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The market for craft brewing continues to grow as consumers seek out quality, small-batch beers. An innovator in this movement, Knee Deep Brewing has been making unique craft beers for over a decade; seven years ago, they moved right next to PRIDE’s Auburn, CA site. Then last summer in 2020, Knee Deep joined the inclusivity movement when they hired three employees through PRIDE’s Outsourced Workforce Solutions.

“I’ve been extremely pleased with our PRIDE team members,” said Jerry Moore, Owner and CEO of Knee Deep. “As a long-time Sacramento area resident, I’d heard about PRIDE, of course. And I liked what I’d heard—how PRIDE extends opportunities for people with disabilities while meeting the demands of their business partners. I’m happy to report that PRIDE lives up to its reputation!”

Through our Outsourced Workforce Solutions, PRIDE employees with disabilities help our customers with special projects and tasks, Knee Deep team to fulfill projects and task, creating greater convenience and flexibility for these businesses. This was exactly the type of help Knee Deep was looking for. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the brewery needed extra assistance packaging cans for retail sales at national grocery chains such as Costco and Safeway. With the addition of three PRIDE employees (plus a work trainer) that work as part of the team, Knee Deep is now able to meet production demand.

Though they operate in a small city in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Knee Deep Brewing has a large footprint. They currently distribute their craft beers in 30 different U.S. states, and in several countries as well. PRIDE’s employees contribute to the success of this global supply chain.

“The partnership with Knee Deep has been a perfect fit for PRIDE’s employees,” said PRIDE Auburn Site Manager Melissa Sweet. “Our employees — Zach Harrison, Kenneth Jolivette, and Evan Hough — are always excited to get to work every day, as shown by their stellar attendance record!”

“Hiring team members with disabilities is just like hiring anyone else,” said Jerry. “Ultimately, success depends on the employee’s work ethic and goals. PRIDE’s team members are now part of the fun work culture here at Knee Deep, and we are glad to have them on board.”

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“Hiring team members with disabilities is just like hiring anyone else.”

— Jerry Moore, Wonder and CEO of Knee Deep

When Tracy Valencia was growing up, she would save all her class notes for her younger brother, whose disability made it hard for him to write. Her brother Ed used those notes to keep up in high school, eventually graduating as a straight-A student.

 

Today, Tracy brings this same thoughtful dedication to her work as a PRIDE Job Coach. Every year, Tracy helps dozens of people with disabilities learn the skills they need to get and keep a job. She also provides on-the-job support.

 

Tracy’s role as a Job Coach has become even more crucial during the pandemic. For example, when S.L. Scotty, one of Tracy’s clients, wanted to continue his work at an R.C. Willey Distribution Center, Tracy was both proud and concerned. The pandemic was new; safety guidelines still needed to be defined.

 

Tracy knew she wanted Scotty and others to take every precaution possible, so she partnered with PRIDE Industries’ Safety team to provide masks and gloves for these employees as soon as possible. PRIDE Industries management had already sourced the needed materials, so Tracy was able to equip her clients to continue working safely.

 

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Tracy Valencia and S.L. Scotty

“I’m proud of the people I support,” says Tracy. “Nothing was going to stop them from doing their jobs. We truly have some shining stars out there.”

Despite the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, PRIDE’s Employment Services (ES) team has remained hard at work, and continues to place people with disabilities and other barriers to employment in long-term, gainful employment. Two recent ES clients, Heidy Crans and Lorena Murray, placed by Job Developer Caryl Balko, recently celebrated their one-year work anniversaries. They have received support from Job Coach Diana Crawford, who provides additional resources during any challenge, including a global pandemic!

Heidy Crans – Job Success Leads To a Home Purchase

Heidy just celebrated her first anniversary working at Smart & Final warehouse grocery store this December. In addition to reaching this important milestone, Heidy also earned a well-deserved promotion to cashier. With this professional success came a personal highlight – Heidy purchased a home, which she now shares with her boyfriend and two dogs.


When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Heidy stepped up as an essential worker. Taking the necessary protective precautions was challenging at times, but Heidy took her responsibilities seriously – properly wearing a mask and gloves throughout her shift, cleaning her cashier station, and making sure every cart, shelf, and restroom was thoroughly sanitized.


“There were times that I would admit were tough, especially hearing all of the news about the pandemic,” said Heidy. “However, I still showed up for work to serve what I love most about my job: our friendly customers!”

