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The Arc Advocate
Newsletter
Winter 2017 Edition
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Helping Extraordinary People Lead Extraordinary Lives
Advocacy & Programs
for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD)
EMPOWERMENT...INNOVATION...INCLUSION
Please remember that The Arc is NOT an acronym!
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HIGHLIGHTS
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As we begin a new year of serving the community and begin 2017, we reflect on all the wonderful opportunities and friends we have met along the way. Thank you for your continued support of our efforts to identifying and securing life-long opportunities for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We certainly could not have had this level of success without the generous support of our donors and the community. The Arc of Greensboro was the beneficiary of several grants totaling $137,932.20 for special programs and projects. Community volunteers certainly made an immediate impact with their time and talents by assisting us in the office, serving on advisory committees, helping out at Challenger Sports League, arcBARKS and Able Earth Clay Creations as well as at fundraising and special events. We could not have done it without you!
Grants awarded:
UWGG Supported Employment $62,442.87
UWGG Community Guide/ Navigator $28,668.84
UWGG Challenger Sports League $15,320.52
Lincoln Financial Foundation Supported Employment $15,000.00
CarMax Foundation Challenger Sports $11,000.00
Wells Fargo arcBARKS Dog Treat Program $5,000
Walmart Local Grant - Remarcable Community $500.00
TOTAL $ 137,932.20
“If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy.
Then he becomes your partner."
Nelson Mandela
Linda Yurko,
Executive Director
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Wings for Autism®/Wings for All™ are airport “rehearsals” specially designed for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The programs are designed to alleviate the stress that families who have a child with autism or intellectual/developmental disabilities experience when flying. It provides families the opportunity to practice entering the airport, obtaining boarding passes, going through security and boarding a plane. Airport, airline, Transportation Security Administration professionals, and other personnel also have the opportunity to observe, interact, and deliver their services in a structured learning environment.
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The Arc of Greensboro UNC-G Special Education Endowment Fund:
Vanessa Evans
"I am majoring in special education with a passion of becoming a teacher to serve students with disabilities from kindergarten to high school. I am currently a senior and plan to graduate with my master's degree in the fall of 2016. After graduation, I plan to seek employment in the Guilford County school system and hope to inspire students to achieve their goals despite their disabilities as well as succeed academically"
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Supported Employment provides a continuum of vocational services for adults ages 16-64 who meet the eligibility criteria of NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
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Project Search provides a comprehensive approach to employment, job retention and career advancement fr individuals with I/DD. Students are eligible to apply for this competitive program when they are going into their final year of high school.
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Project Search 2017
The Project SEARCH Interns have had a great start at Moses H. Cone Hospital with a whirlwind of activity during the first week at our new program site! They completed an orientation for the hospital, had their new ID badges made, and spent time touring the hospital and learning their way around the new environment. By the end of the first week, they were eager to meet their new Mentors and start their internships in several different areas of the hospital. Our Interns are working in the following departments: Environmental Services- Raymond Marshall, Cardiac Cath Lab- Avery Rivera, Emergency Department- Bree Simmons and Nutritional Services- Justin Williams and Tawanna Anderson.
The Project SEARCH class of 2017 has already gained valuable employ-ability and social skills through interactions with their new coworkers at Cone Hospital. Learning to make healthy choices for lunch in the hospital cafeteria and choosing to take the stairs throughout the day are just two ways the Interns practice what they are learning in our yearlong classroom health program. We have recently implemented a “Positivity Board” in the classroom where Interns, Job Coaches and the Teacher can leave a note when they catch someone doing something great!
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arcBARKS is a job training program and all natural dog treat company that assists adults with I/DD to learn transferable job skills. Other program goals are to encourage each chef to be who they are, increase their independence and to have fun, while learning meaningful work to maintain growth and development.
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Updates:
- We had a wonderful & successful holiday season. Thank you for all of your support this past year!
- We have a couple of spots open for enrollment, if anyone is interested, please contact Jessica Camire (Program Manager) at jcamire@arcbarks.com or 336-285-9067.
- We are getting ready for Valentine’s Day and are featuring many Valentine’s themed treats for our customers.
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Stop by the arcBARKS Bakery and see what's cooking!
2823-C Spring Garden Street
Monday - Friday 9:00a.m.-5:00p.m.
Saturday - 1:00p.m.-4:00p.m.
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Community Guide provides support to individuals participating in the innovations waiver and the planning teams that assist those individuals in developing social networks and connections within local communities.
