Life Works October Newsletter

7/27/2019 Life Works October Newsletter

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All it takes is an invitation!When what we strive for is community but

We just seem to get in our own way.

~ Beth Gallagher

The first week in July I traveled to Toronto, Canada with Kirk to attend the Toronto Summer Institute

TSI). This is a unique gathering of like-minded people from around the world. They all ascend on this city to

onder questions of inclusion, best practice, community and partnership. It really is a surreal event of promise.

ave had the great fortune to participate in this think tank 14 different times. Each time I arrive in Toronto wit

et of hopes and dreams and I leave with my mind churning with new ideas and ponderings that I did not

magine.

A faithful tradition at TSI is a community dinner on Sunday evening. Everyone is invited to gather and

ick off the week with laughter, invitation and a ton of food. Last year we, Christopher Lee, Kirk and myself

ecided to take the task on ourselves to create an evening. We decided to use the book, Stone Soup, to frame o

me together. The theme in that book is that EVERYONE has something to offer. The more diverse the

ngredients are that we blend together, the better the soup.

We created an invitation that went into everyones packet on the first day. We announced on the

microphone on that Sunday morning what our intention was. We acquired a hall big enough to seat a couple

undred people. We brought table cloths, candles, music, and faith. The three of us also invited our good frien

heldon, Michelle and Peter to help with the task, and they lovingly accepted.

That Sunday evening we all gathered at the hall to decorate. We brought vegetables and ingredients to

make homemake Gaspacho. We prepared and we waited.

At exactly the hour in which they were invited, people came. 10 20 30 45 66 oh mythe

ame with food and fun. Over 85 people showed up for the dinner. It was a phenominal evening full of greatood, sharing, story telling and celebration. The invitation was easy and the experience was easier. What will i

ake for us to get out of our own way and invite people in? Lets make soup.


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!

On!My!Mind!~Kirk!Hinkleman2Associate!Director!

!

s#mentioned,#last#month,#I#made#my#annual#journey#to#the#Toronto#Summer#Institute.##One#of#the#many#

reat#lessons#learned#smacked#me#across#my#face#via#friend#and#colleague#Tim#Vogt.##I'll#get#to#Tim#in#a#

t.#(By#the#way,#if#you#haven't#yet#had#the#opportunity#to#read#the#blog#Tim#hosts,#you#must!##It#is#

bulous.#www.cincibility.wordpress.com)##We#spent#3#days#together#in#a#module#hosted#by#Connie#Lyle#

'Brien#and#Lynda#Kahn,#centered#around#the#idea#of#isolation.##Our#group,#about#12#people#each#day,#shared#personal#st

f#not#belonging,#feeling#isolated#and#about#friends#and#family#members#experiencing#these#feelings.##We#shared#how#we#

ctually#may#be#contributing#to#isolation,#entering#into#a#vulnerability#where#support#and#real#ideas#emerged.#

he#conversation#shifted#to#sharing#stories#of#how#we#may#be#combatting#isolation,#with#this#question:##"What#are#each#o

oing#in#our#personal#lives#to#create#cultures#of#connection#and#welcome?"##Around#the#room#the#conversation#floated,#ag

ith#a#vulnerability#so#profound,#tears#flowed#warmly,#welcomed#to#the#group#by#all#present,#as#if#to#say#"Oh,#we've#been

xpecting#you."##This#conversation#resonates#with#me#today#and#will#forever.##It#is#at#the#core#of#my#belief#system...what#a

oing#to#create#a#welcome#wherever#I#go#and#with#whomever#I#am#with?##What#are#my#kids#experiencing#as#they#grown#u

ack#to#the#faceRslapping,#AhaRmoment#from#Tim.##Tim#came#to#this#year's#gathering#with#a#mission#to#attend#an#event#

appening#at#a#restaurant/bar#called#No#One#Writes#To#The#Colonel.##Two#local#gentlemen#put#together#a#group#called#'Ch

hoir!#Choir!'.##These#men#host#a#weekly#event#at#this#restaurant#where#local#citizens#come,#eat,#drink#and#sing.##They#take

op#music#and#compose#songs#into#choir#arrangements.##People#show#up,#no#matter#their#skill#level,##with#a#willingness#to

ng,#have#a#good#time#and#be#with#others.##They#divide#people#simply#into#"highs,#mediums#and#lows"#then#spend#the#nex

w#hours#practicing#the#song,#culminating#with#a#recorded#rendition.##What#these#two#men#are#doing,#is#sharing#their#

