Down to Work: How One Teen's Promise to Her Brother Sparked a National Movement

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In the heart of northern New Jersey, you'll find an unlikely headquarters for a nationwide movement: a donated desk, a secondhand laptop, and a young woman who refused to accept that people like her brother didn't deserve a future.

Anna Park was only 14 when she founded Down to Work, a nonprofit organization that helps individuals with Down syndrome secure meaningful employment. But for Anna, this wasn't about charity-it was personal.

"My brother was never given a chance," she says quietly. "The world never saw his potential. I wanted to change that for him, for my mom, for every individual with Down syndrome."

On December 25, 2022-six years to the day after her brother's death-she launched Down to Work.

The Movement Behind the Mission

At first, it was just Anna and a few friends helping people with Down syndrome write resumes. But word spread fast. Within a year, Down to Work had trained hundreds of individuals, partnered with schools and employers, and built an online platform to showcase participant artwork and writing. Today, Down to Work has helped over 10,000 individuals with Down syndrome across the U.S. connect with career opportunities.

Participants attend interview coaching sessions, learn soft skills, and are matched with inclusive employers who've gone through sensitivity training. Many earn certificates that prove their readiness for the workplace.

Anna shares, "At the beginning of class, some won't even look you in the eye. By the end, they're asking you what color their business cards should be."

One of Down to Work's most powerful initiatives is its online gallery, where individuals with Down syndrome can publish and sell their creative work.

"This is about visibility," says Anna. "Society underestimates how intelligent and artistic our community is. The gallery is their stage."

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From watercolor paintings and digital illustrations to poetry and photography, the gallery not only allows creative expression but also provides a stream of income. One 19-year-old artist used her earnings to buy her first cell phone. Another funded a trip to visit her grandparents in El Salvador.

Over 15 companies have formally partnered with Down to Work, committing to inclusive hiring practices and accessible onboarding systems. These businesses receive inclusivity toolkits designed by individuals with disabilities themselves.

Though Down to Work started in New Jersey, it is quickly expanding internationally. Anna and her team are building global chapters in Kyrgyzstan and South Korea.

Despite her young age, Anna has already been recognized by the Disney Dreamers Academy and the Governor STEM Scholar of New Jersey. But when asked about her legacy, she doesn't list awards.

"I just want a world where no mother is told her child is a burden. Where no teenager has to start a nonprofit to make the world see what should've been obvious all along."

To learn more, donate, or partner with Down to Work, visit https://www.down2work.com/ [http://www.downtowork.org/]

Follow them: @down2work.us on Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/down2work.us/ [https://www.instagram.com/down2work.nj/]
Media Contact
Company Name: Down To Work
Contact Person: Anna Park
Email: Send Email [http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=down-to-work-how-one-teens-promise-to-her-brother-sparked-a-national-movement]
Phone: 2019544342
Address:2050 Central Rd
City: Fort Lee
State: New Jersey
Country: United States
Website: https://www.down2work.com/

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This release was published on openPR.