At a time when fewer goods are truly "made in America," several companies in the U.S. are committed to making one of the most defining symbols of freedom―the American flag―out of materials and labor sourced solely in the United States. SourceAmerica member nonprofit agencies Goodwill Industries of South Florida (Miami, Florida); North Bay Industries (Rohnert Park, California); Huntsville Rehabilitation Foundation d.b.a. Phoenix (Hunstville, Alabama) not only produce 100 percent American-made flags, they also employ people with disabilities to make them.
SourceAmerica, which connects companies with federal procurement needs through the AbilityOne Program, the largest source of federal employment for people with disabilities, has played a central role in helping these nonprofit agencies create flag production jobs and others for this underrepresented segment of the workforce.
Goodwill Industries of South Florida has been producing AbilityOne flags for nearly 30 years. Sherri Scyphers Hungate, vice president at Goodwill Industries of South Florida, thinks SourceAmerica and the AbilityOne Program are essential to ensuring people with disabilities have a chance at equal employment opportunities.
"A job helps increase a person's self-worth and dignity while providing socialization and economic stability," Hungate said. "Without SourceAmerica's assistance, these jobs might not exist."
North Bay Industries produces American flags in its sewing academy, which enables employees to master flag production tasks while creating an environment where they can grow. North Bay's CEO Robert Hutt will join 46 other SourceAmerica nonprofit agencies to advocate on behalf of his company and people with disabilities at SourceAmerica's annual Grassroots Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. June 13-16. Additionally, Hutt will be presenting interment flags made by North Bay Industries' employees with disabilities to keynote speakers at the conference.
Staff representatives from Phoenix also will attend SourceAmerica's Grassroots Conference this week. With Phoenix having manufactured nearly 2 million flags to date, its CEO Bryan Dodson thinks his company's track record of providing high quality products highlight how his employees' abilities overcome disability with the proper training.
"Not only are our flags special because they are 100 percent made in America, but many of our employees with disabilities have gained confidence and skills making these flags," said Dodson.
According to Dodson, Phoenix has been a catalyst for success for many of its employees with disabilities.
"We had a nonverbal gentleman with a disability who started with Phoenix 20 years ago. He was not used to the environment or being surrounded by people he didn't know. Slowly, he started to come out of his shell. He's since blossomed and is very verbal now. If you met him when he first started, you would've never known what he was capable of," said Dodson.
Dodson hopes more companies consider hiring people with disabilities. "When you see someone learn and grow, that's what it's all about."