By Andy Furman
Point/Arc
Perfect – just perfect.
“He’s a perfectionist,” says Connie Hutson, his supervisor, and General Manager of The Point’s Apparel Shop – one of three enterprises owned and operated by the 54-year-old non-profit organization.
She was praising Aaron Broughton, her Graphic Designer who she says is, “passionate about the quality of his work. He’s consistent.”
The 32-year-old Broughton is a graduate of the Art Academy of Cincinnati – a Print Making Major – yet, he was drawn to the mission of The Point/Arc. To help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“I volunteered with Green Giants, a non-profit that supported I/DD individuals when I was in high school,” the Moeller High grad said. “I learned about The Point Apparel Shop when I was working at DIY printing.”
And the best part of his work, he says, “I teach I/DD individuals’ new skills.”
In fact, when Broughton started at The Point Apparel Shop on December 26, 2023 – he initiated a training program for the staff.
“Each staffer would earn a certificate of participation when he or she completed their tasks,” Broughton said. “It really created a team concept.”
The Point Apparel Shop – located at 216 West 36th Street in Latonia – creates hoodies, caps, backpacks and sweatshirts.
“Our most popular item,” Broughton says, “is our T-shirts. We supply many area schools and businesses.”
He studied screen printing, stone-based printing – traditionally known as stone lithography – screen-to-letter press and embroidery – and puts them, all to good use on daily basis. The Apparel Shop operates Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
“I’ve made sculptures,” he continued. “In fact, I made the Pete Rose bust in the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
“But the best part of my job is seeing a sense of pride in the faces of our I/DD workers. I believe I/DD individuals are generally very nice people, but the world hasn’t given them the opportunity to serve.”
The Point/Arc does.
“I’ve bragged to a lot to friends that have I/DD relatives and associates,” he said. “I told them to reach out to The Point/Arc. We have a sense of pride in what we do.”
The challenge? “That’s easy,” he said. “Multi-tasking. I may be in the middle of screen printing and have to move to an embroidery job. But I love keeping busy, and we’re getting ready for the new school season right now.”
And he has his smiling crew to help him.