PRESENTED BY THE ALEXANDER S. PISSIOS FAMILY FOUNDATION AND GATEWAY TO LEARNING
The Alexander S. Pissios Family Foundation is proud to announce a partnership with Gateway to Learning (GTL) which supports adults with neurodiversity or other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in achieving meaningful employment. To celebrate this partnership, GTL’s employment services division has been renamed The Alexander S. Pissios Family Foundation Employment Services.
If you’re strolling through Lincoln Square, you might catch the irresistible scent of freshly baked cookies, chocolate, and specialty coffees coming from Gateway to Learning’s Dorothy’s Sweet Shoppe, located at 4925 N. Lincoln Ave. Step inside and you’ll be greeted by the warm smiles of employees from the shoppe, a social enterprise nestled within a range of employment services. Dorothy’s Sweet Shoppe is open to the public and incorporates community engagement with workforce training, creating a true environment of inclusion.
Employment is a powerful tool for advocacy, independence, and dignity. Beyond Dorothy’s Sweet Shoppe, and its other social enterprise, Barley’s Biscuits, Gateway to Learning’s programming prioritizes participant decision-making, individualized support, and life skill development through experiential learning. Employment services provide individuals with IDD opportunities to explore job interests, receive coaching, and become contributing members of the workforce.
GTL participant, Noe, who found employment at Home Goods this year, spoke on the confidence and autonomy he gained through his placement: “I’m a hard worker, and I will prove my worth to you, you’ll see. I have skills to work and can show I can do it. And prove it to everybody and myself.”
Recognizing the importance of these services, the Alexander S. Pissios Family Foundation has committed multi-year support to enhance GTL’s employment programming. This generous partnership strengthens the resources available to help individuals pursue fulfilling careers and lead empowered lives.
To celebrate this collaboration, GTL’s employment services division has been officially renamed: The Alexander S. Pissios Family Foundation Employment Services at Gateway to Learning.
While the name has changed, the mission remains the same. GTL believes employment is more than a job—it’s a pathway to independence, purpose, and dignity.
Expanded Services Include:
● Pre-employment and work readiness training
● Job exploration and coaching
● Support for competitive, integrated employment
Kathryn H. Lavin, MSW, CEO of Gateway to Learning, shared:
“We are so proud of this gift and partnership. The Alexander S. Pissios Family Foundation’s commitment to uplifting communities has created a pathway to employment for so many talented individuals. Yet, we need the help of small and large businesses alike to hold that door open, and to be an instrumental part of inclusive employment.”
Get Involved:
Are you an employer interested in hiring qualified, motivated individuals through this program? Visit Employment Services — Gateway to Learning for more information.
You can hear it straight from Alex Pissios in the videos below!
Video Credit: Jeremy Ross of JRoss Communications and Rob Johnson of Rob Johnson Communications
