A Lifetime Fitness Center
Thanking People Like Carl
By Andrea Huspeni
As summer is fading and fall is moving in, people flock to Lifetime Fitness in St. Louis Park trying to prevent gaining those holiday pounds. Making their way to the machines many say hello to Carl, a man with Down syndrome, who is working on scrubbing the treadmills. He wears a friendly smile and strikes up a conversation with anyone who talks to him.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and Lifetime is providing much needed opportunities for adults with disabilities by forming a partnership with eQuality.
Established in 1998, eQuality is a community-based organization providing employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. eQuality’s objectives are to help these individuals build values, ownership, and establish community relationships. Because eQuality does not have a physical location, everyone works on site and is assisted by a job coach, who helps with skill development and provides support when needed. eQuality’s team, or associates, have been cleaning machines for ten years at Lifetime.
The partnership with Lifetime and eQuality has been an extremely positive experience but one that has had a few bumps in the road. When Keith Moeller, manager of operations, joined Lifetime four years ago, eQuality was being out due to budget restraints. “We just couldn’t afford the extra help, but I needed to find a reason to keep them on,” Moeller explains. He soon saw where the benefits lied. If eQuality wasn’t there to clean the machines, the responsibility got handed to personal trainers, which created a dilemma in balancing machine cleaning with training sessions. If the trainers were cleaning they weren’t selling, so Moeller revived the program and hasn’t looked back.
The Lifetime eQuality team is headed by a much loved, bubbly Jamaican woman named Fatima Zuke. She is the first to admit being wary taking on Lifetime as a client. Because her associates had been disrespected at other sites, she thought it would be magnified at a fitness center nestled in a wealthy, suburban community. “I thought the clients would be snobby and ignore the associates but that wasn’t the case at all,” Zuke says. She was actually surprised by how many people thanked the associates for doing such a good job cleaning. “It just makes their day to be noticed,” Zuke said.
Arriving by bus at 9 a.m., a team of eight associates have a small breakfast and begin their daily tasks. In order to ensure the associates won’t get bored, switching up routines and offering choices is a must. Today, as we walk around we notice Carl is on the main floor cleaning the treadmills. “Carl loves the fact he is in the middle of all the action. It makes his day being noticed,” Moeller said. As the day progresses, the associates get a lunch break and hop back on the bus at 2 p.m. for home.
In order to make it fair for everyone, pay is based on job performance and speed. Most people average minimum wage. The other source of their income comes from state funds. The idea they are providing for themselves is a definite perk. “They love the fact they are responsible for making decisions and deciding how their money is spent,” Moeller said.
Besides the associates being ecstatic to have a job through eQuality, their parents couldn’t be happier with the program. According to project coordinator Sam Ofulue, families really see the benefit the program has on their children. “They are just so proud of their children,” Ofulue said. A parent of a Lifetime associate, Cyndi Reason, can’t stop raving about eQuality. “The program has provided an opportunity for our daughter to demonstrate her ability to perform effectively in a work environment out in the community. It would be difficult for her to have the opportunity without this program,” Reason said.
Not only is the program great for the associates, but businesses also reap the benefits. By employing people with developmental disabilities businesses receive tax credits, positive public image, save money, and are giving back to the local community. According to Moeller, approximately 40 percent of Lifetime locations nationwide hire people with special needs.
So why isn’t more businesses taking advantage of programs like eQuality? Ignorance is the main reason. Because of lack of public education on developmental disabilities, people are unaware there is a huge job pool of individuals who want to work, are capable or working, and provide cost-effective solutions. Another reason is fear that implementation of such programs will be time-consuming and may fail. According to National Organization on Disability, only 18 percent of companies provide programs for integrating people with disabilities into the work environment. People don’t realize programs like eQuality take pain-staking steps to make sure the associates have adequate skills, are placed in the correct environment, and provide on-site job support. “They do a great job. It’s a no-brainer. I would recommend eQuality to everyone,” Moeller said.
As we walk out, Carl waves up to Fatima with a big smile across his face. To celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month, take time out of your day to thank people like Carl.
Fox Twin Cities Video of eQuality associates at Lifetime Fitness
