Putnam Mentoring Day 2019
Learning by doing made for a successful 8thAnnual Mentoring Day, a collaboration with CAREERS Support Solutions (CAREERS) and Putnam County government. Mentors from County Departments were paired with students and adults with disabilities interested in learning the skills they need to be successfully employed.
On the morning of May 22nd, participants from CAREERS, Carmel High School and The ARC of Putnam were welcomed to Cornerstone Park in Carmel to meet their mentors. Matched by their interests and abilities, they spent the morning with county staff from Departments including the Health Department, IT, Youth Bureau, Senior Resources and Probation. Working with and learning from their mentors, they learned organizational, computer and administrative skills, customer service and maintenance.
“We so appreciate the effort County Executive Odell and her staff put into this event,” remarked CAREERS Executive Director Tina Cornish-Lauria. “Last year, one of our participants was offered a part time job from the department he was working in on Mentoring Day, and he had a great experience working there until he graduated from Carmel High School,” Cornish-Lauria said.
“Putnam is a community that cares and we are proud to participate in this event each year,” County Executive Odell remarked to those gathered in Cornerstone Park for the wrap up of the event. “It’s really great to see many familiar faces that come back.” Mentors and mentees received Certificates of Appreciation for their participation, and told the County Executive and other participants about their morning on the job.
CAREERS client Steven Booth got an insiders view of the Putnam Highways and Facilities Department.
Janeen Cunningham from the Youth Bureau, left and County Executive Mary Ellen Odell thank Shane McDonough for his assistance.
Naomi Card, center, enjoyed her morning with the Department of Social Services.
Art Hanley of the Veterans Services Agency gets a hand from Carmel High School student Eileen L.
Tagging the flags on Lake Gleneida is one of the many tasks participants assist with each year.
