It’s a great thing in life to bring together your passion and your career, and that’s exactly what Tricia has been able to do in her new position with JOANN fabric and craft stores.

Tricia is an artist—she makes amazing creations in needle felting and doll making, with a specialty in digital art and digital drawing. With retail hiring picking back up this summer, she was hired as a Stock Associate at JOANN. Not only does she love the job, she is also constantly getting inspiration for craft projects of her own as she walks the aisles and organizes inventory of jewelry and patterned fabrics.

Tricia’s had an *awesome* first few months at work. She’s a hard-working self-starter, always ready to point aspiring crafters to the supplies they’re looking for. She also receives support from CIS as part of our Art Works program, which connects her with studio space, supplies, and support from our amazing Art Works team, many of whom are artists themselves. And if her job and art skills weren’t enough, she’s also halfway to an IT degree!  

As we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we’re so proud to recognize Tricia, and the role of all workers with disabilities in helping power the recovery.