Building Pathways: A Decade of Partnership Between CVS Health and Riverside Community Care

Written by Gregory Walther, Employment Liaison, Riverside Employment Collaboratives

The Riverside Employment Collaboratives are regional partnerships across Massachusetts that unite human service agencies, state agencies, employers, and community organizations to expand competitive employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. We foster inclusive workforce development by connecting employers with qualified candidates with disabilities through strategic collaboration with service providers, training initiatives, and community engagement.

The CVS Health Abilities in Abundance program provides specialized retail training designed to prepare individuals of all abilities for meaningful work in customer-facing environments. Participants gain both technical and soft skills through classroom instruction, virtual learning, and hands-on experience at CVS retail locations, creating pathways to employment and inclusion statewide.

In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month and its 2025 theme, “Celebrating Value and Talent,” Riverside Community Care and CVS Health proudly celebrate a partnership that demonstrates how inclusion, innovation, and collaboration can change lives.

Now in its tenth year of development and ninth year of active programming, this partnership has grown from a regional initiative into a statewide model that connects people, builds confidence, and creates pathways to meaningful employment for individuals of all abilities. Guided by a shared belief that work has the power to transform lives, the Abilities in Abundance Retail Training Program was created to meet the needs of today’s workforce.

“This journey began not with a grand announcement or a sweeping initiative—but with a conversation,” reflects Stephanie Marks, Director of the Employment Collaboratives, recalling a meeting in a modest room at the CVS Workforce Center in Boston back in 2010. “We weren’t just talking about jobs. We were talking about dignity. About designing a program that wouldn’t just place people in roles but would help them build lives.”

The partnership was built on intention—with wraparound support, mentorship, and a shared commitment to creating lasting pathways to employment. When the pandemic reshaped how people learn and work, that foundation proved essential. The partnership responded by reimagining training—introducing virtual and hybrid formats that brought participants from across Massachusetts together to learn, connect, and grow. The addition of a dedicated soft skills trainer and technology-based learning helped participants develop both professional and digital skills, increasing confidence and independence.

Hands-on training, such as in-person register sessions in Greater Boston, remains a cornerstone. It provides real-world practice in customer service and professionalism while fostering community and self-belief.

“I’ve seen participants walk into their first interview with trembling hands and walk out with a job—and a spark,” Marks shares. “I’ve seen former trainees become store managers, mentors, even leaders in their own right. This wasn’t just a workforce initiative. It was a movement—powered by partnership, by purpose, and by the unwavering belief that when we invest in people, we all win.”

Today, the Abilities in Abundance Retail Training Program stands as a model of equity, adaptability, and shared purpose. What began as a job placement effort has become a statewide movement dedicated to empowerment, inclusion, and celebrating ability. Since its inception, the program has celebrated 364 graduates and 398 participants who have completed soft skills training, demonstrating its lasting impact in building confidence, professional skills, and pathways to employment across Massachusetts.

Together, CVS Health and Riverside Community Care prove that when we invest in people and believe in their potential, we strengthen workplaces, communities, and futures.