November 2018

t

h g i l

November 2018

F g in

k

Sara F. (In-Home) Moses Onwuegbule (1489 Hoyt) Timothy G. (Oliver) Julie M. (Aurora) Jack J. (Demont) Laurel Robinson (Skycroft) Jean C. (91st Street) Nancy M. (91st Street) Adebowale Phillips (Sheridan) Tiffany Garbett (Aurora) Peter Tinega (29th Ave) Yingmin Zhang (Glenpaul) Mara M. (Three Directions) Craig Ost (Groveland) Jennifer Blomberg (In-Home) Milagro Valdes (16th Ave) Karen Nelson (In-Home) Gerald W. (York)

Birthdays 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 6 6 8 9 9 14 14 15 17 18

Ta

Barbara E. (1489 Hoyt) Laura G. (Oakland) Ruth Ann B. (Groveland) Olaolu Wusu (48th Circle) Eric Hemme (Plato) Betty T. (1250 Hoyt) Anita L. (Aurora) Olufemi Obikoya (1489 Hoyt) Hue Tran (16th Ave) Asma Hussain (1250 Hoyt) Dessie Hopkins (91st Street) Ann M. (Oakland) Christopher G. (Three Directions) Linda Zakama (In-Home) Lorissa Crabtree (Aurora) Mary Lloyd (11th Ave) Deborah Rattler (Portland Ave) Olamide Oyekan (Skycroft)

Happy Birthday!

18 21 22 23 25 25 25 25 26 27 27 27 28 29 29 29 30 30

Anniversaries Mai Yang (Colfax) 1 yr, Breanna Draxten (29th Ave) 2 yrs, Chris Thorson (Plato) 3 yrs, Tonya Thompson (In-Home) 3 yrs, Megan Krech (Glenpaul) 3 yrs, Beatrice Mendin (York Lane) 3 yrs, Carol Hanson (In-Home) 6 yrs, Moses Onwuegbule (Troseth) 6 yrs, Elizabeth Simonette (York Lane) 8 yrs, Margaret Reynolds (Skillman) 10 yrs, Catherine Bichsel (17th Street) 10 yrs, Abimbola Oluwa (Troseth) 12 yrs, Sandra Branville (Portland Ave) 13 yrs, Gayelan Thompson-Nedd (Oakland) 16 yrs, Comfort Meh (Wentworth)19 yrs, totalling 115 years! Congratulations everyone!

Staff Appreciation

Beryl Wolney: Floyd Robertson - 29th Avenue. Floyd leads his team in a manner that assures that those who live there feel important, valued and loved. He brings many gifts to the clients in numerous ways. Like Beryl, Floyd embodies dedication, compassion, integrity, trustworthiness and commitment. Those qualities are always evident in the work he does. He protects, advocates for and assures that the clients receive competent and compassionate care and service. He creates an environment where dignity, choice and respect are at the forefront. We are grateful for the many gifts he gives, gifts that clearly come from his heart. Thank you Floyd for all that you do.

Employee of the Year: Karen Schreifels - 48th Circle. Advocate, teacher, travel companion, camp enthusiast, friend, Karen has devoted her life to helping others. She has been a permanent fixture in the lives of the women at 48th Circle since she first met the ladies in 1985 when she worked at a 98-bed inpatient facility for individuals with developmental disabilities. In 1998 the women moved into their group home at 48th Circle and Karen followed them to Wingspan as their DSP— with over 33 years of service. Karen’s favorite part of her job is getting to see the individuals interact with those in the community, to experience the connectedness and to observe the wonderful relationships the ladies have with each other, a relationship that Karen has helped nurture. Congratulations, Karen!

Employee of the Year: Jason Fortney - Maintenance. Jason has been a tremendous asset to the company, but especially for our newest venture of opening a crisis home known as “Harmony.” Even before the home officially opened, Jason spent months going through the house, making accommodations for it to open as a crisis home, which was no easy task. He has come up with so many brilliant ideas to modify the crisis home. Jason always interacts with the clients at the home. The first client who moved in thought Jason was the coolest person at Wingspan. Jason made this individual feel special, by letting him help do small tasks and they even shoveled together. Jason’s innovation and creativity are superb. If at any time an incident has occurred that puts the clients safety in jeopardy, he heads right over even if he is off work at the time the incident occurred.

Jason does this all without a single complaint.Jason is always going above and beyond.

If Jason doesn’t know how to do something, he watches videos on his own time to learn how to do it. He works independently, demonstrates initiative, and cooperates with everyone! Thank you, Jason!

Leadership: Deb Hofbauer - Skycroft & 16th Avenue Deb is exceptionally talented at juggling multiple roles and multi-tasking in an amazing manner. She not only successfully manages two sites, she also facilitates Wingspan’s Rainbow Support group, initiates and volunteers for a number of committees and events and spearheads activities that are focused on bringing quality to the lives of Wingspan clients. Deb is a natural leader with a big heart and an abundance of kindness. She is generous with praise for others, quick to laugh and smile and always on the lookout for the positive in a situation. She goes the extra mile to help create an environment that promotes personal choice, independence, dignity and fellowship with the community. Thank you, Deb for your contributions to Wingspan.

Baby Shower for CoCo CoCo has received services from Wingspan’s Supported Employment Program for over three years. She works a job and gets our help with transportation and coaching. Last spring, she had an announcement---She was expecting her third baby, a boy, in the Fall. Eleaisha Jackson, her staff, and Karen Nelson, the supervisor of the program, decided to throw her a surprise baby shower. On Saturday, September 29th, 19 people who receive services from Wingspan, who have all come to know CoCo from common activities, came and brought food or gifts for the baby. The Sherburne house was decorated to the hilt in blue, but for more excitement a bunch of other colors too! The food was all home-cooked and delicious. CoCo was thrilled! She beamed and exclaimed over each baby gift. It was nice to see that at Wingspan, people meet and become friends in different ways.

NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 991 TWIN CITIES MN

30 East Plato Blvd.

St. Paul, MN 55107 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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

Two of the invitees, one from In Home and one from 16th Avenue, know CoCo from attending Wacipi Pow Wow each year with her and Karen Nelson. Other people are co-workers in Supported Employment. Others have met CoCo at an event or two like Wingspan’s Halloween party, formal dance, picnic, holiday gathering, or an on-going activity like Glee Club. When Wingspan’s In Home/Supported Employment Program began, our hope was to help meet the need for friendship and socializing that parents described to us. Well, it has happened!!! Thanks, Eleaisha and Karen for making CoCo so happy. ~Maureen Merrill~

Please Welcome Kevin moved into Colfax, Friday, October 12th. He loves watching football, going out with his brother, vacationing in Wisconsin Dells, and playing his guitar. He also loves Classic Rock, spaghetti, cats, and eating at Subway and DQ. Kevin dislikes asparagus very much!

His favorite colors are tans and browns. He is a pretty quiet man until he gets to know you.

One of his favorite outdoor activities is shooting hoops. Welcome, Kevin! ~Lori Reineke~

Empowering Abilities. Nurturing Spirits. Caring For Life.