Rockland nonprofit’s program to receive statewide award
"Brick it Again" will be the sole recipient of the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State's "program innovation award" on October 21st for helping people with disabilities develop skills and confidence.
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A Rockland nonprofit’s program will receive statewide award.
"Brick it Again" will be the sole recipient of the Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State's "program innovation award" on Oct. 21 for helping people with disabilities develop skills and confidence.
The store in Valley Cottage is actually a program started by JAWONIO, a Rockland-based nonprofit which supports people with varying disabilities.
It opened about a year and a half ago and employs people with and without disabilities.
"We're showing the community that you know we can employ both disabled and non-disabled labor and get the same results. they're both hard-working,” said JAWONIO CEO Randi Rios-Castro.
“The innovative concept behind Brick It Again is not only a game changer for those involved but is also poised to be a model that can be replicated by other CP State affiliates throughout New York and beyond,” said CP State President and CEO Mike Alvaro.
"It's really awesome watching the team grow and get better and better,” said Andrew Perr, the manager. “Everyone's skill level is increasing. So we're now working on cross training. Folks that have gotten really good at like building Legos are now starting to train on register, people that felt more comfortable with just the register and customers, are now starting to get involved in Lego buildings."
News 12’s Diane Caruso interviewed Brandon Buccellato, who has worked at the store for the last year and a half.
“It's great. It's fun,” said Buccellato who describes his jobs as “setting up Legos, setting up mini figs[figures], taking care of the store."
The award also comes during October which is national disability employment awareness month.
