Employment Options Clubhouse gets new home

Marlborough - It has more of welcoming feel to it. That's how David Oliver compared the new, freshly painted Employment Options Inc. Clubhouse that opened on Brigham Street in Marlborough Jan. 5 to their old rented space on East Main. The clubhouse is a program where adults recovering from mental illness help each other and themselves overcome barriers to employment and access other services through a family-like support system. By its very structure, the program blends camaraderie with training to accentuate the hidden capabilities the members all possess.
For over a decade, clubhouse staff and members have worked to break the stigma of mental illness. They have developed strong relationships with area businesses, where members have thrived as employees in jobs where their strengths are put to good use. But because the old clubhouse space was rented, there had been a feeling of lack of permanency. Anupa Shah, Options Marketing and Employment Manager, said the organization wanted to set roots, and now that they own the new space, she said, "We really want to say, 'We're here and we're here to stay.'"
Oliver concentrates his efforts in the clubhouse graphics unit, where he helps make the agency's business cards, adds graphics to the Options web site, and works on other tasks.
"With the work that I've been doing with graphics," he said, "I kind of see myself doing something in that field, and I feel that the clubhouse has helped me bring out that aspect of my skills."
When it came time for the move, Oliver's skills in graphic design were expanded to interior design.
"I did some of the blueprint materials, furniture outlay, changing of some of the walls with the help of the architect," he said, "and printed out blank blueprints to have other people fill in their ideas of where they'd like to have some of the furniture."
George Pappas also helped with the move. He worked on statistics at the old clubhouse. Being used to keeping numbers in order, at moving time he helped keep the clubhouse belongings in order - packing and labeling boxes. Now he's doing statistics on Brigham Street, where he's pleased with his new surroundings.
"I love it. It's great," Pappas said. "Such a big improvement in the atmosphere; the colored walls … It's just so nice to be in." With more space, more computers, and an industrial kitchen, Pappas added, "some of the things [at the new site] are state-of-the-art."
Members can hone their skills at the new facility or venture out, with support, to employment in the community. Pappas said one day he'd like to do clerical work at a job outside the clubhouse. But even if he does spend his days away, members are members for life, and he has the clubhouse home to return to for socialization and mutual support.
Oliver also likes the new space. While the old clubhouse had programs on two floors, the new facility is laid out on one - an arrangement Oliver said helps members and staff interact more easily. And because the previously separated units are now in close proximity, he said "people are doing some things they haven't done before and they're learning new things."
He identified one more potential benefit of the move. "Our surroundings might also attract new employers, causing new opportunities for members," he said.
Options Executive Director Toni Wolf thinks the new surroundings make a statement.
"One of the things people first think of," she said, "is 'Why do you have to have such a nice building or a nice space?' And I think, for the membership, it's really important that people feel that they're cared about and they're respected. And I think for the larger community to change the stigma of mental illness is huge. And to be able to have a place where people can come to and see the dignity that we want to have for our members, hopefully will change the picture of mental illness."
Moving into their own building and continuing the flow of daily operations is what Options deemed "phase 1." As funding permits, continued improvements to the surroundings are planned as phase 2 and phase 3. A slate of grand opening activities will be announced, and preparations for a capital campaign are underway.
For more information, call Employment Options at (508) 485-5051. For details about clubhouse services, ask for Wolf; to discuss employing clubhouse members, ask for Shah.

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