Soaring
March 2020
Growth * Respect * Choice * Ingtegrity * Fellowship * Learning
Our Biggest Fundraiser Of The Year Will Be Here Before You Know It! We hope you have saved Saturday evening, May 16th, to join us back at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest for a great night of fun and inspiration. As always, we’ll have a large silent auction which includes our one-of-a-kind artfully designed birdhouses. Thank you to the Korkowski family for growing and prepping nearly 60 gourds this year; thank you to Bob Hernandez for helping with the drilling and cleaning as well. We can’t wait to see this year’s creations! Our Gala Co-Chairs this year are Bergie and Darlene Bergerson, and we will honor past Board Chair, John Thames, as Chair Emeritus. By popular demand, dynamic duo Erin Schwab and Jay Fuchs are back to entertain us.
We’re grateful to the many restaurants, businesses and individuals who have already donated to the auction. We welcome gift cards, baskets, and bottles of wine any time before May 1. Sponsorships range from $300 to $5,000. Thank you to our early sponsors: At the $5,000 Diamond level, The Eickhoff Family and Dell. Our $3,500 Emerald sponsors are Associated Bank & Associated Benefits and Risk Consulting. Our $3,300 Sapphire In-Kind discount sponsorship is from our event producer, Stagetime Productions. At the $3,000 Ruby level: Geritom Medical, The Horberg Family, and John & Jan Thames; at the $1,500 Gold level, Ralph & Mary Pat Davini, The Hamer Family, Mark & Tracy Mooney, and Wealth Enhancement Group. At the $1,000 level, Jim & Linda Benson and Angela & Ryan O’Neill. Our $600 sponsors of the ice sculpture-martini luge are Roz & Bill Allyson and Carolee Lindsey. At the $600 Silver level: Mark Junkersfeld & Taree Leach-Junkersfeld and Dale & Jeri Peterson. At the $500 level, Bill & Betsy Cook, Carolyn & Dave Hendrickson, Old National Bank, and Royal Star Furniture. The $300 level sponsors include Bergie & Darlene Bergerson, the Friedman Family, Inver Grove Hyundai, Nick & Judy Priadka, and TSE, Inc. Questions? Please contact Darolyn Gray at 651.888.3112 or email dgray@wingspanlife.org
Empowering Abilities. Nurturing Spirits. Caring for Life.
Executive Director’s Call to Action We need your help! The staffing crisis in our field shows little sign of decreasing in the near future. Last session, legislators made a critical investment in the disability services workforce by beginning to address the 17% wage gap compared to other occupations with similar education and training. The Competitive Workforce Factor, which was passed in 2019 at 4.7%, will equate to an average 3-4% increase in the dollars individuals receive for accessing services, the majority of which go to staff wages and benefits. Nonetheless, DSP wages remain woefully low—the average wage for a DSP working in a community residential setting is $13.15. In addition, 50% of DSPs stay in their position less than a year. Turnover is costly for providers, but more importantly, it takes a toll on our clients who benefit from staff consistency—people who understand their unique qualities and needs. Now is the time to meet with or call your legislators. Legislation will: • • • •
Implement regular adjustments to the Competitive Workforce Factor Continue to move the Disability Waiver Rate System (DWRS) to be an accurate reflection of market cost by using current data Study the intersection of minimum wage increases and DWRS Create a tax credit for Direct Support Professionals
Family Members: Talk about your family member and the life they are able to lead because of services they receive. Discuss the negative impact of changing staff. Other Advocates: Share a story about someone you know who is likewise impacted by these issues. Next Steps: You can locate your district and legislator by using the District Finder Tool at: https://www.gis.leg.mn/iMaps/districts/ You may also call the MN House of Representatives Public Information Office at 651-296-2146 or 800-657-3550, or the MN Senate Information Office at 651-296-0504 or 651-296-2887. Disability Day at the Capitol is Tuesday March 10th. If you are unable to join us that day, please call or write on our behalf—today while you are thinking about it. Minnesota legislators value hearing from you and your voice can make a difference. Thank you for advocating on behalf of our clients and our staff.
