Good stuff, Jersey style

December 27, 2007 | By valmg |

My pal Skeet writes Share Some Good Stuff, which is a weekly roundup of good news submitted by readers concerning events that happened in their area.

My good news for this weekstems from an article I read on the NJ Herald recently.

In Sussex County, about an hour and a half from here, a new combination training, work program and business is opening in January. It’s being touted as a social entrepreneurial program and it’s called Arthur and Friends. Wendie Blanchard was inspired to begin this endeavor because of something her nephew Arthur said. It all began with a conversation about work, job satisfaction and dreams. Now before I go further, you should know that Arthur has Down Syndrome. In the conversation, Arthur told his aunt that he wasn’t happy with his work. He asked his aunt about her dream job and upon hearing her answer asked her why she didn’t do it because she could make choices about matters such as these where he had no choice. Wendie Blanchard was so touched that she wrote a business plan and after receiving support from the Department of Labor and the Northwest New Jersey Community Action Program and getting a grant, Arthur and Friends was born.

Arthur and Friends will provide business and employment training to disabled adults. Participants will be learning the many aspects of business, in this case hydroponic farming. It is the first program of its kind in the county. The program has been so well received that Wendie Blanchard is optimistic with continued growth it could become a state wide or nationwide model to provide vocational services for the disabled.

Congratulations Wendie Blanchard, for fulfilling your dream and caring about others whose feelings, dreams and self worth are frequently dismissed. I hope you and Arthur both enjoy the new experience, and that it is wildly successful. Good luck!