Staff Spotlight: For John, Riverside is more than just a job.

We often hear from our visitors, "Wow, Riverside is such a friendly place!" We actually get that a lot. But what is it that makes a place so friendly? Well, we've looked into, and it seems the answer is really simple. It's our people.

John Parks III is one of the bright spots here at One Cottage Street who adds to our friendly charm. Aside from his friendly smile and warm disposition, John is an important member of our team who makes the extra effort to know everyone in the building. That's fairly easy to do since his job takes him to every corner of our sprawling mill property.

It has now been nearly 2 years since John first began working at Riverside as an intern in the Maintenance Department, quickly finding his way to employment. John recalls his first interactions with folks here at Riverside, "... I remember meeting everyone - all of the staff and participants. I remember seeing how much the staff care about the people we support." He knew then this was a place where he wanted to work.

Since arriving at Riverside, John has made many wonderful memories. A few highlights have been the staff trip to see the lights at Bright Nights and the annual Team Day activities. The greatest highlight for John, however, has been the bonds he's formed with his co-workers. It's that regular social engagement that fills his days with joy.

John has also overcome his share of challenges while at Riverside. He uses a motorized chair, which makes navigating the narrow corridors of our building a challenge in his daily work of cleaning and completing other maintenance projects. With a little help from Riverside's Job Developer, representatives from MassAbility, and in partnership with Easterseals, John now uses a specialized rechargeable chair that allows him to move more easily and confidently through the building.

Are you interested in working at Riverside? Learn more and apply at Careers at Riverside.