Meadowlark Employment Services

Thank you to our friends at Idaho Youth Ranch, who wrote the wonderful story below about our client Luke!

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At our Meridian location, one of the clearest examples of growth and joy in action is Luke Larson, who recently celebrated three years with our team.

Over that time, Luke has embraced a strong growth mindset, continuing to expand his responsibilities and step into new opportunities. Luke connects most easily with the teammates and people he works with every day, and while engaging with customers and the public can be more of a challenge, he takes it on with determination — and does a great job.

Luke plays an important role in donations, and he has continued to branch out beyond that work. Recently, he’s been walking the store with a book puppet, sharing the story of Ranch Readers and letting children know they get to take home a free book. These moments create smiles, spark conversations, and help kids feel welcomed in our store.

He has also stepped into supporting our front end by bagging items at the register, helping cashiers and customers alike. Luke approaches each interaction with care, focus, and pride in doing his job well.

One of Luke’s greatest gifts is the joy he brings to work every day. A huge movie fan, Luke loves sharing his passion for film and can often be found laughing as he delivers an enthusiastic impersonation of a favorite actor, intentionally bringing smiles and lighthearted connection to those around him. He also sparks fun conversations by asking coworkers, “Who’s going to play…?” as he casts them in reimagined versions of his favorite films.

Luke works alongside his job coach, Dwight, from Meadowlark Employment Services, whose support helps Luke continue building confidence, skills, and independence at work. Together, they demonstrate how encouragement, opportunity, and persistence open the door for people to succeed.

Luke has worked hard to overcome personal challenges and continues to grow and excel in the workplace. He is valued by his teammates, appreciated by our customers, and a daily reminder that joy, growth, and belonging are at the heart of our mission.

People make the difference — and Luke makes ours better every day.

We got some lovely feedback from Allison H. about her experience with our STEP Program. Thank you so much for your kind words, Allison!

“The support and guidance I received from Meadowlark Employment Services was absolutely essential in my finding a job. Lizzi assisted me throughout my entire job search process, though I have to say the most impactful was her advice on the interview process. In considering interviewing and speaking about my strengths while returning to the job market with a disability that I didn’t previously have, I found my confidence lacking. I realized I didn’t even know how to talk about my now-different skill set in a strengths-based way. Talking with Lizzi gave me the confidence and concrete ideas I needed about how I could show up to an interview and be my best self - my best self as a person with a disability.”

Jana’s journey to success is nothing short of extraordinary. A proud nonbinary, trans individual originally from Iran, Jana’s life has been shaped by courage, resilience, and a deep commitment to building a better future—for themself and for others.

Forced to flee Iran due to persecution, Jana sought safety in Afghanistan. Tragically, while there, their brother was killed by the Taliban. In the face of unimaginable loss, Jana found strength and purpose, serving as an interpreter for the United States military. This role, though lifesaving for many, came with significant risk. As a result, Jana and their family were forced to leave once again—this time as refugees bound for the United States.

After years of determination and hard work, Jana proudly became a U.S. citizen. Eager to rebuild their life and contribute to their new home, they joined Meadowlark Employment Services’ STEP Program. There, Jana found a welcoming community and the guidance they needed to take their next professional steps.

With support from the STEP program, Jana became an unarmed security guard—marking a major milestone on their path toward a long-term dream: becoming a police officer. Recently, Jana passed their training to become an armed security guard, further proving their commitment and readiness to protect and serve.

Jana's story is one of strength in the face of adversity, and their future is bright. We at Meadowlark are proud to be part of their journey, and we look forward to seeing all that Jana will accomplish next.

For more than twenty years, Robert faced barrier after barrier that kept him out of the workforce. During that time, he worked with several different Community Rehabilitation Providers (CRPs), but instead of feeling supported, Robert often felt ignored and overlooked. Each attempt left him more discouraged, and after so many setbacks, he began to believe that finding meaningful work might never happen for him.

That all changed in May of 2025, when Robert was introduced to Meadowlark Employment Services. From the very first meeting, he noticed something was different. Instead of feeling like just another case, he felt like a partner in the process. His Employment Coordinator (EC) took the time to sit down with him—not only to learn about his work history, but also to truly get to know him as a person. Together they talked about his strengths, his challenges, his interests, and even the types of environments where he might feel most comfortable and successful. For the first time in years, Robert felt heard.

Even though most of Robert’s work experience was more than two decades old, his EC helped him rebuild his confidence by creating a functional résumé that highlighted his abilities and past accomplishments. From there, they met regularly each week, sometimes in person and sometimes by phone, to keep the momentum going. Robert also practiced interview skills through mock interviews, receiving constructive feedback and encouragement after each one. His EC handled
the job search alongside him—helping to find opportunities, submit applications, and even coordinate interview scheduling—so that Robert never felt like he was navigating the process alone.

The consistent support paid off quickly. On July 7, 2025—just forty-seven days after beginning his journey with Meadowlark—Robert was hired at Albertsons as a Courtesy Clerk. After more than twenty years of unemployment, Robert finally had a job he could be proud of. Even more importantly, he found himself surrounded by a kind and supportive management team and a group of coworkers who welcomed him warmly.

Today, Robert’s story is one of resilience, perseverance, and renewed hope. He has discovered not only meaningful employment but also a workplace where he feels valued and included. For Robert, this job is more than a paycheck—it’s proof that with the right support and partnership, barriers can be overcome and dreams can become reality.

It's only Wednesday, and our STEP Service Coordinator Lizzi has already helped to place two people into jobs this week! Her clients are going to work at Carl's Jr. and Michaels.