11TH ANNUAL BUILDING BRIDGES AWARDS LUNCHEON
UILDING BRIDGES AWARDS LUNCHEON
From 11:45 am
At JW Marriott Star Pass Resort & Spa
3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd.
Linkages to Honor Employers Who Help the Disabled
Linkages, the nonprofit organization that finds jobs for people with disabilities, will honor an employer, employee and employment specialist at its annual Building Bridges Awards luncheon.
Automotive dealer Jim Click Jr. founded Linkages in 1996 as a way to give people with disabilities, including wounded military veterans, opportunities for employment.
It has developed partnerships with more than 170 service providers and 260 employers. Last year these partner businesses hired 468 people who sought jobs through the program. This year that number will be about the same.
Linkages’ work has garnered national attention for Tucson. At last year’s Building Bridges Awards luncheon, Linkages Executive Director Hailey Thoman said, “I see a Tucson that is so inclusive that other cities look to us for best practices. The reason? Businesses.”
The awards luncheon celebrates individuals and businesses in Pima County for their demonstrated leadership in serving the disability community. They are selected from community nominations in three categories:
• Employee of the Year: An individual with a disability who works competitively
• Employer of the Year: A business that not only hires people with disabilities, but strives to create an inclusive work culture
• Employment Specialist of the Year: An agency staff person who has worked diligently to help people with disabilities advocate for themselves in their pursuit of employment
Employers can participate by posting job opportunities and searching through the profiles of job seekers posted on the Linkages website. They can participate in several job fair events listed on the website, where they also can find agencies that will help them find people to employ.