Harbor Crew marks 30 years of service maintaining the Santa Barbara waterfront | Homes and lifestyle

0

Posted on September 24, 2022
| 6:06 p.m.

Source: Rae van Seenus for Momentum WORK, Inc.

Momentum WORK, Inc. commemorates the 30th anniversary of Santa Barbara Harbor Crew serving the Santa Barbara community.

The Santa Barbara Harbor Crew, part of the nonprofit Group Employment Program for the Disabled, is an essential janitorial team that maintains the Santa Barbara waterfront 365 days a year.

The team recently celebrated with a picnic at Leadbetter Beach and a proclamation presented by Dist. 3 Councilman Oscar Gutierrez.

The crew brings together people who share similar job training needs to fulfill a competitive and integrated employment contract with the City of Santa Barbara Waterfront Department.

Each crew member is paid minimum wage or higher with opportunity for advancement. Dupervision is provided by Momentum WORK, Inc. work coaches to enable the group to meet contract production and quality standards.

Beginning in 1992, the organization received a grant to fund new positions and introduce services that offered people with disabilities the opportunity to work in environments that allowed maximum interaction in the community.

At that time, the WORK, Inc. contract with the City of Santa Barbara began with seven harbor crew members servicing the Sea Landing area only. Today, a total of 35 harbor crew members are employed to clean public toilets and empty rubbish and recycling for the entire harbor and waterfront commercial areas.

“What makes the Santa Barbara Harbor Crew so unique is how integrated the members are into the greater harbor community,” said Kevin Smith, director of program services for Momentum WORK, Inc. “They know the locals and the locals know them.

“The crew regularly receives compliments from the people who work and live in the port, which helps them know that they are an essential part of our community”,

Believing that all individuals have the right to work, Momentum WORK, Inc. pursues its mission to connect job seekers with potential employers to create mutually beneficial and accessible workforce opportunities.

Santa Barbara County employers, called Workforce Access Partners, have found that working with Momentum WORK, Inc.’s trained staff in job placement and support, ensures a successful employee-employer relationship that improves the workplace. work and guarantees longevity and job satisfaction.

Momentum WORK, Inc. is looking to hire a Harbor Crew Coordinator; ; anyone interested should send a CV and cover letter to [email protected]

Share.

About Author

Comments are closed.