Human Rights Award recipient helps disabled clients become independent

Industries, Inc. praised for advancing human rights

CAMBRIDGE – For their passion and commitment to advancing human rights in Isanti County, the staff and clients of Industries, Inc. earned the 2009 Human Rights Award.
The award was presented by the Isanti County Human Rights Commission on Martin Lutheran King, Jr. Day, Jan. 19.
Industries, Inc. is the 12th recipient of the award. “All the recipients have laid the groundwork for us to build a community we can be proud of,” praised Isanti County Human Rights Commission Chair Steve Mulligan.
Past award recipient John Schlagel said he can’t think of a more deserving organization than Industries. He pointed out, “They work with literally any person that comes to them with any type of disability. They find a spot to make them part of their community and their family.”
“It’s such a great honor,” stated Industries Co-Executive Director Denise Johnson. “We are so proud to have been given this award.”
“It’s just treasured here,” noted Industries Marketing Director Marilee Larson. “We can barely keep the smiles off our faces.”
ABOUT INDUSTRIES, INC.
Industries, Inc. began in 1966 with a group of people who had a vision for people with disabilities.
This group opened Brighter Day Achievement Center in Mora the next year. It grew into a corporation known as Industries, Inc. by the 1970s. The organization expanded to Cambridge’s industrial park in the 1990s.
“Our entire mission is about helping clients grow in their independence,” noted Industries Co-Director Kris McNally. “We find ways for them to be independent in different areas of their life.”
“Once upon a time our clients were locked up in institutions where people thought they weren’t capable of anything,” pointed out Johnson.
Staff at Industries are perpetually battling misconceptions about what they do.
“The perception of Industries is we have people in wheelchairs who can’t do anything,” observed McNally. “They don’t understand the spectrum of people with disabilities. Half the time you don’t even know [the worker is disabled] because they are so high functioning.”
Industries focuses on helping clients achieve their highest potential. “They come to work and have a job. We pay them based on the amount of work they do,” McNally pointed out. “If they work at a higher level, they earn more.”
This provides an incentive for the clients to learn more so that they are paid more.
She praised Industries, Inc. staff members who work with clients to achieve amazing results.
WORKING TO INCREASE INDEPENDENCE
Services provided by Industries are multi-faceted.
“We have a wide array of services,” noted Johnson. “No matter what their level is or their disability, we have a service for them.”
Jobs are provided at the plants for clients. Right now, Industries provides assembly work for more than 20 local and national companies, including Cambridge Metals & Plastics, Lake Country Products, and Medtronics.
Industries, Inc. workers also go out into the community. They provide cleaning, lawn care and janitorial services. They can be full or part-time workers handling positions employers can’t keep filled. Some are directly supervised by Industries, others by the respective business.
Placements are determined based on the client’s interests and skill levels.
Many clients begin by working at Industries’ plants or on work crews. These work crews might clean Barber’s on Main or shred paper at the Isanti County Government Center. As skills increase, the client might get placed with an outside company as a dishwasher or a cook, for example.
“A lot of what we do is helping people find their niche,” said Larson.
For jobs outside the Industries office, Industries provides the training necessary at no cost, as well as follow-up and consultation. Local businesses that have hired Industries’ workers include the city of Cambridge, Grand Casino, Allina Eye Clinic, Adventure Publications, Edward Jones, New Hope Community Church and Cortec.
Industries also focuses on developing life skills for its clients with disabilities, which includes those with severe persistent mental illness (SPMI).
In all, Industries has over 200 clients working in the Mora and Cambridge communities. Eighty clients are in the work habilitation programs learning life skills. And there is a varying number of folks with SPMI being helped at Industries, Inc.
Overseeing this work is a 10-member board and about 50 staff members.
“Our clients love the community integration,” said Johnson. “They just like being a part of life and doing the work they do here to increase their independence.”

Human Rights Award Recipients
1997 Shirley Holyfield
1998 Evelyn Puffer
1999 Braham Area School Student Council
2000 Jim Donahue
2001 Louis & Barbara Leisure
2002 Richard Coland
2003 Larry Ostrom
2004 Larry Southerland
2005 Son Duong
2006 Dehl Lindstrom
2007 John & Bonnie Schlagel
2009 Industries, Inc.