Mass Cultural Council

Seven Hills ASPiRE! recently received a grant of $2,500 from the Mass Cultural Council to support its Seven Hills ASPiRE! Spring Art Exhibit.

The ASPiRE! model was built on the premise that no matter their challenges, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and brain injury should have the opportunity to make decisions for themselves, pursue competitive employment, and develop a supportive network of friends and advisors. The Art Therapy program has become an essential element of the program, with a wide range of workshops and activities incorporating painting, music, culture, and creative movement. The Spring Exhibit will give our talented artists the opportunity to share their unique gifts with family and friends, their peers in the program, and the greater community.

National Grid

Over many years, the National Grid Foundation has been a generous supporter of the Seven Hills ASPiRE! Workforce Readiness and Employment Program, which offers innovative vocational training opportunities across the Central MA area, using developmentally appropriate curricula to help individuals with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and maintain their highest level of competitive employment. The program includes soft-skills development, career planning, resume development, interviewing skills, job-specific training and placement, on-site job coaching, functional money management skills, and benefits education and coordination.

Approximately 250 of the more than 500 individuals enrolled in ASPiRE! participate in the Workforce Readiness and Employment program each year at our sites in Hopedale, Worcester, and Devens, as well as through partnerships with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Committee and area high schools.

National Grid Foundation funding helps to provide paid internship opportunities for the individuals we support in fields including café management, horticulture and community gardening, customer service/hospitality, facilities maintenance, and landscaping. These internships are provided through on-site microenterprises at our program locations and at businesses and community organizations in Worcester County.

National Grid’s continued investment in ASPiRE! ensures that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and brain injury can develop the skills they need to continue on a path toward meaningful and contributory employment.