Page 22 - LRCC 2025 October FOCUS Magazine

Open Doors With Peckham: Inclusive

Opportunities in Lansing’s Workforce

By Liz Reno-Hayes

he Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
recently welcomed its first membership intern,
TAdrienne Harmon, through a partnership with
Peckham, a nonprofit that creates opportunities
for people with disabilities and other barriers to
employment. A Holt/Mason native and proud mom of a
9-year-old son, Adrienne quickly became an asset to the
Chamber team during her five-week internship.

Her favorite part of the internship? “The staff,” she
shared. “I really looked forward to coming in.” Adrienne
supported the membership department with phone at a local Meijer and job shadowing experiences with
calls and administrative projects, gaining behind-the- multiple other organizations, he discovered his goal of
scenes insight into Chamber life. She hopes to continue becoming a school bus driver. Today he has earned his
her career in administration, building on the skills she driver’s license, started his first job as a bus washer at
developed through Dean Transportation, and is saving toward his first car as
this experience. he works toward his dream of becoming a bus driver.

The internship was Partnerships like these showcase what’s possible
made possible through when businesses open their doors to inclusive
Partnerships like Peckham’s On-the- employment. Lansing-area employers interested in
these showcase Job Evaluation (OJE) learning more can connect with Peckham’s team at
program, which
what’s possible provides short-term cagreen@peckham.org. u
when businesses work experiences
open their doors designed to evaluate Does your community
to inclusive an individual’s feel scattered?
readiness and identify
employment. accommodations for
long-term success. 15 16 17
Participants gain 13 14 18 19
hands-on experience, 12
while employers meet potential talent, address 20
immediate staffing needs and build inclusive 11 21
workplace cultures. 10
22
Peckham partners with Michigan Rehabilitation 9 23
Services (MRS) to provide tailored support, ranging 8
from job coaching and accommodations to follow-up 24
services after hire. For businesses, the process is simple: 7 25
Peckham learns about workforce needs, identifies 6 26
strong candidates, and coordinates the internship or 5 1 27
hiring process to ensure success. 4 3 2 31 28
30
This partnership offers clear benefits to Lansing-area 29
employers. Businesses gain access to motivated,
reliable talent while supporting a more inclusive Connect the dots with strategic storytelling
workforce. Many also see increased employee morale
and customer engagement.

The program has already changed lives. Adrienne is just
one example. Another participant, Jared, started with Community-Building Creative
no work experience and little direction. After an OJE

22 FOCUS MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2025