Heidy Crans
Heidy Crans purchased a home after receiving a promotion

Lorena Murray – Celebrating a Job Milestone

Lorena celebrated her first anniversary as a maintenance worker and housekeeper at Crunch Fitness in July 2020. She is responsible for cleaning all the exercise equipment, locker rooms, and floors. Lorena enjoys socializing with her coworkers, as well as the free gym membership!


When the pandemic hit, forcing gyms and exercise facilities to cut back or close, Lorena saw her work hours greatly reduced. But Lorena banded together with her team, and stayed in frequent contact with her manager until she could go back to work this September.


“Due to Lorena’s disability, doctors told us that she might not reach the same milestones as other children,” said Helen Murray, Lorena’s mother. “We didn’t accept that she was limited and made sure that she had the same opportunities as everyone else.”


PRIDE’s ES team is proud of Lorena’s progress and her excellent work ethic. She is currently saving up to move into her own apartment.

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PRIDE’s job developers, coaches, and assessment specialists work closely with employees and employers to identify areas of need and carefully match qualified workers to appropriate job opportunities.
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Lorena Murray celebrated her first anniversary as a maintenance worker and housekeeper at Crunch Fitness in July 2020.

Foster youth face daunting challenges once they hit their 18th birthday. Many lack the skills needed to start employment, gaining the experience necessary for a successful career. PRIDE Industries’ Youth Services program provides support, mentorship, and necessary work success items (such as clothing and bus passes) to help foster youth lead an independent adult life.

 

Kat, a former foster youth, was facing employment challenges when she was referred to PRIDE in the summer of 2020. With help from a job coach, Kat created a path to achieving her dreams.

Foster Youth Employment Services

As a young adult who has recently transitioned from the foster care system, Kat had to overcome many obstacles without family support or guidance. 

“I recently had no job and had to figure out how to sign up for school, find internet access, and pay my bills,” she said. “I felt like I was stuck in a hard place with nowhere to turn”. 

 

That changed when she was referred to PRIDE Industries in July 2020 and paired with Lana, a Job Developer in the foster youth employment program. Lana helped Kat with her job search, including preparing her for interviews and teaching her how to make a positive first impression. They also worked together to narrow down the kinds of jobs that would suit Kat’s interests. Not long after, Kat landed a job as a home health aide. 

 

“Helping people is my passion,” said Kat. “I just finished my first month working as a home health aide, and I like my job! I enjoy cooking, cleaning, and assisting my client, and it’s a wonderful feeling to have her greet me every time I arrive. My job means a lot to me; I enjoy helping others live their best lives. The skills I am learning now will help me serve my future clients as a social worker.”

As she continues to thrive in her new job, Kat plans to attend college.

 

Eventually, she plans to pursue her dream of starting a nonprofit for foster youth that focuses on counseling and support. “I also want to travel the world and become a homeowner,” she said. “My journey has just begun!”

Transitioning out of foster care?

PRIDE Industries provides internships, job coaching, work transportation, assistive technology, and so much more for foster youth as well as people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.
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“My job means a lot to me; I enjoy helping others live their best lives.”

The key to any successful workplace is open and efficient communication. Perhaps no one knows this better than Job Coach and ASL Translator Christina Alderete, who provides interpreting services for PRIDE Industries. Christina is an El Paso, TX native who works at PRIDE’s Fort Bliss contract. There, she delivers crucial communication to employees with her trilingual abilities in English, Spanish, and ASL. 

 

“In a border town like El Paso, TX, one is bound to be multicultural at heart,” Christina said. “Growing up bilingual in English and Spanish, I became a translator at an early age for my father and grandparents.”

Years later, the need for trilingual ASL interpreting services in the Hispanic Deaf population was growing. With this in mind, a friend encouraged Christina to learn ASL. So that’s exactly what she did.    

 

“In my ASL interpreter preparation program, you were highly encouraged to engage with the Deaf community, as you learn how Deaf people perceive signs and actions,” she said. “I became acquainted with the ‘Planet EYEth,’ a term the Deaf community sometimes uses to refer to themselves because they use their eyes instead of ears. This experience inspired me, and after graduating in 2014, I joined PRIDE Industries at Fort Bliss as a job coach and ASL translator.”

Providing ASL Services to Improve Employee Communication

Christina’s desire to bridge the communication gap in the Deaf community coincided with PRIDE’s goal to make every workplace more accessible and inclusive through ASL interpreting services and a wide range of other employment resources.

