Road to Employment: Texas First Lady and Texas Workforce Commissioner Representing Employers Collaborate to Help Transitioning Foster Youth
Texas Workforce Commission • March 3, 2020
Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott met with employers, community advocates and the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) at a foster youth transition center in Austin, Texas today to bring awareness for the needs and support of foster youth. Every person counts, especially kids in foster care, which is why the TWC provides funding and support services to 18 Foster Youth Transition centers across the state of Texas. These transition centers help foster youth ages 15 and a half to 25 overcome obstacles to employment opportunities. TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson is touring each facility and has invited major employers to assist foster youth that are aging out of the system with employment career opportunities.
“For every child in our foster care system to live a life worthy of their promise, they need what I call a Network of Nurture—a community of families and friends, churches and congregations, business leaders and nonprofit organizations, and anyone willing to share of themselves,” said Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott. “For our youth in foster care nearing adulthood, they especially need our help in finding the right path to self-sufficiency and career success.”
According to Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, in Fiscal Year 2018, 17,500 youth resided in foster care in Texas. Of that number, on average 900 children in Texas age out of the system each year. TWC has funded multiple transition centers since 2008 in an effort to provide a central clearinghouse of one-stop services to serve the diverse needs of older foster youth aging out of the system, youth experiencing homelessness, or other at-risk youth from ages 15 and a half to 25.
“Today is great example of the community and businesses working together to provide career opportunities for transitioning foster youth in Texas,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson. “I look forward to visiting with organizations, employers and workforce advocates at Foster Youth Transition centers throughout Texas to listen, learn and take action related to employment opportunities.
Transition centers are designed to serve as host locations for services such as Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) services, job readiness and job search assistance, career exploration, higher education enrollment assistance, food and housing assistance, and mentoring. Transition centers also provide colocation opportunities for local partners such as local Workforce Solutions staff, TWC-funded workforce advocates, and colleges and universities to help jointly serve the diverse needs of the youth in one location.
The 18 Transition centers are independently funded, operated, and supported by partnerships between DFPS, the DFPS providers, community partners and TWC. A list of TWC sponsored transition centers can be found at https://twc.texas.gov/foster-youth-transition-centers.
Each July, Disability Pride Month is celebrated as a time to recognize the history, achievements, experiences, and contributions of people with disabilities. The observance traces back to July 26, 1990, when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, marking a major milestone in disability rights. The first official Disability Pride Month was later recognized in July 2015 during the 25th anniversary of the ADA. Disability Pride Month is not only a celebration but also a reminder of the importance of visibility, accessibility, and inclusion. It highlights the disability community’s ongoing advocacy and the progress made through legislation, public awareness, and collective action. One of the most recognized symbols of Disability Pride is the Disability Pride flag. In 2019, writer Ann Magill, who has cerebral palsy, created the original flag after a negative experience at an ADA anniversary event. The first design featured bright zigzagging stripes over a black background, meant to symbolize the barriers people with disabilities face. However, members of the disability community shared that the design could trigger symptoms for some individuals with visually sensitive disabilities when viewed on screens. In response to that feedback, Magill revised the design by straightening the stripes, muting the colors, and adjusting the arrangement to better accommodate red-green colorblindness. The updated flag reflects the community’s commitment to accessibility and collaboration, showing how people can work together to meet differing access needs. Magill also placed the design in the public domain, making it available for all to use and adapt. Each color in the Disability Pride flag carries meaning: Red represents physical disabilities Gold represents neurodiversity White represents invisible disabilities and undiagnosed conditions Blue represents emotional and psychiatric disabilities Green represents sensory disabilities, including deafness and blindness Faded Black background represents mourning and rage for victims of ableist violence and abuse Disability Pride Month also offers an opportunity to reflect on the history of disability rights legislation in the United States. Over the last century, important laws have helped expand services, protect civil rights, and improve access to employment and public life. Milestones include the Smith-Fess Act of 1920, the Social Security Act, the Vocational Rehabilitation Act Amendments, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992, and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Together, these laws helped shape a stronger framework for inclusion, employment support, nondiscrimination, and access to services for people with disabilities. They also reflect the work of advocates, policymakers, and communities who pushed for a more equitable society. During Disability Pride Month, we recognize both progress made and the work that continues. It is a time to celebrate identity, honor disability history, and reaffirm the importance of creating communities and workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to participate fully.
