Advocacy and Councils

from 2023 AHRC COMPASS Semi-Annual Report

Councils Presentation for AHRC Board of Directors

Freeport Workforce Council

SANYS held a contest to create a new logo for their upcoming regional conference, with the theme “Unite for Change” and it was awarded to Brittani English, a participant in PreVoc! Her logo will be displayed at the conference and on all on-line registration materials. Brittani was thrilled and will be attending the conference in July.

The Workforce Council met the first Wednesday each month and discussed a variety of rights and empowerment training topics including: Financial decision making, selfadvocacy issues, rights to choose where we work and live, rights to personal property, rights to decision making, and knowing your money rights. Members enjoy the council meetings and look forward to them each month!

The Workforce Council began collecting plastic water bottles and soda cans to be recycled. They went to a local redemption center to recycle the bottles and cans. This will be an on-going project.

The Workforce Council held its first bake sale! Council members helped to advertise the event handing out flyers, learned how to prepare the various items, set up the display, figure out pricing, answer the customers questions, helped sell the baked goods, took the money, and gave change. The Council decided to donate the funds to 2 charities, “Soup to Nuts” Food Pantry/Soup Kitchen and “Kids and Art”, providing art kits for children with cancer, during their hospital stays. They used the donation to buy a huge tray of assorted large cookies to be included in a Monday hot lunch.

The Workforce Council participated in the “Voice for Choice” event. The Vice-President, Hanna Pollack, was selected to be interviewed during the meeting, about her thoughts on Pre-Voc and what the program means to her.

AHRC Residential Council Update

Members in May, benefited from a hygiene in-service and demonstration, provided by AHRC’s nursing dept.

Funds of council money raised have been distributed on behalf of the CLS residential council to the following charities:

$250 Long Island Cares.

$250 Red Cross.

$250 Guide Dog Foundation.

Council members have registered and are looking forward to attending the SANY’s Long Island reginal conference on July 14th .

Council member registration is also underway for the SANY’s state conference held in October.

The residential council continued to struggle at the beginning of the year with a lack of members attending meetings. However, through a CLS outreach campaign and a return to in person meetings, membership attendance & participation has increased.

In full swing, the Spring Fling Dance hosted by Farmingdale High School’s Smile Club brought an evening of laughter, dancing and camaraderie to people who enjoyed a night out with friends. Music, refreshments, and colorful Hawaiian leis made this year’s Spring Fling stand out and helped get everyone in the party mood.