Mosaic in Colorado Springs Newsletter 2016 Feb

chatter Feb. 2016, Quarter 1

a publication of mosaic in colorado springs | facebook.com/mosaicincoloradosprings

Meaningful Life MOSAIC CHRISTMAS A BLAST FOR STAFF AND PEOPLE IN SERVICE Mosaic’s annual Christmas celebration was a great success this year, thanks to the hard work of staff and volunteers.

A few days before the party, volunteers and staff gathered together to create

Mosaic employees and the Thrivent Action Team package donations.

100 gift bags for people in service.

Cheryl Mahon of Thrivent, a faithbased financial strategies company, asked that one of their community Action Teams this year be assigned to Mosaic for Christmas. We were allotted a team and $250 toward the gift bags thanks to Cheryl’s efforts.

Items in the bags ranged from seasonal erasers and pencils to

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mittens and socks – and all were packed with care.

On the day of the event, the sense of community was tangible. Door prizes were donated by staff and local businesses, face painting by hosthome providers, and karaoke by Jeff Rychter of JR’s Ultimate Entertainment. Gift cards given by Target and Whole Foods helped us purchase much of the food, and donated pies by Village Inn on Garden of the Gods & Palmer Park helped satisfy our sweet tooth.

The party was a hit. People participated in breakdancing to Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae), singing karaoke carols and rock ballads, and chowing on seasoned meat balls and pies.

Program participants were thrilled to receive gifts from their Christmas wish lists, thanks to the help of our Faith Partners, Ambassadors, and staff

who collected all the presents. An event that has become part of Mosaic tradition, the Christmas party is a mission-driven celebration of our commitment to offering a meaningful life, a caring community, and a voice to the people we serve.

Photos from the Annual Mosaic Christmas Celebration.

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From the Executive Director

Upcoming Events

HOLIDAY BLESSINGS by Cheryl Wicks Happy New Year, Mosaic family!

As I sit back and reflect on 2015, I am so proud of what we have accomplished.

There are so Cheryl Wicks many wonderExecutive Director Mosaic in Colorado Springs ful memories – these are some of the highlights: • Partnering with Thrivent Financial to have a float in the Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade • Promoting employees from within • Sharing the Mosaic mission with more than 200 people through our monthly Discover the Possibilities tours • Focusing on teambuilding with activities like Colorado Springs scavenger hunts

• Hearing from families, people in service and host home providers about the wonderful activities they are doing to make each day meaningful, such as going to the zoo, concerts, Broncos games, visiting family in another state, vacationing in Jamaica, walking alongside a counter for the first time in years, learning how to cook, and tending a garden.

• Celebrating our dedicated employees during our annual Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week • Expanding our services to work with children As you see, we are focusing on the people we serve, having committed employees, and building partnerships within our community. We will continue to focus on these areas as we start 2016.

Here’s to a year of providing personalized services, building partnerships and community connections so that people have their best day, every day!

Mosaic in Colorado Springs 888 W. Garden of the Gods Rd., Ste. 100 March 7 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. –1:30 p.m.

April 4 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Learn how Mosaic helps create a life of possibility for people with intellectual disabilities in our community. You will hear stories told by the people who know Mosaic best—the people we serve, their families and volunteers.

These one-hour presentations open our doors in an attempt to share our mission, vision, and passion for those being served. To RSVP, contact Emily Plotkin at emily.plotkin@mosaicinfo.org.

February 17 | Alliance Awareness Day March 12 | St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 25 | Mosaic offices are closed for Good Friday.

Best Wishes, Cheryl Wicks, Executive Director

Colorado Springs Receives Award of Excellence Mosaic in Colorado Springs has received Mosaic’s Agency Excellence Award! The honor was awarded due to the outstanding sustainable funding team in Colorado Springs and our commitment to strategic business

spending. Ambassadors are engaged and passionate about the services that Mosaic provides, and helped to bring in more than $100,000 in sustainable funding dollars the last year. Thanks to strong leadership and agency-wide

#Mosaic Chatter is published by Mosaic in Colorado Springs | 888 W. Garden of the Gods Rd., Ste. 100, Colorado Springs, CO 80907-9437 | www.mosaicincoloradosprings.org Executive Director

cheryl.wicks@mosaicinfo.org

Community Relations Manager

emily.plotkin@mosaicinfo.org

Mission Embracing God’s call to serve in the world, Mosaic advocates for people with intellectual disabilities and provides opportunities for them to enjoy a full life.

Integrity at Mosaic If you have a concern, call our national Confidential Reporting Hotline at 800.443.4899, or email integrity@mosaicinfo.org

buy-in to some tough budget decisions, the agency has seen remarkable financial improvements. This is truly a well-deserved honor. Be proud everybody, we’re making it happen!

Relationships Mosaic is an affiliated social ministry organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a member of Lutheran Services in America.

