Hankins is grateful for his volunteer opportunity at MMI

Jalen Hankins is happy and grateful to volunteer at the Munroe-Meyer Institute.

Hankins, a graduate of Project SEARCH – a job-training program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities – is offering his skills to MMI as a volunteer and, in turn, learning new work and life skills.

As a volunteer, he spends part of his time in the pediatric feeding department, organizing the pantry and sanitizing dishes. He volunteers with MMI’s community engagement department. And he volunteers in the MMI gift shop, where he’s learning money skills.

In addition to gaining new skills, he’s also growing personally. People who know Hankins say they’ve seen him gain confidence.

Hankins said he feels that, too.

“I’m looking directly at people,” he said. “I’m talking to people and speaking much clearer. And I’m opening up to people.”

Hankins is the nephew of Jacqueline Hankins-Berry, administrative programs associate for the Munroe-Meyer Institute. After her nephew graduated high school, Hankins-Berry said she wanted to help Jalen find a meaningful work opportunity in the community.

The opportunity came up to volunteer at MMI, and Hankins-Berry helped coordinate Jalen’s responsibilities. She said she wanted to set up a professional working environment that would allow Jalen to interact with people and feel a sense of purpose and self-worth.

Hankins said his volunteer experience at MMI “is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“I’ve been more independent. I’m learning new skills,” Hankins said. “People are nice to me here, and I kind of like it. It’s better than staying at home doing nothing, because I wouldn’t feel this much independent responsibility.

“I am grateful for my aunt.”

Hankins said he was nervous on his first day volunteering. But now, he said he likes when he learns new skills, and he understands he has responsibilities.

“It isn’t that scary, to be honest,” he said. “It’s my responsibility to take responsibility.”

Hankins said he would like to work at MMI in the future.

“I feel like my future will be pretty bright and great,” he said.