Voices of Impact: So Much More Than a Paycheck
Featuring Mary Angelini, Co-Founder, CEO & Executive Director, Gabi’s WORKFORCE
Welcome to Voices of Impact, an interview series highlighting nonprofit and community leaders creating meaningful change through service, innovation, and a deep commitment to the people they serve.
A meaningful job can provide a paycheck. But it can also open the door to something much bigger: purpose, confidence, independence, friendship, and a sense of belonging.
At Gabi’s Workforce, that belief is reflected in the opportunities being created for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Today, more than 40 people with special abilities are employed through the organization, building skills, earning a paycheck, and experiencing what meaningful work can make possible. And there are more people waiting for that same opportunity.
In this interview, Mary Angelini shares the personal story behind Gabi’s WORKFORCE, the challenges of growing sustainably, how one employee’s determination led to greater independence, and a vision for the future that extends beyond employment to community and belonging.
💭 QUESTION 1
What drew you to the mission of Gabi’s WORKFORCE, and what keeps you committed to it today?
Gabi is my daughter, so this mission is very personal to me. As she got older, I started realizing how few meaningful job opportunities there were for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Gabi wanted the same things all of us want: to feel valued, have a purpose, earn a paycheck, and be part of something.
What started with Gabi has grown into something much bigger than I ever imagined. Today, we employ more than 40 people with special abilities, and I get to see every day what having a job does for their confidence and independence.
What keeps me going is knowing there are still so many people waiting for that same opportunity. We have a long waiting list, and I want to be able to say yes to more of them.
💡KEY INSIGHT
“We have a long waiting list, and I want to be able to say yes to more of them.”
💭 QUESTION 2
What is one of the biggest challenges you’re navigating right now?
Honestly, growth is probably our biggest challenge right now. It is a good problem to have, but it is still a challenge.
We have people who want to work and companies that want to work with us, but we need the space, staff, infrastructure, and funding to keep growing the right way.
A lot of our revenue comes from the work we do for businesses, so if a large contract changes or goes away, we can feel that impact pretty quickly. At the same time, we need resources to expand, bring in more work, and create more jobs.
The challenge is figuring out how we continue to grow while making sure Gabi’s WORKFORCE is strong and sustainable for the long term.
💭 QUESTION 3
Can you share a recent moment that reminded you why this work matters?
Paul is a great example of why this work matters to me.
Paul does not read or write, but he knows his numbers. He wanted to be more independent and be able to get himself to and from work without depending on someone else.
So Paul learned the three bus numbers he needs to take the bus from Wake Forest to Raleigh and back home again. Now he takes three buses and gets himself to and from work on his own.
I just love that story because it shows that this is about so much more than a paycheck. A job can lead to confidence, independence, friendships, and a feeling of, “I can do this.”
That is what we want for every person who comes through our doors.
💡 KEY INSIGHT
“A job can lead to confidence, independence, friendships, and a feeling of, ‘I can do this.’”
💭 QUESTION 4
As you look ahead over the next 2–3 years, what feels most important for Gabi’s WORKFORCE and the communities you serve?
For me, the biggest goal is to create more opportunities.
I want us to continue growing our corporate partnerships, bring in more work, expand our space, strengthen our fundraising, and be able to employ more people who are currently waiting for a chance to work.
But my dream goes beyond employment.
I would love to someday create Gabi’s Village: a community where adults with special abilities could live more independently, but still have friendship, support, safety, and a real sense of community around them.
So many parents worry about what happens as their children get older and they are no longer able to care for them the way they always have. I would love for Gabi’s Village to be part of that answer.
Ultimately, I want our employees to have the same things we all hope for: a meaningful job, independence, friendships, a safe place to live, and a community where they know they belong.
LEARN MORE
Learn more about Gabi’s WORKFORCE and its work creating meaningful employment opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
To support Gabi’s WORKFORCE' mission or learn more about its programs, please visit: https://gabisworkforce.org
About Impact Squad
Impact Squad helps nonprofits expand beyond traditional volunteer models by giving them a structured way to recruit and activate new volunteers. Through the Impact Squad System, nonprofits use a blueprint + tools to create and run their own recurring virtual volunteer program, equipping volunteers to become informed ambassadors who educate others, advocate for the cause, expand awareness, engage their communities, make connections, and support fundraising on their own time, from anywhere.
About Voices of Impact
Voices of Impact is an interview series highlighting nonprofit and community leaders creating meaningful change through service, innovation, and a deep commitment to the people they serve.
