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DWD, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, Celebrate Graduation of 12 Local Project SEARCH Interns

Project SEARCH Program Prepares Young Adults with Disabilities for Rewarding Careers

MILWAUKEE – Twelve Milwaukee-area students spent the past nine months learning new skills and trying new work opportunities at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport through Project SEARCH, a collaborative program overseen by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR).

• Sivohne Johnson, a graduate from North Division High School, particularly enjoyed working in the food preparation rotations within the airport.

  "I have enjoyed learning new skills and how to be independent," Johnson said. "I have also enjoyed learning to be different, going on field trips, and learning how to ride the city bus … I will learn how to live on my own someday."

• Imani Williams, a graduate of MacDowell Montessori School, gained many skills this year including customer service at Chili’s, cooking and cleaning skills.

  Imani's Goodwill Industries SEW skills trainer noted that "at the beginning of the year, she was really shy and nervous. Imani feels more confident now speaking to strangers."

Johnson and Williams, along with 10 other students with disabilities, celebrated the completion of Project SEARCH on May 21 during a graduation ceremony that drew friends and families to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.

"The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is excited to celebrate the state's nearly 200 Project SEARCH graduates, who have explored new skills, expanded their opportunities, and earned a great sense of accomplishment in the work they have done over the past nine months," said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. "In Wisconsin, successful programs like Project SEARCH reaffirm the tremendous skills and talents individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce, and that success would not be possible without the dedicated employers and statewide partners who deliver the program, day in and day out."

The graduation ceremony at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport marked the completion of a nine- to 12-month immersive work experience. The interns recounted their hands-on experiences and talked about their future career opportunities. Many of this year's interns had an interest in music, so they performed their own version of Uptown Funk, with new lyrics including "it doesn’t make you weak if you ask for some help." The performance was led by Johnson and Williams.

In addition to the host site, the local internship experience was made possible by partners including the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), airport site business partners Paradies Lagardère and HMS Host; Goodwill Industries SEW; and Milwaukee Public Schools. Statewide, 28 premier employers are participating in Project SEARCH this year.

Project SEARCH is a collaborative effort among state vocational rehabilitation agencies, area schools, local employers, and long-term care organizations to help interns acquire marketable, competitive, and transferable skills that lead to employment. The interns complete multiple 10-week rotations to maximize exposure to different career paths and learn both employability skills in a classroom and hands-on job skills in the business environment.

Started at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in 1996, Project SEARCH has provided workforce training to over 1,800 Wisconsin residents since its statewide launch in 2008. For more information, visit Project SEARCH Wisconsin.

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Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers through six divisions – Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation, and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.