Anthony has been part of the Mychal’s community since he was a teenager, and over the years, he has grown into exactly the kind of young man his family always knew he could become. Now 26 and a participant in our Path to Independence program, Anthony has spent years building skills, discovering new interests, and taking advantage of opportunities that have helped him become more confident and independent. As his parents Christina and Michael shared, it is “almost hard to believe how very shy he was and didn’t really talk to anyone.” Today, they have watched their “very likeable young boy grow into an awesome young man.”
Employment has played an important role in Anthony’s journey. He first trained at Mychal’s Print & Embroidery before moving into internships in the community. At Kinecta Federal Credit Union, he put his love of organization to work filing paperwork. He later trained at Grocery Outlet in Lomita, where he restocked shelves, created product displays, and broke down boxes. Each opportunity gave Anthony the chance to build new skills, experience different workplaces, and discover more about the kind of work he enjoys.
Today, Anthony is participating in a paid internship at Yusen Logistics, where he packages and moves boxes in the warehouse, and helps organize files in the office. While his organizational skills have served him well, Anthony has discovered that he especially enjoys working with his hands and being active in the warehouse. The experience has helped him recognize just how capable he is, and he says it feels good. With supportive employees around him and a growing confidence in his abilities, Anthony’s dream is to continue working at Yusen Logistics in the future.
That heart extends to his family, too. Anthony is a proud uncle to his brother’s three children and describes his mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, and nephews as “one big happy family.” He also has a romantic side. Anthony and his girlfriend, who is also part of the Mychal’s community, have been together since 2023. He once serenaded her onstage with My Girl, and when asked about his favorite part of being a boyfriend, his answer was simply, “giving her support.”
Anthony is also a performer, a cook, a car enthusiast, and, according to his impressive suit collection, someone who definitely knows how to dress for the occasion. He has appeared in many Mychal’s productions and recently played Prince Charming in Snow White. He enjoys culinary classes, especially making a steak sandwich and appearing in Mychal’s weekly, and occasionally viral, Meal Prep Monday videos on Instagram. But when asked to describe himself, Anthony chose two words that seem to capture everything about him: “love and joyful.” He says, “What I love about Mychal’s is that it’s the place that lets me be an independent young adult, and helps me to learn and grow.” For everyone who has watched Anthony come out of his shell, build friendships, pursue meaningful work, and discover what he is capable of, we couldn’t agree more.