ft...their#gift#of#music#creates#a#'place#of#goodness'.##People#connect,#spend#time#together,#laugh,#sing#and#cheer.##They#go

ome,#probably#to#sleep#quite#well#and#wake#up#with#a#sense#of#hope#in#humanity.#ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19WWLU48lTc#

im#cruised#over#to#this#restaurant#with#5#other#TSI#attendees#and#participated#in#the#evening.#His#recounting#of#the#even

rought#gooseRbumps#all#over#my#body#and#the#following#statement#is#where#the#slap#happened:##"Connection,#jobs,#

elationships,#especially#in#our#work#with#people#living#on#the#margins,#and#for#us#as#citizens,#these#things#aren't#coming#

ling#out#applications#or#knocking#on#doors.##We#need#to#look#for#places#of#goodness.##Where#we#can#go#every#Tuesday#n

Where#we#can#bring#our#kids.##It's#from#these#places#where#connection,#relationships#and#jobs#emerge.##How#do#we#creat

ur#own#places#of#goodness#back#home?"#

Wow!##I#immediately#began#scouring#my#brain,#thinking#of#already#existing#'places#of#goodness'#I#may#know#of#back#home

urther,#what#can#I#create?!##Tim's#right.##When#we#think#of#isolation,#and#it#is#the#world's#largest,#most#dangerous#conditio

r#disability,#and#we#think#of#what#we've#been#doing...well#something#isn't#working#completely#well.##But#if#we#just#slow#

urselves#down#a#bit#and#think#of#'places#of#goodness',#doesn't#that#make#a#ton#of#sense?##Think#about#it.##What's#already#

appening#in#your#community?##I#bet#it#is#there!##Concerts#in#the#park#every#Sunday#at#4pm?##Bring#a#picnic.##Bring#the#kid

hare#time#with#others.##Is#there#a#'Choir!#Choir!#Choir!'Rtype#gathering#happening#in#your#community?##Yes.##The#answer

es.##However,#I#think#what#Tim#is#saying,#is#we#need#more.##More#places#of#goodness#will#yield...you've#got#it...more#goodn

sn't#that,#well,#good?##What#are#the#'places#of#goodness'#in#your#communities?##Please#share#them#in#the#comments#sectio

hare#the#GOOD!!!#


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rom Fear to In t at on: My Quest or Connect on

~Christy Tweedy

uess you can say it all started a few years ago. I remember walking on the beach one

udy murky afternoon and there was a guy who was sitting on the side of the

ardwalk. In his hand he had a cardboard sign that said, Will Listen for Free with anuine smile on his face. I couldnt help but smile uncontrollably and felt a wave of

nnectedness pass through my veins. I got a rush of inspiration by observing him. His simple act to expres

vitation for others to join him without fear was something that seemed unique and easy. Anyone could se

dboard box with some words scribbled on the front. I walked away knowing that I would store that mem

mewhere in a safe and loving spot in my mind.

st forward many years later. I find myself searching for that inspiration of connectedness once again. In m

e of work, it is commonly spoken about how individuals receiving supportive living services are eager to b

lusive within their community. Our organization strives to enhance and encourage these interactions anow for inclusion and involvement. As the months pass, I start to see the importance of connection within

dividuals with disabilities to their community is similar if not identicalto the longing all individuals feel t

nnected. In all these conversations and trainings with my coworkers, I start to see myself reflected back in

ese stories of loneliness.

ving alone in my own studio apartment has given me a grand sense of independence but has also gifted m

ore of an obstacle in searching for ways to connect and build new relationships. I began to take a lot of th

sons I have learned from my mentors and apply them into my own personal life. I was faced with the

epening anxiety of reaching out and being the first one to initiate those interactions. Even being an extrov

d not ease the anxiety of being rejected or being socially ridiculed. Ironically, through the midst of nerves

ought hit meEveryone must feel this sense of anxiety being the first initiator, if I let my fears cloud my

tions, how will any movement take place?Nothing will be accomplished and I will continue to lose out o

tential connections. Then I thought of the man I saw back at the beach that day. His bravery to stick out a

ively invite all those who walked in front of him to join him in conversation. He took the initiative and in

s able to take the social strain off others around him, therefore establishing a genuine connection.

new that if he could overcome his fears and be rewarded with pure connections, then I could do it as wellal at the end of the tunnel was worth the journey of obstacles. In my experiences those uncomfortable ob

en signify sections of my life that need attention and further development. So thats what I set out to do.

rainstormed fun and easy ways to get people to come together. I tried my hardest to take into account di

tors that may cause people to become too shy or anxious. I wanted to think of an easy way for someone t

y yes and to join in without putting too much thought into it. Different inspirations and ideas brought m

e conclusion that an amateur game of Frisbee would be an easy invitation.