For Verlie Mae Snyder, caregiving has always been more than a profession; it is a calling rooted in faith, compassion, and love for others. Originally from the Philippines, Verlie Mae worked as a Registered Nurse in her home country for eight years after earning her degree. “I love to care for people,” she shared. Working in a faith-based hospital, she believed God was the true healer and that caregivers were tools for bringing comfort and hope to those around them. In 2000, she fulfilled her dream of coming to the United States with deep gratitude and purpose. “I have a giving heart, and I want to give it to the American people,” she said. Her journey was not without challenges. She attempted to pass the NCLEX but struggled with the transition to computer-based testing. Though she did not obtain her U.S. nursing license, she never allowed that to define her. “Nursing isn’t just a license or paper; it’s about loving and caring for people.” Her journey took her through Maryland and Washington, D.C., before eventually settling in Tyler, Texas, where she worked in nursing homes and hospice care, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Known for using music to comfort patients, she often helped residents reconnect with cherished memories through song and conversation. She also spent a year and a half caring for a local veteran with dementia, creating meaningful memories through simple joys like lake visits, birdwatching, and ice cream outings. Reflecting on his passing in 2025, she said, “I was sad, but happy that I could give him good memories at the end of his life.” After this chapter, Verlie Mae enrolled in Workforce Solutions East Texas through the RESEA program (Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment), which helps individuals receiving unemployment benefits return to work through career coaching and job-search support. There, she met Career Navigator Cheryl Jackson, who helped her strengthen her resume, prepare for interviews, and rebuild her confidence. “She told me, ‘Verlie Mae, you ARE a nurse,’” Verlie Mae recalled. “She lifted me up.” Through Workforce Solutions East Texas, she also accessed training and resources that strengthened her skills. “I tell everyone, go to Workforce Solutions East Texas, and they will help you,” she said. “Workforce has so many programs to help workless people or people that do not know what they want to do.” After months of persistence and faith, Verlie Mae found her next calling at Breckenridge Village of Tyler, a nonprofit residential community supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, where she now serves as a Direct Care Professional. “At Breckenridge Village, I found more than a job; I found a home,” she said. The faith-based environment and focus on kindness align closely with her values. Verlie Mae encourages others to remain hopeful and seek support when needed. “You have to love your work,” she said. “When you love what you do, you come home happy, not tired.” Through every chapter of her journey, Verlie Mae Snyder has remained guided by faith, strengthened by compassion, and committed to serving others. Her story is a reminder that purpose is not defined by a title, but by the lives you touch along the way.
For Mar’cella Lewis, returning to work was never just about earning a paycheck. It was about reclaiming her independence, rebuilding stability for her children, and creating a better future. Mar’cella’s career began the moment she was old enough to work. From retail to management roles in finance and banking, she built a strong professional background and eventually advanced into a senior position at Telco Plus Credit Union. But after stepping away from the workforce to pursue family life, Mar’cella found herself in a controlling relationship. Mar’cella soon realized that she was entirely dependent on her partner for everything and that the person did not have her best interests in mind. Mar’cella found herself needing to remove herself and her children from that situation and start over. “In order to escape, I needed work,” she shared. As a single mother of three, Mar’cella knew she needed immediate stability for her family. Mar’cella had been pursuing a career in real estate through at-home courses, but soon realized she could not afford to wait for success to come later. “I couldn’t wait for income to come to me. I needed to go find it,” she said. And her search led her to the doors of Workforce Solutions East Texas. “That’s the best decision I could have made, walking through those doors.” From the beginning, Mar’cella felt supported. Workforce staff helped rebuild her resume, guided her through Work Readiness and Microsoft training classes, and provided encouragement during one of the most difficult seasons of her life. “They made me feel like they wanted me to win,” Mar’cella said. Mar’cella reflects that from her Career Navigators, Amy Hollins and Danielle McClain, to her Outreach Specialist, LaShawn Crawford, to her Business Outreach Specialist, Theressa Jackson, they were willing to invest time in her success. Before interviewing for a Work Experience (WEX) opportunity at the Law Office of Richard Anderson in Marshall, Workforce Solutions staff conducted mock interviews and coached her through the process, helping her restore and build on her previous skills. That preparation led Mar’cella to an opportunity that changed her life. Soon after the pre-placement interview at the Law Office of Richard Anderson, Mar’cella was offered a placement role as his Legal Assistant. Although she had no legal background, Mar’cella quickly excelled during her Work Experience placement. Surrounded by leadership, mentorship, and opportunities to grow, she discovered a career she genuinely loves. “There is no ceiling to what I’ve learned,” she said. “I’m standing next to people I never thought I would stand next to.” Soon after her placement term ended, her dedication and work ethic quickly earned her a permanent position with the firm. Today, Mar’cella says the greatest thing she regained was her independence. “The devil really tried to convince me I would fail,” she reflected. “Had I listened, I wouldn’t be here.” Instead, she chose resilience. “I gained my independence. It changed everything for me,” she said. “Workforce didn’t just help me get a job; they changed my entire world around.” Now, Mar’cella has stability, a career she loves, and hopes for the future she is building for her children. What once felt impossible has become proof of what can happen when determination meets opportunity. Looking back, she is most proud of taking that first step. “Do not become comfortable staying uncomfortable,” she said. “Pray, be resilient, and do not give up.” “All of this is possible because of Workforce,” Mar’cella said. “The programs should really be something that everybody knows about.” For Mar’cella, Workforce Solutions East Texas provided more than employment. It gave her the opportunity to rediscover her strength, reclaim her independence, and rewrite her story. Today, she is no longer surviving; she is building a future that will impact generations of her family.