Non-discrimination Mosaic will not discriminate in matters of employment or service delivery on the basis of race, creed, age, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status or veteran status.

To be added or removed from the mailing list or to receive information via email, please contact Mosaic at the address given. ©2016 Mosaic. All rights reserved. Mosaic is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

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Caring Community PEOPLE WHO MAKE US GREAT Antonette Sampino & Chassidy Morgan, Mosaic Host Home Providers Antonette and Chassidy are truly dedicated to Mosaic. As host home providers, they go above and beyond to make the people in their care feel part

Antonette Sampino and Chassidy Morgan

of the family; but their commitment goes further than the people they serve directly. It extends to their fellow providers, Mosaic staff, and everyone in our programs. Both participate in the Host Home Committee, party planning for agency picnics and special events, and volunteer their time face painting, facilitating games, doing hair and nails, and – in Antonette’s case – even clowning!

Thank you Antonette and Chassidy, you never cease to amaze and inspire us.

Rose Medina, SLS, Customized Employment Rose’s commitment to overcoming obstacles, as well as her willingness to share her story to inspire others, is truly

Rose Medina

remarkable. When Rose first came to Mosaic, no one had taken the time to teach her how to read. Now at 57,

Rose has worked with us and has improved tremendously. Rose was polite but shy when we first met her; now she speaks at almost every Mosaic event, proudly reading her script and interacting with people more freely.

Rose has even volunteered to be part of our Customized Employment Pilot program and is seeking a position through that new process. We are so proud to know and work with her. Way to go Rose!

Ben Stratman and Brad Stratman, Creative Carpet Care & Restoration, Mosaic Ambassadors Ben and Brad Stratman have gone above and beyond to support Mosaic.

They have sponsored Discover the Possibilities luncheons twice in the past year through their business, Creative Carpet Care & Restoration,

Thanks to all our Lunch Sponsors for Mosaic’s Discover the Possibilities events October: Gayle Gross, Mosaic November: Dickey’s Barbeque Pit, Garden of the Gods Road December: Creative Carpet Care & Restoration January: Chick-fil-A, Garden of the Gods Road

Volunteer Opportunities Maintenance Driver: (two-three hours per month) Drive vehicles to and from the auto repair garage for regular maintenance.

Requires valid driver’s license; two-to-three per month. Contact: Amanda Thomas, 719.208.3197, amanda.thomas@ mosaicinfo.org.

Special Event Volunteer: (Duties and hours

Ben Stratman and Brad Stratman

vary by need and project.) Examples of

bringing the food onsite and setting it up as well! They have offered Mosaic significant discounts on carpet cleaning services, helping us operate more efficiently; not to mention educating us on proper floor maintenance and our rights as tenants to help hold building management accountable during flood season. They have been table captains for our annual fundraising event, Partners in Possibilities, as well as Ambassadors, spreading the word about Mosaic and contributing to our sustainability.

Thank you Ben and Brad for everything you have done for us!

special events include the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Mosaic’s Partners in Possibilities annual fundraiser. Contact: Emily Plotkin, 719.208.3191, emily.plotkin@mosaicinfo.org.

Community Action Team Member: (one-two hours per month) The CAT committee helps connect the people in Mosaic’s customized employment program with opportunities to work or intern in the community. 1–2 hrs per month. Contact: Emily Plotkin, 719.208.3191, emily.plotkin@mosaicinfo.org.

For more volunteer opportunities, email Emily Plotkin at emily.plotkin@mosaicinfo.org

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888 W. Garden of the Gods Rd. Colorado Springs, CO 80907-9437

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A life of possibilities for people with intellectual disabilities.

Giving a Voice HEARTS FULL OF SONG It has been a season full of music and joy for both our staff and our people in service. This is thanks to the commitment of our host-home providers and new opportunities through community partnerships.

Christmas Carolers at Mosaic in Colorado Springs.

Christmas Caroling On December 11, Jodi and David Valdivia, host home providers with Mosaic, invited staff and a few others to a Christmas caroling event at her home. Jodi started the event because

she knew how much the people in service love to sing, and it has become a tradition. Everyone looks forward to sharing dessert and their favorite carol.

Music brings something to this cold season that, although difficult to put into words, is essential to a true Christmas experience.

Community Partnership Attendees at Mosaic’s Discover the Possibilities event in December were fortunate to meet Melissa Devolve.

Melissa has created a group called ‘Little Hearts, Big Music,’ a group of musically talented youth who share their music with the elderly and people with intellectual disabilities. It was a perfect fit. By the end of the event, plans were underway to schedule regular performances for Mosaic’s Day

Program. On December 23, the group gave their first performance, letting Christmas music of all genres and tempos ring joyously throughout the building.

Ben Devolve performs on his violin.

Do you know of a group that would be interested in working with, or performing for, Mosaic’s Day Program? Let us know! Contact Cat Reineke, Direct Support Manager, at cat.reineke@mosaicinfo.org.

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