Jon Braley had to retire from Hewlett Packard much earlier than he expected because multiple eye diseases affecting both eyes had left him unable to work, to drive or even to read a newspaper. Fortunately, a team of Boston eye specialists performed a half dozen delicate surgeries over a four year period and most of Jon’s eyesight was restored. With a profound sense of gratitude and a desire to give back, Jon began searching for volunteer roles.
He spotted an IVC advertisement while he was on retreat at a Jesuit retreat house and contacted Dave Hinchen, Director of IVC New England. Jon indicated that his three desires for a volunteer assignment were (1) To help clients to fundamentally alter the course of their lives for the better (2) To work directly and individually with the clients he would be helping (3) To work with clients and issues which would push him out of his comfort zone. With those parameters in mind Dave recommended that Jon consider an Employment Coach role at New England Culinary Arts Training (NECAT). This turned out to be a perfect fit and Jon started at NECAT a few weeks later.
New England Culinary Arts Training (NECAT)
NECAT’s mission is to empower adults facing barriers to employment through training in culinary skills, social-emotional development and career readiness for success and long-term financial ability. The marginalized “adults facing barriers to employment” who comprised NECAT clients consisted of current or former homeless adults, “returning citizens” (returning from incarceration), recovering substance abusers, immigrants in need new work skills, and clients mired in generational poverty.
Jon’s role as employment coach entailed (1) Helping clients to appreciate the skills and talents they already possess regardless of their past history (2) Building a positive personal narrative to aid in their job search discussions. (3) Creating personalized resumes and cover letters for each client. (4) Conducting mock (practice) interviews. (5) Staffing job fairs with prospective employers (6) Leading classroom lectures/workshops on social-emotional development. (7) Assisting with job searches and applications.
His overarching goal was simply to empower NECAT clients with the confidence and tools to advocate for themselves in the workplace. Jon served at NECAT for 5 years and over those 5 years worked individually with over 500 clients.
Catholic Charities Boston – Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Training Program
Jon has now moved to Catholic Charities, fulfilling his desire to continue his employment coaching in a faith-based organization. Catholic Charities’ overall mission is to “Provide a variety of services that aim to stabilize families and lead to self-sufficiency”, One of their key services is a highly regarded CNA training program. Catholic Charities also offers an “ESOL Bridge to Healthcare” for immigrants seeking healthcare jobs which will require language skills specific to health care jobs.
Jon’s employment coaching role at Catholic Charities is essentially same as the role he filled at NECAT. One difference is that his clients are predominantly immigrants from all over the world … providing a new, interesting and rewarding volunteer experience. His most rewarding experience to date has working with an older Brazilian immigrant who grew up in the Amazon, got her first pair of shoes at the age of 10, and eventually ended up in the United States with her young daughter. She never learned English and so was forced to work nights cleaning office buildings to survive while raising her daughter. But her life turned around when she enrolled in the ESOL curriculum and subsequently completed the Catholic Charities CNA training course.
Journaling
Jon’s approach to “journaling” is a bit unique. He collects quotes which capture “memorable moments”. Among his more memorable quotes … From NECAT’s MLK Day social media message: “Jon demonstrates how volunteerism can build bridges across communities with different backgrounds” … From a colleague at NECAT: “You are not a volunteer. You are an honorary unpaid staff member” …. From the father of a (35 year old) NECAT grad on graduation day “My son told me about you. Thank you for saving my son’s life” … From an emotional Muslim immigrant “May God brighten your eyes as you have brightened the future for the people you work with … From a “returning citizen” one year after graduating from NECAT: “I am making more ‘honest’ money than ever before in my life” … And from the Brazilian immigrant and CNA graduate? At the end of her final mock interview with Jon she became teary and explained “These are tears of joy. Everyone here has worked so hard for me, and I am finally able to follow my dream to work in healthcare”
Working With Spiritual Reflectors
Jon’s current discussions with his spiritual reflector have focused on gratitude at two levels. First, gratitude for his life gifts … from faith, to family, to the recovery of his eyesight. Second, gratitude for the gift of IVC which has enabled him to help people he would otherwise never have met.
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