Empowering through Employment

While the majority of our community stayed at home during the pandemic-related shutdown, it was essential workers that continued to keep the necessary components of our community going. One of those necessities is our region’s transportation system, provided by The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). MTS serves approximately three million people in the San Diego area, including thousands of essential workers relying on their services to get to their place of employment. Christina is one of these essential workers, and she is responsible for keeping buses clean and safe for passenger use.
Christina is one of 12 employees provided with training and support from The Arc of San Diego while working for MTS detailing buses in Downtown and Kearny Mesa. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she has been working hard to ensure hundreds of buses are sanitized and safe for passengers and operators. With the help of The Arc of San Diego’s Employment Services, Christina overcame the barriers related to her disability and obtained a position on the MTS bus detailing team. In just a year and a half, she has gained work skills that have allowed her to become the successful and essential employee she is today.
As a result of the financial independence gained from her job, Christina has been able to move into her own apartment which she shares with a roommate. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, adult coloring books, and spending time with family and friends. This past year has not been easy for Christina as she lost both her aunt and cousin to COVID-19. Despite going through this challenging time in her personal life, Christina has remained committed to her job and kept showing up every day to perform her essential duties. She looks forward to finding a new job in the future, and being able to spend more time with her family.