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Consumer Wish List:
- Donated washers and dryers (must be in good condition)
- Gift cards to grocery stores
- Gently used iPads
To donate an item from our wish list please call 336-373-1076 and ask to speak to our Community Guide, Sherrell Gales. Thank you for our generosity!
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GSAG is a peer-led self advocacy group that offers its participants opportunities to be actively involved in decisions that affect their lives. Monthly meetings include discussion about voting, legislature and other relevant topics that directly impact individuals with I/DD.
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Greensboro Self-Advocacy Group
GSAG 2017-2018 Officers & Committee Chairs
- President: Wendy Stafford
- Vice President: Jamey Gaddy
- Secretary: Rebecca DiSandro
- Treasurer: Nicolas Camire
- Parliamentarian: Ed Terrell
- Head of Security: Eric Chavis
- Community Service Chair: Grey Cockerham
- Social Chair: Laura Gerrow
End the R-word Campaign
Community Service:
GSAG Canned Food Drive for Greensboro Urban Ministries
- Collecting items through March
- GSAG will be collecting at events, meetings, and at main office.
GSAG Adopt-A-Park
- Pomona Park (Challenger Sports League field)
GSAG Give Back
- Valentine’s Day Cards for Assisted Living residents
GSAG Needs (for meetings):
- Water bottles, chips, pretzels, cookies, etc.
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RemArcable CommUNITY is a program of The Arc of Greensboro that offers a variety of educational, therapeutic, and recreational opportunities for adults with I/DD in an integrated setting. The program provides classes and opportunities using a holistic approach to mental, physical and spiritual wellness. Classes focus on arts, gardening, nutrition and exercise.
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Spring Displays are Up and items are for sale!!
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Carolina Greene Marketplace
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New Garden Landscaping and Nursery
100% of proceeds support the program!
Located at:
3811 Lawndale Drive Greensboro
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Spears YMCA off Horsepen Creen Road
100% of proceeds support the program!
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Art Therapist, Barbara Brown
Relax, unwind, and imagine with guided meditation and art play.
Discover the innate wisdom found in your art (be it realistic, abstract, design, etc.)
Uncover your own intuitive treasure map!
Class is every Tuesday from
10:30am-12:30pm
$5.00 individual class fee
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Date: Thursday, March 16th
Time: 4:00-6:00pm
Location: Able Earth Studio - The Creative Center
Address: 900 16th Street - Studio 309 - 3rd Floor Greensboro NC 27405
Come Shop for new spring items! We have great gifts for mother's, teachers, gardeners, and pet lovers!
All handmade locally in Greensboro, NC!
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HealthMatters is off to a great start! We are having fun with our physical activities and learning about healthy foods, habits and activities! Next week we are off to the Bog Garden for a nature walk!
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RemArcable CommUNITY Garden
It may only be February but it sure feels like spring is here and here to stay! We took advantage of a beautiful day and prepared our raised beds and planted some spring crops; snap peas, raddishes, carrots and mixed salad greens. Next week we will plant a few seeds to start indoors.
Join us for our next GARDEN WORK DAY to help us finish preparing the other 4 garden beds, plant seedlings and spread mulch to help smother out the incoming weeds!
****GARDEN WORK DAY : MARCH 2ND from 1:00-3:00pm
Additional wheelbarrows, buckets, shovels and hand tools are appreciated!
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Challenger Sports League is an adaptive and non-competitive sports league open to ages 5 years and older. Athletes participate in seasonal sports including baseball, basketball, bowling and tennis.
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North Carolina Self-Advocate Conference
March 25th 2017
Embassy Suites
204 Centreport Drive
Greensboro, NC 27409
Join Self-Advocates from around the state as we learn, share, laugh and have fun! Planned by self-advocates and staff from four chapters of The Arc, we hope you can be with us for a day filled with good information.
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Family Support Network of Central Carolina is partnering with Downtown Greensboro to organize a
Downtown Disability Awareness Day on
Sunday, April 2nd
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2:00-5:00 pm at LeBauer Park
The name may change, but the purpose of the event will be to raise awareness about the many different organizations and people that make up the special needs community here in Greensboro and the surrounding areas.
We want families to come out, eat at a restaurant or enjoy the park, and feel empowered to do so! We thought the best way to do this was by showing families and their loved ones with special needs that they are surrounded by businesses and programs that are here to support them.
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SAVE THE DATE!
3rd Annual Dancing on the Diamond Fundraiser
Saturday, June 3rd 2017
NewBridge Bank Park
6:00-9:00pm
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