The Western Mass Recovery Learning Community (RLC) has joined with sister community, Leadership, Employment, Advocacy and Development (LEAD) to offer a variety of employment-related supports.

LEAD creates opportunities for people to develop leadership and employment skills through small grants, career development workshops, trainings and one-on-one supports.  Participants in the LEAD program have had many successes including starting   their own small businesses, recording original music, and creating and displaying their artwork.  Many have also moved on to a variety of competitive employment positions based, in part, on skills learned and supports received through LEAD.

The fundamental values underlying all LEAD employment supports include:

• Self-determination
• Increasing access to opportunity
• The importance of valued roles in recovery and in life
• The individual as the expert on themselves
• Building bridges to community
  

Ultimately, we believe that each person's inspiration, creativity, passion, goals and interests can guide them to the roles that will have the most meaning and impact in their lives, and that employment supports needn't be limited to only those options that seem obvious in the moment.

LEAD employment supports are focused into three different areas:

• Career Initiatives
• Career Explorations
• Women's Idea Factory

Click on any of the areas listed above to explore the opportunities available with our community!