Northeast Arc has opened a new location at the Square One Mall in Saugus. The new location, which opened in late May, supports individuals in Northeast Arc’s Steps to Independence and Supported Employment programs.
“Steps to Independence supports participants as they build work and life skills with the goal of becoming fully inclusive members of their communities,” said Teri Williams, program director for Northeast Arc. “This new location in Saugus is more accessible for many of our participants, and the variety of stores offers many opportunities for employment and skill building activities.”
Participants and staff in the Steps to Independence program at their new location at Square One Mall
The Saugus space will also support individuals with disabilities or autism who are seeking jobs.
“Supported Employment staff will be using this new space at the Square One Mall to provide career planning, job development, and job coaching services,” said Lisa Leo, director of Northeast Arc’s Community Employment division. “This new location will make it easier to support individuals from a wider range of cities and towns across the North Shore.”
The Square One Mall location is a natural evolution of Northeast Arc’s Center for Linking Lives at the Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers. The Center, opened in late 2020, is the home for a wide range of Northeast Arc’s community-facing programs. The Center also features a store, parcels, selling products made by individuals with disabilities or autism.
“We’re thrilled to once again be able to revitalize unused retail space and to create another inclusive, community-based location where we can deliver services,” said Tim Brown, Northeast Arc’s chief innovation and strategy officer. “I want to thank our partners at Simon Property Group for being supportive of innovative ways to repurpose mall real estate to provide additional services to their communities.”