STEP up

Westland celebrates internship program

The City of Westland recently celebrated the success of the Services to Enhance Potential (STEP) Workplace to Success Intern Program in city hall. 
The STEP Supported Employment Services Department works to help individuals with disabilities and other challenges explore, prepare for, and become successful at a job of their choice, through training opportunities, education and outreach with community businesses, and ongoing support. These workplace internships permit individuals to experience what working in a variety of settings, including experience in custodial, housekeeping, food service, day care and others, according to a city spokesperson.
The success of two interns, Ryan Klotz and Tracy Kulikowski, who worked at Westland City Hall was recently lauded  by city and organization officials.

In November of 2019, Klotz began interning with the City of Westland Building Department where his primary focus has been processing building permits. 
His duties have recently been expanded to support the finance department with water billing. 
Kulikowski began her internship in December working with the building department scanning building plans and electronically organizing files as well as providing additional support to the human resources department. 
City officials organized a ceremony last month to celebrate the current and future success of the partnership.  Westland Mayor William R. Wild, President and CEO of STEP Brent Mikulski and Terey DeLisle, employment and training services director at STEP,  spoke to the assembled group. 
“The City of Westland is proud to join the growing list of Westland organizations participating in the Workplace to Success Intern Program,” commented Wild.  “The program allows individuals to prepare for employment opportunities through hands on experience that promote employable work skills and independence.  STEP has been an incredible community partner and we are looking forward to achieving even more great things together in the future.”