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has now been months since I started Frisbee Fridays in my neighborhood. I wish I could say that I have m

ge following each week, but I cannot. Each week I still face the reality that numerous people decide to no

ow up. Each Friday I find myself still battling with the uneasiness of extending invitations only to be reje

me after time. However, each week I am always amazed at the qualityof the interactions rather than

e quantity.

ave been led to believe that the success of a community involvement event means having plenty peoplerticipating. In reality, its always been about the connections and energy being exchanged that really mat

w put my focus into those few connections that happen while also being mindful of my own doubt.

m still finding ways to push myself into that uncomfortable zone of extending invitations for people to

nnect. A few weeks ago I finally repeated the invitation of the man on the beach. A friend and I set up a s

th signs saying Free Listener and Will Listen for Free. I thought for sure we would get ridiculed and

sumed to be vagrants asking for money. Ironically, we received great support and we even had a significa

mount of people sit with us and talk openly while we listened. I feel like this game of finding connection w

ways be evolving and changing. I look forward to learning and growing while also exploring methods to b

rough that social fear of coming together to just be.


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LETS MAKE A GARDEN

To the entire Life Works family:

We have an incredible opportunity to create a vegetable and herb garden in Vista! Our harvests

would nourish ourselves, and those in our community who cannot afford fresh produce. Our

excess produce will be given to local food banks to feed the hungry. We could all become moredeeply rooted in our community while engaging in a healthy outdoor activity!

A local church has set up a flourishing, successful raised bed community garden with multiple

plots. They are going to expand it in a big way. The church garden club will construct the

beds complete with soil. Some of the beds will be sufficiently raised to accommodate wheelchair

gardeners. There will also be some paved pathways to allow wheel chair access! There will be

water, tools and lots of free advice and support. There will also be space for container

gardening. The cost would be very low! Right now, 5 x 10 plots rent for only $20 per year! All

we really need are seeds, containers if we go that way and maybe some extra tools. No

experience is necessary!

For those who are interested in participating in the Vista garden, please talk to the people you

support and let me know ASAP. Then we should have a meeting to talk about our ideas for the

project and to develop a plan to implement them. Please bring your enthusiasm and good will!

Theres a meeting of the garden club on August 17th that Im attending and I would like to have

an idea as to how much garden space we should ask for. For those who are enthusiastic about

the idea but feel they and those they support live too far away, you could look for similar

opportunities with community gardens local to you. There are other possibilities for accessing

land we can discuss later.

If you or someone you support are interested in participating please notify Christine Houde as

soon as possible at 904-347-9230.


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!!!

San Diego Comic Con International

Making a Lasting Impression on Devotees

By Alan Wubenhorst

From costumed fans to movie and television stars, what was once defined as a geek is a geek no

more,. Comics and entertainment are now part of pop culture.

This article is about one mans dream becoming reality, a week ago began a week of intensity,

meeting deadlines, and assembling a 20 page comic book all the student creators are proud of. Learning

to go with the first story that made sense was a useful time saver.

The project was made to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Superman, with three groups devoting

characters to deal with the problems of today. Then, the dream came true, although I did not see everypanel I would have liked to, I got to work at Comic Con, I got to learn how to sell our product, and the

best part of this intensive class with Little Fish Comic Book Studio was that we got to present on a

professional panel,.

This is a great accomplishment, not just for me, but all persons with disabilities, becoming part of

the mainstreamed popular culture will work wonders.


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My Plate Food GuideTo help people make smart food choices, the USDA has designed an easy tofollow food symbol: My Plate. The plate graphic with its different food

groups is a reminder of what-and how much- we should be putting on our

plates to stay healthy.

How My Plate WorksThe my plate graphic has a section for vegetables, fruits, grains and foods

that are high in protein, as well as a cup on the side for dairy. Each section is

a different size and color coded (green for veggies, red for fruits, orange for

grains, purple for protein, and blue for dairy) so you can see at a glance how

much of these foods to eat.

Healthful Tips: Choose variety: have a balance of items from different food groups. Half of your plate should be fruits and vegetables. About one- quarter of your plate should be grains and one- quarter

protein. Drink fat free or low fat milk and water instead of soda and sugary

drinks Avoid over sizes portions

Documents

Life Works October Newsletter