Kaleidoscope program to hold Employers Forum at Victory Baptist Church

An employer’s forum is coming up at Victory Baptist Church on July 21 in hopes of helping a group of Polk County residents sometimes overlooked in the business world find work.

Ronni Worthington Heard, who works for Highland River Health’s Kaleidoscope program at One Door Polk, is hoping to help those in the program find jobs by connecting individuals who are perfectly capable of working with employers seeking help.

“We are seeking employers to come to our forum to educate them on our individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and how our individuals work,” Worthington Heard said. “They’re employable, and they’re looking for opportunities.”

She said the Kaleidoscope program participants are able to work based on different level of capabilities.

“Right now, we have someone working at Kroger, they bag groceries and get the carts. We have a lady at Rick Zoerb Ford, and a lady working on a farm,” Worthington Heard said. “So really, we’re open to anything.”

Topics to be covered at the forum include tax incentives that can be gained, onsite job coaching from Kaleidoscope staff, and the ability to allocate other employees to different areas based on assignments new hires can take on to lessen the overall workload.

“Anyone that has the means to give our individuals an opportunity is welcome,” she said.

The evening event starts at 6:30 p.m. and includes food, door prizes, and several speakers and employer testimonials.

For more information, call Kaleidoscope at 770-749-2229.