Community Partner Spotlight with Broken Arrow Seniors

About 85% of people with developmental disabilities in the Tulsa area are unemployed. Most survive solely on a social security check that averages $750/month. In 2019, A New Leaf served 128 individuals through our vocational programs resulting in $450,000 of earned client wages to help overcome these statistics. Clients learn job skills and are provided gainful employment in six greenhouses, three retail centers, a three-acre farm, and over 13 community job sites, like Broken Arrow Seniors. We recognize that not all of our clients like working with plants, and we coordinate with our community partners to provide a variety of job industries to suit each individual we serve.

Sean Simpson, President/CEO of Broken Arrow Seniors Inc., says “It’s not just the fantastic greenhouse program that you have. it’s the occupational services like custodial program, which is something we had a need for.” A New Leaf clients provide janitorial services to Broken Arrow Seniors, located just a mile from our vocational headquarters. The partnership is a pathway for our clients to learn a meaningful wage, but the clients provide professional-quality work, and Sean says the facility has never been cleaner!

“The [clients] that come in here, they get to learn in this environment, but they’re every bit a part of our team. They love coming to work and have a great time when they’re here. The day they got their nametags they said they were official, and that’s how we look at our relationship with A New Leaf. We are partners…but a nonprofit should find more ways to work together rather than working in our siloed environments.”

Sean continues, “The best part is that they love to be here. they want to be here every day. If they’re not here, we miss them...They come to work every day with an excellent attitude…They enjoy every minute they get to spend here, and they’re really indispensable. I love having them here everyday.”

We love working with Sean and Broken Arrow Seniors to help our clients achieve the individuality and independence they desire. Thanks to all our community partners for believing in our mission!