About Us

Welcome to the Community Corp Blog! This blog evolved from our "Community Conversation” held in February 2014. In case you weren't there and are wondering what it was all about... a Community Conversation is a way to bring a diverse set of community members together to collectively brainstorm strategies & resources that can be used to address a challenge facing the community. The intended result of our community conversation was to discover creative & promising approaches to support individuals with disabilities to participate more fully & naturally in school, work, & community activities, including the same relationships, work & volunteer-related experiences, and community opportunities as their peers. Through this process, we identified 3 areas of focus: Community Engagement/Education (Get Together), Employment (Get to Work), & Quality of life (Get Planted). See the tabs above for more info about what we are doing in each focus area.

SO WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES THAT CAME OUT OF THE MEETING?

• MARKETING/BRANDING: create a brand and simple message of inclusion that would be recognized in our community and compel businesses, community organizations, and community members to "join the club".
• EXTEND PEER SUPPORTS INTO OUR COMMUNITY: build peer support outside of the school day, including partnering with community resources already in place (e.g. rec centers, JCC)
• SUPPORT INCLUSION IN OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: connect coaches, Scout leaders, etc., with the many experienced professionals, parents, and other resources that can help them successfully include a child or teen with a disability.
• BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS PROMOTION: employers of individuals with disabilities educating their colleagues in the business community
• OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS TO INTERFACE: (shadow days, mock interviews, etc.)

We are still very much a "work in progress", but we are glad to have you join the conversation.  There is much still to discuss.  Join us when we meet again on November 13th at 7pm in the Norup Media Center, and/or simply visit our blog regularly for updates.