Hibbett partnered with United Ability of Alabama to offer a six-week summer Job Exploration Training Services (JETS) program for students with disabilities.
The Hibbett Birmingham, Ala.-based athletic-inspired footwear and apparel retailer began hosting a worksite for the United Ability JETS summer program in June 2021. United Ability is a non-profit seeking to improve quality of life for children and adults with disabilities in Alabama.
“We are so appreciative of the support Hibbett has shown United Ability’s Summer JETS Program,” said Katie Dumais, Director of Employment Services, United Ability. “Hibbett has proven itself to be a true leader in the community and we look forward to growing this partnership for years to come.”
“We could not be prouder to host a program that is so impactful in Birmingham and provides access, opportunities and jobs to capable and hard-working youth who are often overlooked or forgotten in the job market,” said Harvey Knighten, VP Human Resources, Hibbett. “The JETS program allows a unique opportunity to these students as they prepare to enter a competitive workforce and in fact, we are hiring a couple of the students who were interested in permanent positions.”
The United Ability JETS program was developed five years ago to help Birmingham’s disabled community find more independence and career opportunities, despite being faced with intellectual, physical or mental challenges. Students in the JETS program must be at least 16 years old, enrolled in a greater Birmingham area high school and enrolled with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. Students in the program receive a combination of work-based learning and on the job support as they receive mentoring and learn the skills needed to perform a variety of different jobs. All program participants are paid to work four hours per day, five days a week for the 6-week duration of the program.
For more information, go to www.hibbett.com.
