Robbinsdale’s City Cadet Program Brings Inclusiveness into Focus at City Hall

On 25-year-old Terrance O’Brien’s resume already are stints with the City of Robbinsdale’s public works, public safety, and city hall administration departments. The intern got placed as Robbinsdale’s City Cadet this fall through Empower Inclusion, a Twin Cities agency that “provides support to individuals with disabilities as they identify and pursue their employment-related goals.”

Terrance O’Brien, the Robbinsdale City Cadet this fall, works with the public works department as part of his internship through Empower Inclusion.

“Over the summertime we discussed ways we could accommodate the program,” said Robbinsdale City Manager Tim Sandvik. “A couple of other cities in the metro have done this, and when the opportunity aligned, we were thrilled.”

O’Brien was calling bingo on his last official day on Tuesday, November 19. He and his job coach, Paul Rapp, worked through the rotation of jobs the city assigned him to.

“It’s a really great opportunity for him to experience so many different jobs and to find out many different things he may want to do in his future career,” said Rapp. “The City of Robbinsdale has been so inclusive with him, making sure that he fits well in the program. Everybody he’s worked with has been really nice and accommodating.”

O’Brien particularly enjoyed his time with Robbinsdale police, who took him on ride alongs, let him help sort donated jackets, and showed him their drones.

“I like it,” said O’Brien. “I like the police.”

Sandvik said he hopes the city can continue the partnership in the future.

“For us, as an organization, to be inclusive, to open our way of thinking to some places we were maybe not providing accommodations or maybe not doing things in the most inclusive way, this process has definitely benefited us as a city as well,” he said.

Robbinsdale | Twin Cities

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