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FEBRUARY 2022 E-NEWSLETTER

A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
We reopened in-person services (again) on February 14, 2022 and we hope to continue to bring more of our clients back to in-person services very soon. Our biggest challenge, now that daily COVID cases in Orange County are considerably lower, is hiring staff. Please help us spread the word that we are hiring!
Do you know that there is a “National Day of” designation for just about every day of the year? February had a couple that I wish I hadn’t missed:

  • Ice Cream for Breakfast Day (yes please)
  • National Pizza Day (sounds good to me)
  • National Margarita Day (hope it was on a weekend day)
  • National Random Acts of Kindness Day
  • National Set a Good Example Day

I especially love the random acts of kindness and set a good example days. But at Vocational Visions, most acts of kindness are quite intentional and not at all random. There are so many acts of kindness that fill each day here and not just because we provide care to adults with disabilities. It's because our staff care deeply about the people we serve and our mission and that sets a good example for all of us.  I’m pretty sure many of their kind acts go unrecognized / unacknowledged. For all that they do, we owe them a tremendous thank you.

If you are reading this and thinking "I can relate because my kindness sometimes goes unnoticed too", know that we appreciate you. We could sure use more of you in this world because studies show that kindness is contagious. Finally, something good that is contagious. The example you set by your good deeds has a meaningful ripple effect across our community.

Kindness is a gift everyone can afford to give.

Be well!
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
CHELSAE MANSFIELD
We would like to introduce you to Chelsae Mansfield, our new DTAC Pala Program Manager who started in January of this year. Chelsae's focus is daily programming, staff development and providing compassionate leadership.

From a young age, Chelsae has been involved in many organizations that support individuals with disabilities. She went on to study at Chapman University in Orange, receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Integrated Educational Studies and her Special Education Teaching Credential.
 
Chelsae began her career as an elementary school special education teacher, which ultimately lead to an interest in post-secondary education options and opportunities for adults with disabilities. For the past 4 years, she served as a Program Manager for a supported living vendor in Los Angeles that supported UCLA Pathway students and other adults living independently in the area.
 
During her free time, Chelsae enjoys hanging with her dog Parker, going to the beach, hiking and spending time at her family’s Colorado River home. Chelsae is happy to join the Vocational Visions team and continue to fulfill her passion of working with individuals with disabilities and supporting them in leading self-determined, meaningful lives.
PARTICIPANT SPOTLIGHT
CHRISTOPHER PECKHAM
This month, we are shining our participant spotlight on Christopher who is in two of our programs: Supported Employment and HRS. Before moving to our HRS program, he attended our Emeritus program for several years. The big benefit of transitioning to HRS from Emeritus is that Chris has access to the onsite nurse who is available in HRS for any medical needs. He is still given the opportunity to visit and participate in some Emeritus activities which is really the best of both worlds for him.
Christopher joined VV not very long after graduating from the Saddleback College Adult Transition Program back in 2006. Back when Christopher was still in his Adult Transition program, they partnered with him to obtain employment at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. He will celebrate 19 years working there this August and we have provided job coaching support for him for almost 14 years (he's been with VV since 2008). Christopher's job responsibilities have evolved over the years. Most recently he has been providing support with their email reservations which includes data entry but he no longer has to perform courtesy calls (which he doesn't miss at all). Being organized is definitely an asset for Chris in his job.

The Coach House, like many businesses during the pandemic, had to close its doors canceling all in-person acts. Fortunately, when they reopened, they were happy to have Christopher back when VV re-engaged with them. Chris has had the same top boss (business owner Gary) since he started. Chris says it's nice to have a boss that's both cool and funny. We say it's awesome to have a business owner who contributes to our mission.

Christopher has had a lot of fun attending some of the musical acts that performed at The Coach House over the years. One of his favorite acts was the Eagles tribute band called Desperado. He is also a big fan of the comedy acts. Currently, Chris works on Mondays and Wednesdays and attends onsite VV programming on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Thursdays, he often goes out into the community with VV. Check out these pictures taken earlier this month of Christopher on the job.
Chris lives at home with his dad and his step mom. He has one younger sister named Brianna.
At home, Christopher likes listening to all types of music including jazz, country, Motown and rock and roll. Music from the 50's, 60's and 70's are some of his favorite. He enjoys most types of movies, especially action and comedy movies. Chris is not a fan of scary movies. TV shows that he delights in include The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon and the reality adventure shows Survivor and The Amazing Race. He says it's fun to watch all of the crazy things the contestants have to eat like bugs. So, scary is out but disgusting is A-OK.

Christopher loves to cruise. He's been on five or six cruises already. He is fond of the delicious food and the shows. On port days, he often takes advantage of the quiet on the ship and hangs out by the pool Here's a picture of him on a recent cruise with his family to Mexico.
Chris would love to go to Hawaii. When asked why, he didn't hesitate on his answer. He said "the warm weather and ladies in bikinis." Maybe he can convince his family to choose Hawaii for their next cruise destination.

The only thing Christopher might fancy more than cruising is sports, especially baseball. He's a huge Angels fan and tries to make it to at least 10 home games each season. Other sports teams he follows include the LA RAMS (Super Bowl LVI champs), the Green Bay Packers and he's even been to two LA Lakers games.
Chris is very personable and described by others as a social butterfly. People comment that he has a good memory especially when it comes to facts about the people that he meets. Christopher will be the first to admit, "I'm not a pet lover but I sure do love people."

Thank you so much Christopher for sharing. We hope you get that Hawaii cruise soon.
CALENDAR
Presidents' Day *
VV Board of Directors Meeting
Rare Disease Day
February 21, 2022
February 23, 2022
February 28, 2022
* Vocational Visions is closed for this holiday
EARN DONATIONS FOR VV
Click on this link to smile.amazon.com to go right to the page to select Vocational Visions as your charity for Amazon purchases.

Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to us.

Click here for instructions to activate AmazonSmile on your Amazon mobile app.
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BUY GROCERIES AT RALPHS
EARN DONATIONS FOR VV
Link your Ralphs Grocery Store shopper's card to Vocational Visions:


Then, swipe your shopper's card, or enter your associated phone number, whenever you shop at Ralphs and Ralphs will make a quarterly donation to us.