Bosma announced on Monday the relaunch of the Student Training and Employment Program (STEP) after pausing the initiative because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With financial support from Lilly Endowment and the City of Indianapolis’ Indy Summer Youth Program Fund (SYPF), the popular program returns with enhanced safety protocols and careful planning.
Operated in partnership with the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ISBVI), STEP enables high school students who are blind or visually impaired to explore various career paths, learn essential job skills and develop a marketable professional portfolio.
“We are extremely thankful to Lilly Endowment and the City of Indianapolis for their commitment to supporting youth who are blind or visually impaired in our community,” said Arvetta Jideonwo, Executive Director, Bosma Visionary Opportunities Foundation.
Provided at no cost to students, STEP blends classroom learning, hands-on work experience and recreational activities. With support from the two grants, students will participate in job readiness training and paid summer internships.
“Helping these students build beneficial skills is the first step toward gaining viable employment, which can often be a challenge for a population facing a national unemployment rate of 70 percent,” said James Michaels, VP of Programs Services, Bosma Center for Visionary Solutions. “STEP equips these students with the knowledge and skills they need to move into the workforce.”
Rooted in more than 100 years of history, Bosma is one of Indiana’s largest nonprofit organizations providing training and employment programs for people who are blind or visually impaired. The Bosma Visionary Opportunities Foundation (BVOF) exists to support Bosma’s mission to create opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Through corporate partnerships, special events and ongoing fundraising, the foundation supports initiatives that help Hoosiers who are blind gain the life skills they need to remain independent, and the job skills they need to stay self-sufficient. As a supporting foundation, all BVOF revenues go to support for Bosma and the comprehensive vision rehabilitation programs offered through its Center for Visionary Solutions.
For more information on STEP, visit bosma.org/step.