Person Centered Planning in Action While Glee Club is on break until rehearsals resume in September, the fun and learning never end at Wingspan. Our Winter Bowling League started in February and will go through early June. In the summer, softball league will be in full swing. Currently, Spoken Word & Poetry Club meets at our Plato Campus on Tuesday nights and we are looking forward to a second edition of poems and stories. Our Compas teaching artist, Desdamona, engages the group in fun activities and thoughtful “listen, learn, and share” sessions. We utilize this wonderful platform as an outlet for selfexpression and as a therapeutic modality to work through issues related to grief and other life challenges. A new member of the group this year, Tina, enjoys hip-hop and performed in our “Wingspan’s Got Talent” show this Spring. She takes her notebook home after class and writes in her free time during the week. She impressed us all with one particularly profound line in a piece she was working on recently, “When I am down, I change my mind to be the sky.” How wonderful to look up when we are down and to be open to new possibilities. Way to go, Tina!
Exciting New Opportunities for Clients In addition to Spoken Word & Poetry, Wingspan is grateful to Compas for selecting Wingspan for two new residencies—Theater and Visual Arts. A grant to Compas from the Minnesota State Arts Board has made these possible and significantly reduces the cost to Wingspan. Your donations help fund these enrichment programs-thank you! In April, we will start a 9-week Theater Class on Tuesday evenings with professional actress Aimee Bryant. Aimee has been performing in the Twin Cities for the last 20 years, and recently performed in Theater Latte Da’s production of Bernarda Alba. Some of her professional highlights include Beneatha in A Raisin in the Sun, Ensemble Member in For Colored Girls, Black Nativity, as well as Sarah in Ragtime and Marian the Librarian in The Music Man. Her original music can be heard on her debut CD “Becoming.” In June, we will start a 9-week Drawing Club with Compas Teaching Artist Katrina Knutson. Katrina spent 6 years at Minneapolis’ Interact Visual and Performing Arts Center, working with adult artists with disabilities as a painting and drawing instructor, and curating the Inside Out Gallery. Currently, Katrina designs and teaches workshops and classes to youth across the Twin Cities at galleries, art centers, libraries and schools. She is an active community muralist and works on her own studio art, especially during the long cold winters.
Please Welcome Our New Human Resources Director Deb Monk joined Wingspan’s Executive Team on March 2nd. She brings 25 years of experience and comes to us with a rich background, not only in HR, but in disability services. Prior to that she worked for STAR Services/CCP as a Human Resource Director. She has extensive experience in Employee Relations, Policy and Procedure Development, and Risk Management.
Seeking Volunteers For Spring Yard Clean Up Thank you to Rudy Hokanson and Yale Alumni for again being the first to sign up for 2020! Would you, your family, your business, club or student group like to help us with yard clean up at any of our group homes around the Twin Cities? It is one of our biggest volunteer needs. Contact Development Associate Sid Severson at 651.888.3116 or email sseverson@wingspanlife.org and she will find the perfect opportunity for you. We provide tools, supplies and refreshments. Thank you to all of our 2019 volunteers who went above and beyond to help with yardwork, landscaping, snow removal painting, and events.
Another Milestone for our Queen of Hearts Board of Directors Mark Mooney, Chair Angela O’Neil, Vice Chair Roz Allyson, Treasurer LeRoy Bergerson Joe Eickhoff Bill Hamer Preston Koenig Taree Leach-Junkersfeld Bruce Smith John Thames, Chair Emeritus Executive Director Therese Davis Editor Pam Carlson Story Contributors Therese Davis Darolyn Gray
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Betty from Skillman House celebrated her 108th birthday on February 18th. Betty has been a Wingspan resident for nearly 26 years. As always, we had a big celebration at our Plato campus with music by “Elvis” (Eddie Hughes and his band). The decorations were fantastic! Thank you to House Coordinator Lina Ntakagero and staff for the loving care they provide for Betty and all of the ladies at Skillman.
IN THIS ISSUE: 2020 Gala, Legislative Update, Exciting Programs for Clients, New HR Director, and Volunteer Needs
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