Giuseppe Pellecchia says that his developmental disability has made it difficult to land a job. That’s until he found work at the Tech Life Café.
“I put on my tech shirt and I go to work,” Pellecchia said.
Pellecchia is a part of the Lifestyles for the Disabled program here on Staten Island. The nonprofit is dedicated to helping the special needs community get on-site job training. The students at Staten Island Technical High School are helping the organization reach its goal. That is why they created the Tech Life Café where they work alongside some Lifestyles’ clients.
“I put on my tech shirt and I go to work,” Pellecchia said.
Pellecchia is a part of the Lifestyles for the Disabled program here on Staten Island. The nonprofit is dedicated to helping the special needs community get on-site job training. The students at Staten Island Technical High School are helping the organization reach its goal. That is why they created the Tech Life Café where they work alongside some Lifestyles’ clients.
“They love coming to the school, socializing with the students, but also providing a job for them and that goes a long way,” said Lifestyles for the Disabled CEO Scott Salinardi.
The café has been up and running for the past 2 years. Students lead the entire operation from beginning to end. They bring in about $800 dollars each week. All of the money goes back into the Lifestyles program. Students say the best part of the whole experience is getting exposure to the special needs community.
“They do everything the same as you and you may lack in math and they may lack in reading, but we all lack in something. So it’s really not much of a difference,” said Staten Island Technical High School student Amanda DeMeo.
School administrators say their students never stop working up ways to make the café a success.
“Our students don’t go home at the end of the day – they stay here. We have to throw them out of the building sometimes,” said Staten Island Technical High School Assistant Principal Joseph Manzo.
Pellecchia says that he hopes the eatery stays open for years to come.
“I like this job. I hope it stays open,” he said.
And so, for working around the clock to help others lead independent lives, the Tech Life Café students are our Staten Islanders of the Week.
The café has been up and running for the past 2 years. Students lead the entire operation from beginning to end. They bring in about $800 dollars each week. All of the money goes back into the Lifestyles program. Students say the best part of the whole experience is getting exposure to the special needs community.
“They do everything the same as you and you may lack in math and they may lack in reading, but we all lack in something. So it’s really not much of a difference,” said Staten Island Technical High School student Amanda DeMeo.
School administrators say their students never stop working up ways to make the café a success.
“Our students don’t go home at the end of the day – they stay here. We have to throw them out of the building sometimes,” said Staten Island Technical High School Assistant Principal Joseph Manzo.
Pellecchia says that he hopes the eatery stays open for years to come.
“I like this job. I hope it stays open,” he said.
And so, for working around the clock to help others lead independent lives, the Tech Life Café students are our Staten Islanders of the Week.