Community Integrated Services

We are absolutely floored and could not be prouder to share that our own Paul Barth, Manager of Student Programs at CIS, is the recipient of the 2026 Erin Riehle Community Impact Award from Project SEARCH.

This is an incredible and deeply deserved achievement for Paul. The Community Impact award is given to just one individual in the entire country whose leadership and actions best reflect the spirit and legacy of Project SEARCH founder Erin Riehle and the mission of Project SEARCH. Paul was chosen among just a handful of finalists from around the nation, and the award honors the exceptional impact of his work advancing inclusive employment and expanding opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

In the words of one of Paul’s colleagues, “Paul *is* Project SEARCH in Philadelphia,” which speaks to just how instrumental he has been to the city’s SEARCH programs over the past decade. Paul helped develop CIS’s first SEARCH program at Drexel University in 2016. Since then, he’s guided over 80 interns in the transition from school to employment, and helped launch three additional SEARCH programs in Philadelphia over the last decade.

“He is the epitome of the word dedication,” said Jane Cordero, former Special Education Specialist at the School District of Philadelphia and longtime collaborator on Project SEARCH. “He’s knowledgeable about everything, and is the link to the students from before the SEARCH program even starts until they’re into their jobs and becoming successful community members.”

Please join us in congratulating Paul on this incredible honor. It’s a testament to the way his work in Philadelphia is setting a new standard for similar programs around the country, and we are so proud to see his impact recognized on a national scale.

Give it up for Fur The Pet Studio! This small business is making a big impact this summer by giving internship experience to a Kendall, a student we support with an interest in a career as a Vet Technician.

When Kendall (pictured right), told her transition developer (CIS’s own Erin Velott) about her love for animals, Erin knew just the right place to reach out to. Fur the Pet is Erin’s go-to spot for her own dog’s grooming needs. She reached out to the owner, Emily, introduced her to Kendall, and now Kendall’s getting important work experience in the shop, working side by side with Emily as they spruce up the store’s furry four-legged visitors.

“Emily has been nothing short of incredible,” said Erin, “both by giving her time and her knowledge to Kendall. And Kendall’s getting the best experience one could hope for: so far she’s learned bathing and blow-drying, and later this month will be given the opportunity to brush, clip nails, and learn all the ins and outs of top notch pet care work.”

It’s a dream internship for Kendall, and she’s been doing an amazing job at the studio. The story also speaks to what sets CIS apart: helping the people we serve find the right career for them by giving them first-hand work experience in the fields of their interest before they ever begin the job application process.

Our enormous thanks go out to Delaware Division for the Visually Impaired and Fur The Pet Studio for their fantastic partnership. Follow them on Facebook, and head to cisworks.org to learn more about CIS and the many opportunities available for you to join our team!

We’re still in the glow of this weekend’s national celebrations, but we’ve already got another important milestone to honor: Danny’s five year anniversary in his job at a local auto parts shop!

Danny was first hired in July 2021, and from day one he’s been making a big impact as a customer service associate. In his five years on the job, he’s become a wizard of the store’s inventory, helping customers pick out just the right product to keep their cars looking sharp and running smoothly.

On a recent shift at the shop, his manager surprised him with a certificate honoring five years of excellent work, and presented him with his five-year pin. Danny found a proud place for it on his lapel, and then got right back to his work. That’s typical of Danny, who took to the job immediately and has been a key team-member ever since.

“I’m so happy for him,” said our own James Senger. “I supported him on his very first day there, and it’s been wonderful to see him excel at his job and find such a supportive community among the team there.”

Thanks to our own Jack Cavanaugh for snapping this great picture of Danny taking a moment to celebrate with with his pin and certificate, and congratulations to Danny on hitting his five year mark at work—here’s to many more!

To learn more about CIS and how to join our team, head to cisworks.org/cis-careers.

Please join us in extending the biggest, warmest, most enthusiastic of congratulations to our own Susan Schonfeld, Executive Director at CIS, who was presented last week with a Lifetime Leadership Award from our partners at Project SEARCH and Project Career Launch.

“Susan’s leadership has transformed opportunities for people with disabilities across our region,” said Dianne Malley, Director of Community Impact at Transition Pathways of the AJ Drexel Autism Institute. “She has enriched the lives of thousands of individuals and families through her unwavering commitment to employment for all.”

This award honors the truly monumental impact of Susan’s leadership of Philadelphia’s nationally recognized SEARCH and Career Launch programs. Under Susan’s guiding hand, what began as a lone Project SEARCH program that sought to build a bridge for students with disabilities to sustaining employment has blossomed, in the last decade, to six distinct SEARCH and Career Launch cohorts. Each year these programs propel youth with disabilities throughout Philadelphia into meaningful jobs in the very communities in which they live.

“Susan has a remarkable ability to see opportunities where others see obstacles,” said Malley. “She sees what is possible in every situation, and perhaps more importantly, she sees the potential in every person.”

It’s hard to do justice to the scale and scope of Susan’s impact. Hundreds of youth with disabilities have found employment as a result of the SEARCH and Career Launch programs. And as Malley alluded to in her speech, Susan’s leadership of CIS has aided more than 2,000 people each year—for over 35 years—on their path to employment.

While the numbers are astonishing, the real impact is in the lives of the people that the numbers represent: each person who has been aided by these programs or by supported employment through CIS has attained a job or a lifeline to critical services, and all have experienced the profound comfort of having a team behind them that believes in their goals and helps them achieve them.

As Malley said of Susan’s impact, “This is one of the hardest introductions I've ever had to write—not because I don't know what to say, but because there is simply too much to say.”

Congratulations, Susan, on this deeply well-earned recognition--from all of us at CIS, from our project partners, and from all those whose lives you've touched.