The spotlight shown on Worcester's historic Stearns Tavern and that city's non-profit Seven Hills Foundation on April 8, during a Rotary Club of Worcester meeting. Tim Johnson, the Foundation's associate vice president, gave an excellent presentation on how his charitable organization provides learning opportunities for developmentally different individuals - with many of those opportunities available at the Tavern.
Seven Hills Foundation has a 67-year history of caring for people who have the ability to thrive when given the support, respect and dignity that all human beings deserve. The basic principal of serving others is the cornerstone of the foundation upon which Seven Hills is built.
Since a group of Central Massachusetts parents came together in 1953 to advocate for their children, the momentum of advocacy and social justice has grown exponentially. Seven Hills Foundation now stands as one of the most dynamic and comprehensive health- and human-services agencies in the country. With more 190 locations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and eight locations in countries abroad, Seven Hills is the premier provider of comprehensive support for people with significant life challenges.
Stearns Tavern - built in 1812, and one of two taverns remaining in Worcester - faced imminent demolition. Working with the building's owner, Preservation Worcester took possession of the Tavern's structure and transferred its possession to the City of Worcester. Since September 2019, the Tavern has house Seven Hills Café, and will also contain restroom facilities and community meeting space.
Participants of Seven Hills' ASPiRE! Academy provide services to the Tavern's building and park, including hospitality, food service, community gardening/sustainable farming, landscaping and facilities maintenance, through the Academy's workforce-readiness and job-skills training program, which supports individuals with various disabilities, which helps to prepare participants for meaningful employment in their community. The Academy is a full-time, out-of-district placement option for high school students, aged 16-22, with special needs that cannot be met in the local public-school system.
Shown, below, are screenshots of the April 8 presentation by Tim Johnson (second row, second from left) to the Worcester club.
For more information, contact Worcester Rotarian Bradford Wyatt by clicking here.
