One of the Biggest Days of my Career!

Today was a big deal in my professional life. Joan Evans, WY Director of Workforce Services and the Department of Employment testified at a US Senate Sub-committee hearing co-chaired by WY Senator Mike Enzi (Dianne Kirkbride works for him) on the appalling unemployment rate of people with disabilities (65%) which has stayed at this rate for over two decades. I was able to assist Joan in writing this testimony which was both an honor an a privilege. Wyoming was singled out as a state that has some best practices and so she showcased that Wyoming Business Leadership Network of which I am the founding director and our Lowe's Outreach Project which I currently direct.

This has been my life's work.... I am so thrilled that the attention was focused on the problem today and maybe now we can really make a difference. Roger, my boss, has hung in there with his vision and has put his money where his mouth is for years! Our team rocks... they work so hard even when it isn't popular and when it certainly isn't convenient. Joan and her team are amazing too... I can't wait to see where we will go from here....

I wish you could have seen the tears of joy and gratitude in my eyes as her testimony was read. People with disabilities can work, want to work. They want real jobs for real pay that will give them real lives! They have dignity, value and worth. God doesn't make junk! I hope that they got the message loud and clear today.....

From: Enzi, press office (Enzi)
Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2011 12:56 PM
Subject: Enzi-Wyo. workers with disabilities success

Go to this link: http://help.senate.gov/

News Release

For release: March 2, 2011

Wyoming workforce director tells senators of Wyoming success

Click on image to view video.

Washington, D.C. – Joan Evans, Director of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, testified before the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee today. Evans highlighted a partnership between Lowe’s, the Business Leadership Network and the state of Wyoming that has helped place individuals with disabilities in jobs with the company.

“While the overall unemployment rate hovers near 10 percent, it is much higher for people with disabilities. In fact, the unemployment rate for this segment of the population has remained virtually unchanged, close to 65 percent for virtually 2 decades. In Wyoming our rate is slightly better. We have pulled together our limited resources t o give us a 46 percent unemployment rate for people with disabilities. However, we recognize that there is still so much work to be done,” said Evans.

For Evans’ full testimony CLICK HERE.

-end