Latest News
OWL Announces New Board Chair, Nancy Brown, and New Board Members
OWL ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD CHAIR, NANCY BROWN, AND NEW BOARD MEMBERS LEXINGTON (October 17, 2024) – Opportunity for Work & Learning is pleased to announce the appointment of Nancy Brown as Chair of the OWL Board of Directors. Nancy receives the reins from Karen Hawkins who has served on the board since 2022. OWL also welcomes two new board members: Gordon Garrett and August "Gus" Johannsen. Nancy Brown currently works at the Kentucky Science and [...]
OWL President & CEO Tony Higgins Announces Departure
LEXINGTON (OCTOBER 16, 2024) – Opportunity for Work & Learning (OWL) President & CEO Tony Higgins has announced plans to step down before the end of 2024, following 22 transformative years with the organization. “Tony has spent nearly his entire professional career serving OWL. He has been a staple in the organization and will be missed. His tenure has been meaningful in many ways including the relocation of Lexington Manufacturing Center (LMC) to the burgeoning Turner Commons area, improvements [...]
Adam’s Story: From Lost Hope to Leadership
Adam sits in his new office, the phone ringing off the hook. “What I do matters,” Adam says proudly. “People rely on me at work. I have skills and knowledge - not everyone can do my job.” Over the last two years, Adam has built a life he is proud of. He has been promoted to Production, Personnel and Warehouse Manager at Thoroughbred Roofs, his peers look up to him, he can pay his bills, and he is [...]
Alex’s Story: Full-Time Success
As of October 2024, Alex is celebrating one year of employment at Cabela’s! This milestone represents more than just time - it’s a first for Alex and a testament to his resilience and personal growth. Fresh out of high school, Alex had never held a job before and knew he wanted support entering the working world. "I wanted a job,” Alex says. “OWL didn’t just help me get one, they helped me figure out how everything works, like [...]
Transformative Journey of Asyrian Jackson: Empowering Success with OWL’s Skilled Trade Academy
Asyrian Jackson, a determined and enthusiastic individual, embarked on a transformative journey with Opportunity for Work and Learning (OWL) and the Skilled Trade Academy. In an interview, Asyrian shared his initial discovery of the program through Waypoint, with the help of his Aunt Jerry, who recognized his strong desire to find meaningful employment. As a newcomer to the construction industry, Asyrian admitted to feeling nervous and anxious. However, his passion for hands-on work fueled his determination to explore [...]
Jeff Holt’s journey to maintain independent living
After years of unstable employment, Jeff Holt was looking for a job that would add to his ability to maintain independent living and his quality of life. With the assistance of Employment Coordinator Andy Cotter, who assessed his skills and needs, identified jobs, and assisted him in obtaining a job, he has been employed for over four months as a custodian cleaning common areas for University of Kentucky. He says that he is really happy to find a job [...]