Last week was one for the ages for CIS participant Amira, who graduated from Temple University and then worked two Taylor Swift shows at The Linc!!

Amira was hired in April as Event / Game Day Staff at Lincoln Financial Field, and the great new job paid off in a pretty sweet way when she got to work the Taylor Swift shows on Saturday and Sunday. But if anyone’s earned it, it’s Amira: for the past few years she’s been working towards her diploma as part of Temple’s Leadership & Career Studies program, all while working jobs in food service and hospitality. That culminated last Thursday when Amira graduated. It’s a truly huge achievement, and we know it will open a lot of doors for her, as well as for the six other CIS participants who graduated from the program alongside her: Jaymee, Ibraahim, James, Alex, Louis, and Judith!

As excited as Amira was to graduate, she was almost as excited about the weekend. While Taylor was the star of the stage, Amira played a great supporting role, greeting concertgoers and assisting them in finding their seats. It was also a great team effort by CIS staff, who did a standout job in support of Amira. Picture 2 shows her with her Job Coach Bart Lewis; CIS Job Coach Blu Tesfaye supported her on Sunday; and CIS Travel Trainer Luke Tomczuk helped Amira get accustomed to taking public transportation from her home to the stadium in her first weeks on the job.

We are so proud of Amira for all her success in school and at work, and grateful for all the CIS staff who have helped her thrive in her first weeks at her new job!

[image 1 shows Amira showing a peace sign on Lincoln Financial Field ahead of the concert, rows of chairs and the stage visible behind her; image 2 shows Amira standing beside her Job Coach Bart and looking at the camera with the field and stage visible behind them; image three shows Amira in the stadium concourse chatting with Taylor Swift fans; image 4 is a headshot of Amira in a graduation cap and gown]