We Make is remaking what it means to employ people
Here’s a “didja know” I bet you didn’t know and, quite frankly, I didn’t know either even though I probably should’ve known: People with special needs do not fall under the same minimum wage categories as the rest of us. In fact, according to federal law that’s been around for over 80 years, workers with disabilities can be paid as little as $1 an hour.
That’s a little … well, “disgusting” is a word that comes to mind.
But if one Pennington company has anything to do with it, those Dark Ages will soon come to an end.
“Our goal is to serve and provide the community in a different way,” said Moe Siddiqu, the program director for We Make. “We’re going to give an opportunity to a population that is underemployed and really shine a light on what value they could have to the community and to a business.”
In short? We Make employs people with autism - and sometimes other disabilities - and pays them above minimum wage for their work. And what work is that? Collating, sorting, packaging, manufacturing, warehousing, order fulfillment, that sort of stuff.
Right now, We Make employs 22 people, some of whom are there on internships from local school districts.
OK. That’s the short story. The longer version? We Make is the brainchild of Tony Lesenskyj, the president and CEO of LMT Mercer Group, a top manufacturer in the fence, deck, and railing industry. Tony’s son, Colin, was diagnosed with autism at an early age, and like many other autistic (and other special needs kids) Colin aged out of the school and government programs at age 21.
Like many parents who own a business, Tony wanted to see his son follow in his footsteps. But Colin’s diagnosis made the issue difficult. Not only in regards to productivity, but also safety.
Out of this problem came the solution - We Make. The 40,000 square foot facility would not only give Colin a place to work, but it would give countless other autisic adults a chance to have a productive career. The facility, which started just packaging OEM products for LMT Mercer, has grown to include customers such as Bristol Myers Squibb, Xenna Corporation, Bricklink. com, and countless others.
The work environment isn’t much different than your typical warehouse environment, except in the details. Shorter work periods, break areas, helping hands, whatever it takes to make these workers do their job to the best of their ability.
To be clear: This ain’t your typical non-profit geared for people with disabilities. There is a twoweek trial period for potential employees, and everyone has to be on board for it to work out. So far, after nearly two years? It’s really worked out.
“Our idea is to get them fully independent without support,” Siddiqu, who has a rich background working in the special needs/vocational world, said. “And almost everyone who has started here has gotten to that point. In fact, our floor supervisor started on the floor himself.”
The goal for We Make? It’s more than just what they started. Siddiqu said the concept can be duplicated, and not just for manufacturing and sorting and that sort of stuff. Insurance companies, car companies, really anywhere. And for the employees? The goal is simple: Give them a chance at independence, cash in their pocket, and knowledge of a job well done.
All in all, it’s been a smash. “Yeah, it’s coming to fruition,” Siddiqu said. “Nothing really goes as planned, but we always make it work out. I knew it was going to be successful.”
Jeff Edelstein is a columnist for The Trentonian. He can be reached at jedelstein@ trentonian.com, facebook. com/jeffreyedelstein and @ jeffedelstein on Twitter.