Seniors Enrich Butterfly Pavilion through Innovative Employment Program

Julie Ann Barowski, Volunteer Manager at Butterfly Pavilion

One of the greatest aspects of Butterfly Pavilion is our people. Everyone from staff to volunteers brings their passion to the organization every day, making it possible for us to achieve big impacts in invertebrate and habitat conservation. Lorraine Martinez and Greg Gonzalez are no exception. They are current participants in the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), an innovative program through which seniors provide hands-on service to our organization, updating and learning new skills, in order to better prepare for reentering the workplace. SCSEP is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and administered by Service, Employment, and Redevelopment (SER) National and Colorado is one of just 6 states that currently participate.

Before retirement, Lorraine Martinez worked for several departments of the State of Colorado and had a background in computers and administration. She decided to go back to work and discovered SCSEP through a friend. Through the program, Lorraine has trained at an art thrift store and with a student mentor program. At Butterfly Pavilion Lorraine wanted to focus on her computer skills and so her talents were put to use helping our Education team with data management, research, and other special projects.

Lorraine says in addition to feeling like she’s getting a full refresher course in computers, she’s excited to learn more about our animals and the work Butterfly Pavilion does behind the scenes. Lorraine says, “It’s amazing to see all the research and learn how important it is. It opens up a whole new world.” Lorraine says a really fun bonus of her work is sharing her new knowledge with her 5 grandkids. She takes home new facts to teach them and they get into conversations about insects.

Greg Gonzalez had a career as a lawyer before working in several managerial positions at mental health organizations. When his grant-funded position ended, Greg was on his way to enroll in an Excel class when he saw a sign for SCSEP. Greg is now exploring a variety of roles at Butterfly Pavilion using his vast skill set. He started as an exhibit interpreter, helping our guests learn more about and interact with animals. He also helps with school group logistics and is currently working on Spanish translations for exhibit signage in preparation for Butterfly Pavilion’s new facility in Broomfield opening in 2022.

Greg says that through this experience, he’s rediscovered his passion for learning. He especially enjoys teaching guests about animals here, with Rosie the Tarantula, horseshoe crabs, and the atlas moth being among his favorites. Greg enjoys connecting with our guests about how we share the planet with these amazing creatures. His passion is obvious, and he says, “I get excited every time I do exhibit interpretation because the kids get so excited, especially about Rosie. It’s fun. It’s contagious!”

Along with great experiences for Greg and Lorraine, their presence has had a fantastic impact on Butterfly Pavilion. “My interactions and witnessing the connections of others with our SCSEP trainees is one of the highlights of my day, every day. From checking in with Lorraine about how her family is doing to seeing Greg’s excitement when a school bus arrives, the actions of our SCESP participants are making a real tangible, positive difference in the culture of Butterfly Pavilion,” says Eric Oaks, Butterfly Pavilion School Programs Manager.

We are so thankful to have Greg and Lorraine as a part of our team, and we look forward to engaging other SCSEP participants in the future. If you or a senior you know is interested in learning more about SCSEP, you can visit www.seniorserviceamerica.org.