The SCV Mayor’s Committee of Santa Clarita for Employment of Individuals with Disabilities hosted their annual “Educate, Empower, Employ” Recognition Luncheon Thursday afternoon at College of the Canyons.

Over 80 participants joined the event in the Institute for Culinary Education (iCUE) building to discuss inclusion, as well as acknowledge sponsors and those businesses around the Santa Clarita Valley that provide inclusion practices.

“We are trying to show them the importance of disability inclusion and that it is good business,” said Araz Valijan, board chair on the SCV Mayor’s Committee.

Nearly 30 million people around the U.S. have disabilities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A total of 15 million of those people are of working age, and less than 5 million are employed.

“It’s just one of the most important conversations, I believe, in corporate America today,” Guest Speaker Liji Thomas said.

Thomas is the Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Southern California Edison (SoCal Edison), and discussed the current state of employment for people with disabilities nationally and globally.

In attendance were Mayor Marsha McLean and Councilmembers Laurene Weste and Bill Miranda.

In addition, Assistant City Manager Frank Oviedo and representatives for both Assemblymember Christy Smith, D-Santa Clarita, and Senator Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, were in attendance, according to officials.

Attendees were treated to a gourmet lunch prepared and served by students at iCUE, who were receiving a grade for their performance.

“COC being the one to put on the lunch was something really very special,” said McLean.

To find out more about the SCV Mayor’s Committee for Employment of Individuals with Disabilities, click here.

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