CLIMB Partners with Back Nine to offer employment opportunities

(NEW BRITAIN, CT) – The CLIMB Program – a career and/or college preparation program at CCSU under the Consolidated School District of New Britain – is partnering with the Back Nine Tavern at Stanley Golf Course to offer employment opportunities during afternoon lunches for young adults with disabilities within their program.

The partnership was announced at the Annual Recognition Awards Breakfast, sponsored by the Commission on Persons with Disabilities for the City of New Britain, on Friday, October 4 at the Back Nine Tavern. The employment opportunity for CLIMB members through this partnership supports the mission of the program, which is to afford young adults with disabilities a high quality individualized transition from school to career.

Members of the CLIMB Program will be serving lunches on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 11 am – 1 pm, beginning October 7. They were introduced to those in attendance after joining the Back Nine Tavern staff in serving the guests at the Awards Breakfast on Friday morning.

“We pride ourselves in New Britain for being a community that provides opportunities for all of our students,” said Superintendent Nancy Sarra. “We are thrilled that our partners in the Community Services Division have helped expand opportunities for our young adults in the CLIMB program to grow through job experiences in our new community partnership with the Back Nine Tavern.”

Several members of the community were presented awards as part of the Annual Recognition Awards Breakfast, including instrumental partners to CSDNB who help provide opportunities for students with disabilities. State Representative William Petit issued citations for the awards recipients.

Dr. James DeLaura, Professor and Department Chair of Technology & Engineering Education at CCSU, received both a Certificate of Appreciation and the Above and Beyond Award. Dr. DeLaura was recognized for being the driving force behind the "GoBabyGo" program, a community-based research, design and outreach program that provides modified ride-on cars to children birth to age 3, who experience limited mobility. Through the “GoBabyGo” Program, students from CCSU Tech Ed and students from the New Britain High School MET Academy worked together to adapt ride-on cars for children of New Britain who would otherwise experience limited mobility.

Jeff Taddeo, Resident District Manager of Whitsons Culinary Group, received an Employer Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of outstanding leadership, compassion and commitment in providing training and opportunities that empower persons with disabilities in the workplace.

Stanley Black & Decker also received an Employer Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of outstanding leadership and commitment to providing opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the workplace, as well as for their positive professional training and awareness to create a diverse workplace.

Other award recipients included Debra Dostie of Big Y for Employee of the Year, Stop & Shop of New Britain for Employer of the Year, and Daniel S. Walsh, Regional Manager at Veterans Inc., as the Orson “Roy” Rothkopf Award recipient.