, write a resume, and how to better advocate and express what I need as a person with intellectual disabilities,” he shared. Lincoln’s Career Services Counselor and his Job Placement Specialist spent time getting to know and understand Lincoln's hopes, goals, and skills. They determined that the Pine Street Inn Food Service and Housekeeping training was a perfect opportunity for Lincoln to learn, gain on-the-job experience, and earn income to help sustain himself.
During the first eight weeks, Lincoln expanded his financial literacy: “They taught you how to open a bank account, how to file direct deposit, how to save and spend money, and where to hold it,” Lincoln explained. Crucially, Lincoln also learned ways to protect himself financially from individuals who might not have his best interests at heart. From there, Lincoln participated in extensive on-the-job training every day in hospitality skills. He swept, mopped, cleaned, changed beds, and did laundry. By week 17, Lincoln was elevated to Senior Intern, where he began to mentor new trainees on how to interact professionally within the workplace, fulfill their duties, and complete their timesheets.
Looking to the future, Lincoln hopes to give back to the community by working with goodwill programs and nonprofits. He shared that the ability to go learn, work, and earn money at the same time made all the difference for him. “For me, this was a life-changing event. Eight months ago, I was sad, but after working with MassAbility, I feel more hopeful”.
