Sharp Training, Inc., is located in New London.
Anyone who has dined in Harris for breakfast or lunch has received unusually friendly service, the kind that makes itworth leaving the confines of South Campus. Nowhere else on campus during these hours will the staff greet you with a heartier “good morning” or wear a broader smile while refilling the napkins or mopping the floors. This unusually amiable and efficient service is largely a result of the help Dining Services receives from the Sharp Program.
The Sharp Program is a state-funded organization based in New London established to provide jobs and a means of structure and productivity to working-age people with special developmental needs. Sharp determines potential workers from within their program, and the organization then contacts establishments, such as Connecticut College Dining Services, that are able to provide these workers with jobs that suit their skill sets.
Sharp, which has been working with Connecticut College for nearly fifteen years, receives forty dollars a day from Dining Services for taking on their special needs clients, while Sharp separately pays each of its clients his or her own paycheck. Sharp workers work Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 2 PM, with holidays off.
Mike Kmec, Director of Connecticut College Dining Services, described Sharp as a helpful middle man in the process of arranging for special needs workers to find jobs.
“[Establishments] aren’t required to work with Sharp,” he said. “They approached us, and we thought it was a great idea. They came to us, and said we have these workers with these abilities. Dining Services decided from there what workers [we] need.”
Sharp workers are employed in a variety of occupations, at such employers as TJ Maxx, retirement homes, YMCAs, catering and even Connecticut College Physical Plant.
“There is a huge variety of what their abilities are [here in Dining Services],” explained Kmec, explaining how some Sharp workers refill napkins and mop floors while others work with knives under the direct supervision of the head chef.
Kmec also noted that some Sharp employees have become such an asset to Dining Services that they have been hired full time.
Sharp workers receive full-time training from Sharp before embarking on their jobs, and separate training from each worker’s specific vocation before starting at their new position.
Kmec, however, explained that although Sharp workers serving Dining Services do receive training here, a full-time job coach comes to the work site every day to make sure the workers are carrying out their jobs. “Some days are good, some days are bad,” says Kmec. “That’s why we have a job coach on hand.”
Dining Services’ current job coach, Denise, sets up camp at one of the back tables in Harris and spends the day ensuring the workers receive the motivation to work. “They understand they are getting a paycheck, but not necessarily what it’s for, since they are going to get some sort of government income.”
Denise serves as a source of comfort and support to the workers. “I’m a mom to all of them,” she explained. “They take my lead for the most part. I try to walk around, and I think my presence is enough to keep them on task.”
The partnership between Sharp and Dining Services can best be described as a happy marriage. “They do an invaluable service for us; I’m really fond of them,” Kmec said.
He went on to describe the Sharp workers as the “nicest, sweetest” people he has ever met, citing one friendly worker who wishes everyone “good morning,” as well as another employee who loves nothing more than to share a warm hug with each of her coworkers.
“She always asks me to say hi to my wife for her.” Kmec glowingly explains that the Sharp workers “wear their hearts on their sleeves. It’s special that we can have them here.” •
