A Year of Growth and Innovation
I recently received that quote from a person whom we served in the last year. I figured it was the perfect introduction to the 2022 Impact Report.
The past year was a record setting year for Independence, Inc. Let’s look at some of these accomplishments:
• We served a record number 733 people through our core services this year.
• We assisted a record 31 people to transition from a nursing home back into their own home.
• We prevented another 26 people from moving into a nursing home.
• We prevented 12 people from becoming homeless.
• We assisted 12 others to move home from a homeless shelter, or other similar congregate living arrangement, into their own home.
• We provided Pre-Employment Skills training to over 300 students in 22 regional high schools.
We helped dozens of other people to find a job, to find better housing, to learn to ride the bus or to pass their drivers test.
When looking at these numbers, I try to look at the impact they represent on people’s lives. How liberating it is to move home from a nursing facility and back into your own home. The peace that comes when homelessness is no longer a daily fear. The freedom that comes with your own driver’s license. The doors that open when you graduate high school with the skills needed to transition into adulthood.
These stats also have a massive impact on our communities. When people live independently, they live longer, are healthier, and it costs the taxpayers a whole bunch less.
We are grateful for the opportunity to serve people with all types of disabilities throughout our 11 county service area. We appreciate each and every individual who has trusted us to support them as they achieve their dreams. A M E S S A G E F R O M O U R E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R
“THE MOST VALUABLE THING THE TEAM AT INDEPENDENCE, INC. HAS TAUGHT ME IS THAT MY LIFE, HOPES, DREAMS, AND GOALS MATTER. THAT I MATTER, AND I CAN DO GREAT THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY."
Independence, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to empowering individuals with disabilities, seniors, and people with behavioral health disorders to live independently.
We are a non-residential, community-based, consumer-controlled agency that provides a variety of enrichment services designed to help North Dakotans with disabilities escape dependency, emerge from poverty, maximize self-sufficiency, and actively participate in community life.
Scott Burlingame, Executive Director
Jamie Hardt, Program Director
Amber Johnson, Finance Director
Kate Rock, Community Relations Specialist
Nicole Beech, Independent Living Advocate
Leigha Just, Independent Living Advocate
Connie Klein, Independent Living Advocate
Laura Mendez, Independent Living Advocate
Katie Johnson, Independent Living Advocate
Haley West, Independent Living Specialist
Pamala Mondragon, Information Specialist
Sierra Scherr, Youth Transition Specialist
MacKenzie Larson, Peer Support Specialist
STAFF 2022 BOARD
John Sallee, President
Dawn Palumbo, Vice-Chair
Lacey Krueger, Secretary/Treasurer
Andrea Savelkoul, Member-at-Large
Kyle Erickson, Director
Ashley Beall, Director
Allyson Berner, Director
Rianne Kuhn, Director
Drew Hanson, Director
Mission Mission
PEER SUPPORT PEER SUPPORT
SPECIALIST SPECIALIST
In the fall of 2021, we welcomed MacKenzie (Kenzie) Larson to our team as a Peer Support Specialist. Kenzie uses her lived experience to assist others to live healthy lives in the community. Kenzie is also responsible for encouraging people with all types of disabilities to participate fully within the community in which they live.
SOUND OF SOUND OF IINDEPENDENCE NDEPENDENCE
In June, Independence, Inc. kicked off the 2022 Arts in the CityThursdays Downtown with the Sound of Independence Live Music Festival. This event, done in partnership with the Minot Area Council of the Arts, provided the opportunity for musicians with and without disabilities to promote inclusivity by performing live in downtown Minot.
Our Advocates of the Year for 2022 were:
ADVOCATES OF ADVOCATES OF THE YEAR THE YEAR
Courtney GorzeYouth Advocate of the Year and Stephaney BeamisAdvocate of the Year
Our organization offers core services to eleven North Dakota counties including Bottineau, Burke, Divide, McKenzie, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville, Rolette, Ward, and Williams.
Independence, Inc., serves people of all disability types. This year we have seen an increase in consumers with physical disabilities requesting services.
Consumers By County
With offices in Minot and Bottineau, it is no surprise that we serve many people in those locations. However, the staff in our offices travel throughout our entire service area, or offer services virtually. Because of this, we serve people in each of the counties we serve.
568 IN WARD COUNTY
IN SERVICE AREA
Throughout the year, our organization serves people in a variety of ways. From working directly with people to achieve their independent living goals, to providing information on services and programs available in our community, Independence, Inc. served a total of 9,295 people throughout 2022.
Consumers By Age
At Independence, Inc., we serve people of all ages. In the past year we served more adults aged 25 to 59, and in those who are over the age of 60.
DISABILITY DISABILITY AWARENESS AWARENESS IN SCHOOLS IN SCHOOLS
In 2022, Independence, Inc. provided disability awareness to 503 students at 5 elementary schools in our service area. These lessons included defining disability, reading a book featuring a student with disabilities, and participating in an activity that asked disability related questions to the students. We also provided each student with a Disability Awareness Activity Booklet to take home.
