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The Greater Flint community recently celebrated the graduation of its first class of interns from Meijer, in partnership with Project SEARCH. Six students completed a 9-month internship at Meijer, marking an important milestone.
Project SEARCH began nearly 30 years ago at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. It provides training, education, and workforce development for students with disabilities. The program now operates across North America, Europe, and Australia to prepare students for employment.
In September 2024, Kearsley Community Schools and Meijer launched Project SEARCH at the Burton, Michigan Meijer location. Six students with special needs joined to learn job skills in areas like grocery stocking and the bakery. The internship concluded in late May 2025.
Brendan Birchmeier, Burton Meijer store director, spoke about the program's impact on the interns' lives: "It's about creating alternative pathways for these students to develop work skills that allow them to integrate into the workforce," he said. "They've learned not just job skills but how to navigate the world with independence and confidence."
Some graduates have already been hired by Meijer. Birchmeier and Project SEARCH are working to ensure all graduates find suitable employment opportunities by connecting them with potential employers who value their skills.
"This is just the beginning," Birchmeier stated. "We're actively working to place each graduate in roles that match their talents."
The ceremony concluded with cheers and applause as graduates embarked on their next chapter equipped with new skills and support.
