“People working together in a strong community with a shared goal and a common purpose can make the impossible possible.”

- Tom Vilsack, Former US Secretary of Agriculture

Last month, I wrote about the difference between inclusion and isolation. Inclusion is not just a belief but something we put into practice. We believe in strengthening community inclusion so much that we made it the first goal in our strategic plan. We have identified many different objectives to achieve this goal. This month, I’d like to focus on our objective of strengthening critical partnerships and relationships.

DCBDD is fortunate to have such a passionate network of providers, community employers and community partners that support the people we serve. We know that the better our relationship is with each of these sectors, the opportunity for inclusion grows.

To foster our relationship with providers, we recently hosted our first Provider Meet and Greet where we welcomed new and seasoned providers to DCBDD. The Meet and Greet offered the opportunity for providers to meet with representatives from all of the different departments of the agency. I truly enjoyed my conversations with the providers who attended.

While strengthening provider relations is a critical piece to our strategic plan, so is building awareness within our community. Last October we celebrated our 50 ^th anniversary of service to Delaware County with our first ever Block Party. Even though we had a few rain showers throughout the event, the community support and attendance was incredible. Since this event was such a success, we have decided to continue the tradition with our 2 ^nd Annual Block Party on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. The Block Party is not only a fun and free event for the community but it also serves as a great awareness opportunity for our mission and the people we support. This event brings together people of all abilities, providers, community partners, employers, and members of the community all for the sole purpose of enjoying a summer evening together as a unified community.

The Provider Meet and Greet and the Block Party are just a few of the ways we are working to strengthen community inclusion. We hope to see you at the Block Party and other community events in the future!