Making them aware of dignity and self-esteem are the most important goals
The American "Vertical Harvest" employs people of determination and develops them professionally
People of determination work on the company's farms.
From the source
Caroline Croft Estey with a company employee of determination.
From the source
picture
The unemployment rate among people of determination in Wyoming is 9.7%, according to the 2020 US Census Bureau five-year estimate;
That is why the “Vertical Harvest” foundation came into existence in 2016 in the Jackson area of this state, to address this differentiation between members of society, and its success is due in part to the efforts of Caroline Croft Estey in creating an employment model for people of determination that she called “Grow Well”, or “Successful Growth”. To promote employees' professional development, and personal discovery to impact society, this model uses specialized recruitment plans that take into account the strengths, attributes, and aspirations of people of determination.
Estey included young autistic Johnny Fifels in her program, recognizing his exceptional attention to detail and ability to hyperfocus, and as such Fifels excelled at growing vegetables on cellulose mats, that such persons would be honored by such jobs, and promoted.
The employee, Sean Stone, who rose to become an employee and a senior partner in the organization, says that his previous jobs did not give him the same opportunity or even hope.
"I was working as a dishwasher for four years, and I ended up never getting promoted," he adds.
Croft Estay grew up in the South, studied psychology and education at the University of South Carolina, and then fell in love with the Mountain West while working in Yellowstone National Park.
She says losing her mother when she was a little girl, and becoming a mother in her early twenties, instilled in her a love for the underdog. .
healthcare
And "Estate Provider of Medical Care for People of Determination" has become recognized by the state, and it works individually with people of determination.
It was so difficult to find work for them that she considered setting up a composting program to provide them with jobs. Local connections led her to architect Nona Yahya, who was already working on an indoor agricultural project. The two women teamed up to found Vertical Harvest, which is expanding right Now.
The company recently began construction on a 70,000-square-foot building in Westbrook, Maine, and annual production is expected to grow to two million pounds annually. There are plans for additional facilities across the country, each guided by the Grow Well model, to promote dignity in communities. disadvantaged through inclusion and access, but reaching this level of success has not been easy.
The company's first year was challenging, says Estey, who has seen the company grow in that time.
95% of the company's employees participate in competitions for Jackson's athletic teams, sell produce at farmers' markets, and march to advocate for diversity, inclusion, and social justice.
The company organizes for them the so-called “happy hours” every month, which is an evening of entertainment that they spend in the city.
Estay points out that people of determination are often isolated, and that such activities enhance their dignity and add a sense of pride to their personal lives.
The company's chief recruiter, Jesse Phillips Grannis, describes the company's approach as effective and life-changing.
“I really see that it makes him feel more empowered than in other places he has worked,” she adds, speaking of a person of determination who has just joined the company.
And she goes on: “He feels that he is part of something important, that he is very important, and this is something he will not find if he works elsewhere.”
“They are driving the future of what we hope employment of people of determination looks like,” Granice concludes.
Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce President Anna Olson says Grow Well's unique model reveals the potential of people working together.
"These people have equal rights and equal ability to contribute to our society, and we have to be aware of that," she adds.
• "Estate Provider of Medical Care for People of Determination" has become recognized by the state, and works individually with people of determination.
• There are plans to establish facilities across the country, each guided by the Grow Well model, to promote dignity in disadvantaged communities through inclusion and accessibility.
Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news