We’re thrilled to share an incredible success story from our Project SEARCH program—Judea G., a recent participant, has officially started his new job at Dion’s! After completing his onboarding and receiving his Project SEARCH certificate, Judea began his employment on October 15th, marking an important new chapter in his career journey.

Project SEARCH is a transformative program designed to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) gain real-world job experience, build essential workplace skills, and successfully transition into competitive employment. Through a combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on internships, participants like Judea receive the tools and support they need to thrive in meaningful work environments.

During his time in Project SEARCH, Judea demonstrated determination, focus, and a genuine eagerness to learn. Those qualities, combined with the guidance of his job coaches and mentors, helped him build confidence and independence—key ingredients for long-term success.

Now, as part of the Dion’s team, Judea is learning valuable new job skills, forming meaningful connections with coworkers, and contributing to a supportive and inclusive workplace. His hours have steadily increased—now up to 16 hours per week—and his enthusiasm continues to shine through in everything he does.

Stories like Judea’s remind us why inclusion matters and how every opportunity can change a life. His success is a reflection of his hard work, the dedication of our staff and partners, and the power of community collaboration.

Please join us in congratulating Judea on this exciting milestone! We can’t wait to see all the amazing things he’ll accomplish in this next chapter.