MERCY MATTERS

It’s true! You can’t stop the beat when the Broadway Show Hairspray and Project SEARCH come together. Thanks to Mercy St. Rita’s, this fantastic collaboration took interns backstage before the show and to the live show on November 6th. Interns from Project SEARCH got a special behind the scenes view of what it takes to run a Broadway show. This included everything from lights and the soundboard to costumes and makeup! The event culminated in a VIP experience for the interns before the live show and artwork they created featuring Hairspray was on full display! The cast even met with the interns after the performance to talk and take photos. It was a night that no one would soon forget. Ann Stiles, the Community Affairs Coordinator for Mercy Health – St. Rita’s, gave some insight on the impact of sponsoring such an event. “It was an amazing evening from our VIP reception in the new mezzanine, to the incredible performance of Hairspray, to the cast coming up to the mezzanine after the show and meeting the Project SEARCH students. It truly was a perfect night. Giving back to our community and impacting lives of our community is what Mercy Health is here to do.” Leigh Taylor, Project SEARCH Instructor, could not agree more! “Mercy does so much for the interns of Project SEARCH. Not only do they provide excellent mentorship through each of the individual internships, but they

also treat the interns like staff. This is why our program is very successful. The events the interns get invited to may be a once in a lifetime kind of thing for them and it by Nicole Davis shows them with a little effort, many areas are rewarding. Events like Hairspray are just a topping on the program for them. Project SEARCH’s goal is to secure a competitive position in the community and the interns are working hard to gain the skills to be a leader, to know how to talk to an employer and be a young emerging adult in the workplace. I am excited to see where they all end up within the year.”

Project SEARCH is a school-to-work program for students with disabilities who are serious about working hard and getting a job. It is designed to provide entry-level work experiences in a typical business setting. Interns work unpaid in three 10-week internships at Mercy Health/St. Rita’s Medical Center gaining soft skills and valuable experiences. Leigh also shared, “We have an 89% job placement rate and are in the 10th year of the program. We have 8 interns this year and they are completing the first internship soon. In between each internship we hold a workshop week where they will do mock interviews and go over more of the competencies for competitive employment and independent living skills. We are always looking for anyone who would like to do mock interviews, either in-person or online!” If someone is interested in Project SEARCH, email Leigh at Leigh.Taylor@apollocc.org. Check out the key dates and deadlines on page 25. Applications are due on Feb 17th.

Anthony found new confidence with a wig he tried on behind the scenes and was given to take home. It has helped him connect with other interns and staff. His mom, Michela, shared, “The look on his face when we went to the VIP experience was beyond words. He knew his effort got him there and it was an experience he/ we will never forget.” Gabby’s internship is currently doing laundry and “condensing” at Mercy Health. She is excited to intern in the mail room next because as she said, “They give out the candy.” Her mother, Carrie, expressed her appreciation for Project SEARCH and the happiness Gabby expressed going to see Hairspray after her anticipation was through the roof!” John has been interning in patient transport. “I love it!” He loves it so much that after his next internship in communication he is looking forward to returning to patient transport to intern again! John also shared the artwork he created for the VIP event. He was pumped to go watch the show!