January 2019
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Birthdays Ayan Ahmed (In-Home) Esmahan Maqbul (Aurora) Ifrah Inshar (Fairview) Iftu Hassen (Fairview) Kadra Ismail (Glenpaul) kelsang Dolma (Aurora) Said Dhere (11th Ave) Shahrazad Hassan (1250 Hoyt) Suado Moalim (Oliver) Pat G. (In-Home) Afi Daklou (Portland Ave) Lenise Holliman (Portland Place) Andrea F. (11th Ave) Leann Grier (11th Ave) Aubrey F. (In-Home) Kimberly Weldon (In-Home) Tinesha Tekeste (Fairview) Margaret E. (Portland Place)
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Abigail Akyigyina (1250 Hoyt) Gayelan Thompson-Nedd (Oakland) Stacy Boehmer (Glenpaul) Darla Jansen (Aurora) Ethan Young (Harmony House) Kakisha Hargrove (In-Home) Pam W. (Colfax) Allysa J. (In-Home) Jessica Cowan (1489 Hoyt) Mariam Wesseh (29th Ave) Linda S. (11th Ave) Risper Tanui (Demont) Bolade Omole (Colfax Lane) John D. (Aurora) Charles Akyigyina (Fairview) Ann B. (91st) Thomas Ajayi (Oliver) Javier B. (Oliver) Deborah Croom (In-Home)
Happy Birthday!
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Anniversaries
Patience Kollie (Groveland) 1 yr, Bernard Fonkwa (Harmony House) 1 yr, Hue Tran (16th Ave) 4 yrs, Mangwi Loknjinu (Skycroft) 6 yrs, Kong Vue (1489 Hoyt) 7 yrs, Adama Kargbo (Fairview) 7 yrs, Stephen Odika (16th Ave) 7 yrs, Gregory Malush (Oakland) 8 yrs, Victoria Ishola (Demont) 10 yrs, Margaret Oladipo (29th Ave)10 yrs, Marciano Dennis (Thomas Ave) 15 yrs, Pauline Kunn (Portland Place) 16 yrs, totalling 92 years! Congratulations everyone!
Wingspan Christmas Celebration at Holy Spirit Every one of our 28 houses and two programs was represented at the annual Christmas celebration this year. At this point, we totally fill up the party room at Holy Spirit Church, the site we chose many years ago. This year, our own Glee Club performed three Christmas carols in fine harmony and with a flourish at the end of “Let it Snow.” The group threw cotton balls at the audience, to everyone’s delight. Sean Turner, our new chorale leader, has done a fabulous job with this group of 18 singers. All the amateur singers got their usual chance to belt out carols with Rebekka Fisher, our keyboardist extraordinaire. And the cookies! Many, many houses baked and brought so many varieties of red, white, green, chocolate, ginger, and peppermint that even 180 people couldn’t eat them all up. Our usual wonderful Santa Claus from Happy Faces arrived and visited at each table before ascending his throne to give out gifts. The men’s gifts were green, the women’s red. Each person, it seemed, needed a photo with Santa. Therese Davis obliged along with other phone-equipped staff. And, as usual, many of our great staff stuck around to clean up— notably Brenda Spraggins (Woodbridge) who did all the vacuuming. So with that, it is officially the Holiday Season at Wingspan, and we wish each reader a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or Blessed Holiday Season to you and your families! ~Maureen Merrill~
Welcome Our House Minnesota to Wingspan! On January 1, 2019 Our House Minnesota will become part of Wingspan! Our House MN has been serving adults with developmental disabilities in two ICF homes since 1975. They have a reputation for great service and, as we discovered, a philosophy of care similar to Wingspan…the needs and people we serve come first, always. Our House Minnesota made the decision early in 2018 to merge with a larger organization. The staffing crisis is a significant challenge for all providers, but is particularly tough for a small organization and, with the upcoming retirement of their beloved and long term Administrator, Dennis Holman, it seemed like the time to start looking for the right match. Through a mutual supporter, Jane Thames, Wingspan and Our House came together and both felt the chemistry was good. We are really excited to welcome the 12 people living in these homes and the dedicated Our House staff who came along with them! Look for further “getting to know you” profiles coming soon. Portland Our House: House Coordinator, Jackie Schultz. DSPs, LeKeisha Wilson, Brittany Bess, Tsehay Melka, Karmen Horne. Dayton Our House: House Coordinator, Shirley Wilson. DSPs, Kiamaea Anderson, Jeanne Davich, Hodan Warsame, Birhane Ambaw, Benjamin Hartin, Sarah Alemneh, and Florence Adeneke (sub staff for both houses). Also, please welcome our new residents living at Dayton John, Daryl, Edward, Michael, Joanne, and the residents living at Portland Melvin, John, Pamela, Joseph, Gale and Debra. We are so happy you are now a part of the Wingspan family! Welcome!
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Taking Flight
is published monthly by Wingspan Life Resources Executive Director Therese Davis Editor Pam Carlson The mission of Wingspan Life Resources is to help people who are challenged by age, ability or health to realize their own unique gifts, talents and dreams. We fulfill this mission by providing individualized support services that promote personal choice, independence, dignity and fellowship with the community.
Please email us your changes to mailing address or email address: Contact mbrannan@wingspanlife.org
Empowering Abilities. Nurturing Spirits. Caring For Life.