 

For example, many employees at PRIDE who are deaf or hard of hearing hold positions in technical departments, including electrical, HVAC, and plumbing. However, there are many industry specific terms and signs associated with these kinds of skilled trades. To streamline the training process and improve communication for everyone, the PRIDE Vocational Rehabilitation team consulted with employees. Together, they developed a work manual in English, Spanish, and ASL.

 

“I truly enjoy using my trilingual abilities and feel privileged to assist both Deaf and hearing employees with interpretation services,” said Christina. “The deaf community at Fort Bliss has been very encouraging and provides excellent feedback to help me become a better interpreter.”  

 

Day to day, Christina enjoys the different ways she applies her ASL interpreting services for each employee. “The most powerful lesson that I have learned as an interpreter is that everyone is different; not all individuals sign the same. Some individuals are highly visual and lack literacy skills in English, so I help them develop strategies to work around that. During my six years at PRIDE, my greatest accomplishment has been observing the progress of the employees I have coached and seeing them succeed in their careers.”

Are you an employee in need of ASL services?

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“The most powerful lesson that I have learned as an interpreter is that everyone is different; not all individuals sign the same.”

It can be difficult for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to find jobs where they feel confident and understood. This is something PRIDE employee Rogelio Ibañez understands firsthand. In recognition of Deaf Awareness Month, he has shared his story with us. In his story, he also offers insight on how to communicate with those who are deaf or use sign language.

At Ft. Bliss, TX, many PRIDE employees are multilingual in both spoken and sign languages. This includes Rogelio Ibañez, who joined the team in 2011 and has continued to thrive in his job at Ft. Bliss, earning a promotion to General Maintenance Worker in 2015.

Helping Deaf People Find Jobs where Communication Isn’t a Barrier

Rogelio can communicate in four different languages: LSM (Lengua de Señas Mexicana), Spanish, ASL (American Sign Language), and English. His journey was one of perseverance.  

“I was born in Mexico to hearing parents and had three older hearing siblings and a younger one who was also Deaf,” he said. “My family initially didn’t know any sign language but communicated with me through gestures and lip-reading. When I moved to a mainstream school, they did not have an interpreter, so I learned both LSM and Spanish (both different languages in verb inflections, structure, and word order). One of my older siblings also learned LSM to serve as our family interpreter for school, church, and doctor visits.

“When I moved to the United States as a teenager, communication was an issue, as I only knew Spanish and LSM. I distinctly remember one time that the police stopped me, and I couldn’t talk to them because they didn’t know Spanish or LSM. Eventually, I met my girlfriend (who would eventually become my wife), and she taught me ASL and English, while I taught her LSM and Spanish. I began to attend Deaf coffee socials in Dallas to meet more people in the Deaf community and improve on ASL. English, however, is still something I am continuing to perfect.”

Rogelio faced communication challenges as he searched for work, but then he found PRIDE. In an effort to build an inclusive environment, PRIDE’s job coaches, ASL interpreters, and rehabilitation counselors translate between team members and customers, helping bridge the gap for employees who are deaf or hard of hearing. Assistive technology methods are also used to help employees overcome communication obstacles in their day to day jobs. This atmosphere of inclusivity and access was a true game-changer for Rogelio. 

Preparing Others in the Deaf Community for Job Success

In his spare time Rogelio helps teach a course at El Paso Community College where he  teaches basic signs in LSM and ASL to American students as well as Deaf students from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. 

“It’s such an enjoyable experience to help connect with others who are looking to join this community,” he said. “We all share our goals and obstacles in a supportive environment.”

Rogelio offers advice for hearing people looking to improve their communication with those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or use sign language. “Utilize hand gestures or facial expressions. Of course, it depends on the individual’s preference; deaf and hard-of-hearing is not the same thing, and everyone has their own style based on how much they can hear.

Many Deaf people, including myself, rely on reading lips. During the COVID-19 pandemic, masks have sometimes been an obstacle, but wearing clear ones can help. Another option is to stand more than six feet apart so we can speak without covering our faces.”

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PRIDE Industries offers a variety of employment services.
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PRIDE employee Rogelio Ibañez

“In former positions, I felt out of place and became frustrated. Joining PRIDE Industries made a difference, as now I am comfortable with the work and can easily speak to my team”.