"Road to Independence" Breaking Barriers to Poverty

Cornerstone Montgomery celebrates the successful expansion of its partnership with The Rotary Club of North Bethesda, The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club, District 7620 of Rotary International, the Montgomery County Council and Barwood Inc. to transport disabled individuals in Montgomery County, Maryland to places of employment at hours when and in locations where public transportation systems are not operating. Says Cornerstone Montgomery’s CEO, Cari Guthrie Cho: “It is clear to us since launching the Road to Independence that helping job seekers overcome this hurdle to employment provides people who are disabled with a means for achieving independence as well as the sheer dignity of having a job and contributing more fully to society.”

The desire to be employed and the dignity of having a job coupled with the economic benefits to an individual recovering his or her life, this program is a powerful catalyst for reducing the costs of poverty at every level of any society. This program has not only generated direct salary dollars to disabled individuals, but also tax revenues at the County, State and Federal levels. Since its inception in 2015, the program has helped hundreds of disabled job seekers to participate in job related activities, with nearly 50 people securing new jobs or increased shift work. Just this past month, six additional job seekers gained employment – from homeless veterans to disabled adults! “This unique program should be viewed as a win-win initiative for all concerned and has tremendous expansion potential for similar programs in other localities,” says Dr. Bruce Fowler, a Rotarian and a Volunteer Mentor for Cornerstone Montgomery.

Corietta is a switchboard operator at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center and faces a number of self-described “challenges” including mental health diagnoses and blindness. She relies on public transportation to get to and from work, and is able to respond to unexpected disruptions in her work schedule or public transportation by utilizing a transportation voucher. “I can’t quit my job every time there is a challenge. I wouldn’t be any good to my employer.”

Adam secured a job with the Apple store in DC. He was able to apply for work and train for his new job using metro. Just before starting his new job he injured himself, but was able to stay on schedule and earn a living (and not re-injure himself walking blocks from the metro to and from work each day!) through the temporary use of transportation vouchers.

Says Lee Barnes, CEO of Barwood Taxi: “Someone with a disability, who is coming out of poverty, must normally rely on public transportation. If that’s not feasible or if they go to and from work during the graveyard shift when public transportation is not operating…then you have a safety issue. Our drivers are proud to ensure the safety and well-being of our community’s most vulnerable population, shepherding them to greater independence through employment.”

Cornerstone Montgomery is a 501-c-3 nonprofit mental health services provider serving 2,400 individuals throughout Montgomery County, Maryland. Employment is woven into the fabric of their programming, which made Road to Independence a natural fit for their 500+ job seekers. Since the program’s inception, Cornerstone Montgomery has shared transportation resources with six other area nonprofits, who are also actively helping homeless veterans and disabled individuals to obtain gainful employment. For more information about the program visit www.getme2work.org.