Writing on the Wall: Summer 2022

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Director’s Corner John Weatherspoon “It’s so good to see you!” was the greeting heard again and again, as the past few months brought the precious opportunity to gather safely. Since our last newsletter, the state has opened up for more in person interaction of Sponsored Providers and staff. Among these was our first Provider Meeting in over two years! Held at the end of April, it was an amazing success. I want to thank everyone who made the event a reality, from the fantastic presenters to the staff who pulled it all together. It was a balm to be able to spend time with so many dedicated, inspirational people. The leadership team was so moved by our experiences and interactions at the Provider Meeting that we immediately started making plans for something similar with staff and begun looking for locations to have our next in person Provider gathering. We have since followed up with small in person meetings with Providers in various regions of the state. If I have not been to your area yet, keep a look out for a notification that members of the leadership team will be visiting to hear your feedback. We have already brought back what we learned from the first of these listening sessions and made changes to help us grow as an agency. While the ability to hold virtual meetings has been necessary to ensure safety and can be a convenient way to connect quickly when needed, there is nothing like the face-to-face time we took for granted pre-pandemic. The return of the opportunity to connect in person has proven very meaningful and we appreciate the flexibility that is allowing it to happen. We look forward to seeing you soon at the in person regional gatherings. Within this issue, you will find inspirational stories of people living out their dreams. You’ll also read about those who advocate for others and provide the support to make those dreams reality. When we invite people from outside of our day-to-day operations to meetings like the Provider Meeting in April, I always hear how they love to participate because it is good for their soul. Their amazement at what people (sponsors, group home providers, individuals, staff, etc.) are doing in their communities is another common refrain. This is part of what makes working here such a gift. I am always inspired by you. Thank you! Advocates for a Lifetime Sheila and Fred Butler have only been Wall Residences Providers for about a year and half, but the couple has been making a difference for others for decades. They were foster parents to multiple children, eventually adopting their son from the foster care system. Fred is retired after 27 years of service with the Coast Guard. Sheila, who has served in various caregiving roles her entire career, is a fierce advocate who looks for solutions. For the man they currently support, she secured grant funding to access speech therapy at Old Dominion University. When told her program manager praised her efforts to get him the extra help needed, she shrugs it off. “I had to do it if he was going to get the help.” While Sheila has a very nonchalant attitude about all she does to fight for the man they support, Fred makes it 2 clear. “If it isn’t going right for him,” Fred says, “For her, it’s on!” That advocacy and the support they provide at home has made a big difference for the individual they support, who has blossomed under their care. The Butlers became providers after seeing the impact of Sponsored Residential when Sheila worked in a local Wall Residences service. It’s a decision both are glad they made. They love being able to offer opportunities to others and as Sheila says, “He gives us back so much more than we do for him.”
Congratulations John & Elena! John and Elena met at work 13 years ago, quickly becoming friends. After both left that job, a decade passed with rare interactions. When life brought them back together, John knew it was a forever love match and presented Elena with a sparkly ring. “He was so excited, he forgot to get down on one knee!“ laughs Elena. That didn’t stop her from answering with a resounding YES! The two share that he proposed a second time in front of her family and this time he did get down on his knee. The happy couple recently enjoyed an engagement portrait session, where they absolutely glowed from just being together. We wish you every happiness, John and Elena!
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Writing on the Wall: Summer 2022

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