At Flawless we believe that empowerment begins with connection, and we were reminded of how important this is during our recent visit with our new friends at Jeff Industries. For over 40 years, Jeff Industries has been providing amazing vocational training programs for people living with mental health challenges.
Our visit started off with a Flawless Workshop with a group of inspiring participants. We came with our Flawless backpacks packed with self-care items to teach about how we feel our feelings, how to use different coping tools, and illustrate how to talk positively about ourselves and our peers. From the moment we stepped into the building we could feel the warmth from each participant and staff member.
As always, one of our favorite parts of any Flawless Workshop is hearing directly from the participants. Many shared how the experience filled their day with happiness, motivation, and hope. We had everyone write down and read aloud their favorite part of the workshop and heard reflections such as, “My favorite moment is when I had a stressful morning. Now I feel so happy and coming here made my day,” while another shared, “being able to hear all the nice things and everyone sharing freely. Even made me cry today because I knew it was a safe place.” It’s in these moments that the true impact of our workshops shines through.
Personally, one of the most meaningful parts of the day was witnessing how close the group was. The way they encouraged one another, shared openly about their situations, and supported each other was a true reflection of what a community should look like. Whenever someone answered our prompt of “What makes you Flawless?” you would hear an echoing response from the other members of the group supporting their claim.
But this time it wasn’t just about us facilitating another workshop. At Jeff Industries it was also about learning and building a connection with a like minded organization in the community. We took a tour through their incredible facility and interviewed Mariano Cassini, Head of Sales and Production. Mariano works hands-on with the participants to teach them screen printing and embroidery skills, offering both creative outlets and real-world job training. His passion for mentorship and empowerment was inspiring and a testament to the incredible work happening at Jeff Industries every day.
We had such an inspiring time at Jeff Industries, and we are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside an organization that is also aligned with our mission of a more Flawless World. We started the unfamiliar with one another and ended it with a deep sense of connection and a reminder of the power of community and care….#YouAreFlawless
