SALUTE TO RON BARBER OF THE PAUL SIMON JOBCORPS
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this legislative body to honor those distinguished individuals whose lifework and enlightened endeavors have served to enhance the quality of life for citizens of this city; and
WHEREAS, Ron Barber is an instructor for The Paul Simon Jobcorps, a free federal government-sponsored education and training program for young people at least 16 years of age that qualify as low income. It is commissioned with the daunting task of providing the all-around skills needed to succeed in a career and in life in order to earn a high school diploma or GED, and find and keep a good job; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, when Gateway to Learning Special Education and Training Center (GTL) asked for and received a substantial donation of paint from the Behr Processing Corp. to decorate their facility on North Lincoln Avenue, they needed the aid of more than their hard working community recruits, who were painting most of the facility, to paint their gymnasium with its walls extending 20 feet from floor to ceiling. The volunteers were simply not equipped to paint walls that high, nor the wide expanse of the ceiling over the vast basketball floor; and
WHEREAS, The Painter's District Council #14 recommended The Paul Simon Jobcorps and it was Ron Barber who stepped up to take on this enormous undertaking. He met with GTL's Executive Director to learn about GTL's clients and consumers whose developmental disabilities sometimes can be aggravated by disruptions in their routines. Ron Barber instructed his apprentices in handling their painting tasks with careful attention to the sensibilities of Gateway's special clients; and
WHEREAS, The student apprentice painters from The Paul Simon Jobcorps decorated the school with little to no disruption in the normal Gateway rhythms. As time passed, Gateway's staff as well as the students noted the many praiseworthy leadership traits and personal qualities Ron Barber possessed.
WHER...
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