pathways fall 2016
a publication of Mosaic in Central Iowa | www.mosaicincentraliowa.org
From the Executive Director STEWARDSHIP by Carol Mau Season’s greetings to you all! I hope you enjoy some time this holiday season to reflect on the blessings of 2016. We have much to be thankful for at Mosaic, including you! In July, we began our two- year Mosaic at Home plan to transition 60 of the people currently served in Carol Mau Executive Director traditional Mosaic in Central Iowa group home settings to host homes. To date, six of our HCBS group homes have transitioned, with another four sites scheduled to complete the transition by the end of February. In addition to those who have moved into Mosaic at Home sites, we’ve also welcomed 21 new people in service to host homes in Central Iowa through organic growth. This year brought about a change in Iowa’s Medicaid oversight as the state switched to managed care. Mosaic continues to advocate for the people we serve, and we have been working closely with our managed care organizations to make sure everyone’s voices are heard. We learn from each other every day! Throughout the year, we’ve been blessed with numerous individual and
group volunteers. We’ve had volunteers put on a St. Patrick’s Day brunch (complete with shamrock-shaped pancakes!), teach people we serve new recipes at monthly healthy dinner nights, host an Iowa vs. Iowa State football tailgate, rake leaves, give Art Center tours, put on beading workshops and card-making parties, open up their homes for hayrack rides and bonfires, take people served to the Des Moines Botanical Garden, and so, so much more. We’re so thankful for the community connections we make as people continue to share the good news about Mosaic! At the beginning of October, 13 Mosaic self-advocates traveled to Honey Creek Lodge on Rathbun Lake to participate in the third annual ID Action “Make Your Mark” self-advocacy conference. Not only did they get to roast s’mores and meet up with old friends, attendees also heard from great speakers about ways both big and small to advocate for themselves and others with disabilities around the state.
My heart is full of gratitude to everyone who is a part of our Mosaic family. I am thankful for everyone we have the privilege of serving, as well as their family members and loved ones for putting their trust in Mosaic. To our almost 500 employees who bring their heads and hearts to work every day in order to fulfill Mosaic’s mission to serve—thank you. I am grateful for our donors, volunteers, partner churches, and other community members who have embraced those we serve and are partners in our mission. We look forward in faith to 2017 and all of the possibilities it will bring for the people we serve! Carol Mau, Executive Director
Connect with Mosaic in Central Iowa! mosaicincentraliowa.org mosaicinfo.org/blog donate.mosaicinfo.org/central-iowa
Our fifth annual Partners in Possibilities fundraiser was held at the end of October, and we raised more than $115,000 for the people we serve here in Central Iowa. Read further for an article with all the details about the event!
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Caring Community PARTNERS IN POSSIBILITIES 2016 by Brittney Ledford Mosaic’s fifth annual Partners in Possibilities fundraiser was held on Thursday, October 20 at NOAH’s Event Venue in West Des Moines. Almost 200 community members, volunteers, and members of the Mosaic family came together for lunch from Taste! to Go and a meaningful program. Rachel Corpus from Plymouth Congregational Church in Des Moines emceed the event. Nathan Williamson, a person served by Mosaic, shared a prayer before the meal, and Carol Mau, Mosaic in Central Iowa’s executive director, shared her vision for the agency as Mosaic moves forward in faith with the Mosaic at Home program.
The highlight of the lunch was the moving testimonial from Joan Robinson, the mother of a person served by Mosaic for 17 years. She shared how dedicated everyone at
“The lunch brought in a record-setting amount.” Mosaic is to her son, Ryan, and how proud she is that he has successfully transitioned into a Mosaic at Home host home. There weren’t many dry eyes in the room when Joan was finished! The lunch brought in a record-setting amount of monetary donations for the agency, more than $115,000. Thank you to those donors who provided
leadership gifts prior to the lunch to inspire others to give: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Doug Hillman, Helen Little, R&R Realty, St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, Sweers Family Chiropractic and Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield. Thank you to everyone who attended the Partners in Possibilities luncheon, and thank you especially to Prairie Meadows and Casey’s General Stores for sponsoring the event to ensure that all money raised that day goes right to the people served by Mosaic. If you are interested in attending next year’s Partners in Possibilities lunch in fall 2017, contact Brittney Ledford at brittney.ledford@mosaicinfo.org or 515.868.0623.
Brittney, Parker, Nathan and Janet
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Giving a Voice MOSAIC KICKBALL TOURNAMENT by Katie Flippen The fourth annual Mosaic Kickball Tournament was held on a beautiful sunny day in September. Individuals in service, their family members, volunteers and staff came out in force to play two games of kickball and cheer each other on. There are few smiles that compare to one on a person’s face when they come up to the plate and send a ball flying into the outfield! Some of the players even did real slides into home plate. Deanne Mundt, a longtime Mosaic
supporter, puts on this event annually in memory of Lester and Laura Joens. In addition to reserving the ball fields, Deanne gets free T-shirts for every player, has a photographer taking action shots, and provides dinner for free to all participants and spectators! We are so grateful to Deanne for her hard work in putting the event together every year. The opportunity for the people we serve to take the field as teammates and make memories is truly priceless.
Upcoming Events Mosaic in Central Iowa 11141 Aurora Ave. Urbandale, IA 50322 All events held 11:30 – 12:30 p.m. Thursday, January 12 Tuesday, January 31 Thursday, February 16 Thursday, February 23 Tuesday, March 14 Thursday, March 30 Tuesday, April 11 Thursday, April 27 Join us for a free lunch, and learn how Mosaic helps create a life of possibility for adults 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, and lunch is on us! To reserve your spot, contact Brittney Ledford at brittney.ledford@ mosaicinfo.org or 515.868.0623.
Kristi, Teresa and Erika at the Mosaic Kickball Tournament Central Iowa 3 Mosaic Pathways
Caring Community MOSAIC AT HOME UPDATE: HOLLY’S STORY by Brittney Ledford Holly was the first person to transition from a group home into a Mosaic at Home host home under our two-year Mosaic at Home transition plan. After living an unstable life in institutional settings, she has now been served by Mosaic for more than eight years. Previously living with two roommates in a Mosaic group home, Holly has lived with a couple in the country outside of Indianola since the end of
July. They have horses, a garden, a dog and many cats, and a big house for holiday gatherings. “I love it here; it’s freedom,” Holly said. “My wish came true! I got a farm.” She exercises with her Mosaic at Home provider at the YMCA, works on spelling new words and enjoys grilling out on the back deck. She has taught her Mosaic at Home provider
how to make fried eggplant, a dish she learned to make from a direct support associate who used to work in her group home. Holly hosted a Halloween party at her new house and regularly sees her other Mosaic friends. We are excited to watch Holly’s personal growth as she continues in her host home, and we look forward to sharing more Mosaic at Home success stories with you in 2017!
Holly at her home Mosaic Pathways is published by Mosaic in Central Iowa | 11141 Aurora Ave., Bldg. 3 Urbandale, Iowa 50322-7904 | 515.246.1840 | www.mosaicincentraliowa.org Executive Director Public Relations Specialist & Editor Resource Development Manager
carol.mau@mosaicinfo.org katie.flippen@mosaicinfo.org brittney.ledford@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
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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