A Change Agent in the Lives of Others

Johnny Miranda of Chicopee is passionate about helping those in need, and his job has him constantly doing just that. The senior employment coordinator at Human Resources Unlimited in Springfield provides training and skill-building to disabled individuals so they might find employment and build on their resumes.

When Johnny became a member of the Mill River chapter of BNI just over a year ago, Janice was his mentor, teaching him the skills he would need to be successful and build his clientele.

With degrees in both political science and sociology from the University of Puerto Rico, Johnny feels that his current work with Human Resources Unlimited has successfully combined his passion for business with social services. Johnny holds the firm belief that those who are advantaged and educated have the common social mission to help those who are less fortunate.

Johnny practices what he preaches. During high school and college, Johnny was a Jesuit missionary, working to provide clothing, homes and other necessities to people in South America. He has also worked with a variety of homeless shelters in Puerto Rico and has worked with individuals from the Friends of the Homeless shelter in Springfield.

In his work, Johnny’s goal is always to empower others in order to put them on a road of self-sufficiency, breaking them out of what can become a cycle of dependency so that they can attain goals. Helping these individuals obtain their GED (General Education Development) is an important part of making his clients self-sufficient. According to Johnny, there is nothing more rewarding than bringing such a positive change to somebody’s life.

Currently Johnny is focused on broadening his understanding of assistive technology that makes communication possible without the help of an interpreter. Technology like this is available for a wide variety of disabilities, and Johnny intends to make this well-known.

Here are some tips that Johnny has for anybody looking for employment:

• Stay positive throughout the process.
• Don’t just have a goal; have a strategy too.
• Portray positivity by smiling at potential employers.
• Research potential employers and learn as much as you can before an interview.
• Stay committed: to the goal, to the plan, and to the idea of change

Johnny also has a few tips for employers:

• Give disabled individuals the opportunity to work. The resources are there to make it beneficial and easy for both employer and employee.
• Show that you are committed to your community.
• Make your cause visible by being inclusive to all possible employees.