message fall 2016
a publication of Mosaic in Ellsworth | www.mosaicinellsworth.org
Caring Community A COMMUNITY OF AKTION! In 2012, Mosaic partnered with the Ellsworth Kiwanis Organization to establish a local Aktion Club charter group for people with disabilities in the Ellsworth Community. The Kiwanis Aktion Club is a community service club for adults with disabilities that helps members develop initiative and leadership skills to serve and integrate into the community. The past four years, the Aktion Club has worked alongside Kiwanis members on service projects such as community roadside clean ups, the “Kiwanis Home and Garden Show,” “The Halloween Parade,” as well as sharing fundraising booths at community events such as “Fort Harker Days,” “Star Spangled Spectacular” and Ellsworth’s
“Cowtown Days.” The members also work with Kiwanis International to raise funds for the Eliminate Project and purchase bed kits for children in third-world countries.
Ande and Cyndi at Aktion Club
Every year, Aktion Club members travel to attend their annual National Conference. Recently they had the opportunity to travel to South Sioux City, Nebraska alongside Kiwanis Governor for the State of Kansas, Cynthia Bender.
“It is exciting to see the opportunities these people have to meet other Aktion Club members from all over the world, even if only for three days,” said Governor Cyndi. Prior to that year, the Aktion Club attended the National Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. “This is the year I want the Aktion Club to stand out and raise their voices!” said Sumer Whitaker, Direct Support Associate with Mosaic and Aktion Club Administrator for the State of Kansas. She plans to have more members involved in community service projects as she works with her members to prove how people with disabilities can give back to their communities. The month of October marks the beginning of the Kiwanis year when Aktion Clubs elects new officers. Officers consist of a president, vice president, secretary, a treasurer and board members. Though the Aktion Club meetings are held at Mosaic’s day program, not all members receive services from Mosaic. Any adult with a disability is eligible to become a member. The Ellsworth Aktion Club has 22 members and there are seven Aktion clubs chartered by Kiwanis clubs in the state of Kansas. To learn more about Kiwanis Aktion club, visit their website at www.aktionclub.org , or to learn how Mosaic partners with organizations like Kiwanis, visit www.mosaicinfo.org.
Aktion Club Ellsworth 1 Mosaic Message
Meaningful Life A LIFE OF INDEPENDENCE When Matthew first arrived at Mosaic in 1995, he had little money and only a trash bag full of his belongings. His transition during the last 20 years has been an emotional rollercoaster. Early in his time with Mosaic, he lived with roommates in an apartment setting. When a roommate and friend passed away, he eventually moved to a group home with seven other people.
Matthew in his apartment
Looking back at these difficult times, Matthew has said “Mosaic was my light.” This positive attitude led to many positive changes over the past few years. Last year, Matthew started a new job at the Ellsworth Childcare and Learning Center where he learns to work independently without the need for one-on-one staff support. He also gets himself to work on his bicycle.
A few months ago, Matthew took an even larger leap toward independence by leasing his own apartment. Prior to this, Matthew lived in a group setting where there was 24-hour direct care staff. After a long-time roommate moved into his own apartment, Matthew said “The apartment was getting too big for one person.” The staff worked with Matthew by assessing his skills to see if he had the capacity to live on his own safely. At the time, Matthew was cooking on his own, doing his own laundry and cleaning (with some encouragement from the staff). Everyone knew it was the right time for Matthew to take the next step. Today, Matthew has a supported living arrangement where a Mosaic staff person visits his apartment daily to assist him with grocery shopping, managing finances, transporting him for errands and assisting with medication administration. The community was very helpful during Matthew’s transition. Friends from the community donated dishes, flatware, furniture and even a coffee maker to make his apartment feel more like home.
To hear more stories like these about how Mosaic helps people live meaningful lives, attend one of our free, one-hour “Discover the Possibilities” tours. To RSVP and find out tour dates, please contact Michael Martinez at 785.472.4081 or visit the website www.mosaicinellsworth.org.
Upcoming Staff Birthdays! October 3 – Minnie Cromwell October 5 – Robert Umble October 10 – Billy Kryger November 1 – Lawanda Woods November 10 – Josh Zamecnik November 12 – Sumer Whitaker November 21 – Elizabeth George November 28 – Regina Anderson December 11 – Bonnie Kralik December 11 – Pam Parsons December 19 – Amanda Webb December 25 – Darla Saltzman
When asked about the benefits of living on his own, Matthew replied “I get to sleep in on the weekends!” Matthew has made friends with his neighbors, chooses when he gets to eat out with his friends and attends and hosts dinner parties with his peers. When asked about his future plans, Matthew
Mosaic Message is published by Mosaic in Ellsworth | 124 W. 3rd St. Ellsworth, Kansas 67439-0169 | 785.472.4081 | www.mosaicinellsworth.org Executive Director Community Relations Manager
replies, “I might want to get a bigger apartment, maybe even a house!”
julie.kramp@mosaicinfo.org michael.martinez@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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Giving a voice A VOICE OF SELF-ADVOCACY By Julie Kramp, Executive Director Inspired by the annual Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas (SACK) conference theme POWER ON, Bella Dietrich is determined to help others served by Mosaic learn to advocate for themselves. As a first step, she invited Stephanie Sanford, Self-Advocacy Coordinator, and her team from the SACK Lawrence office to Ellsworth to explain to those interested about how to start a local self-advocate team. Sharing pizza, pop and politics, the group discussed how they could work together to overcome barriers, learn to speak up for themselves, get involved in voting, and work toward insuring their rights are respected. We are anticipating great things from Bella and her peers who have been inspired to fight for their rights by becoming self-advocates.
Upcoming Events
To learn more about the Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas, visit the SACK website at www.sackonline.org. To learn about how Mosaic advocates for people with disabilities and how you can support their efforts, please visit www.mosaicalliedvoices.com.
Discover the Possibilities tour dates Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016 Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017 Mosaic in Ellsworth 124 W. 3rd St. Ellsworth, KS
AKTION CLUB SPAGHETTI DINNER FUNDRAISER Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Mosaic in Ellsworth 124 W. 3rd St. Ellsworth, KS Free will donations accepted SACK program
DAY SERVICE CHRISTMAS PARTY POTLUCK! Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Want to do something meaningful this Christmas season? Mosaic’s holiday Angel tree is now on display. Written on each set of angel wings is a suggested item to donate as a gift to a person served by Mosaic. These gifts go directly to people in service and will be presented to them by Santa himself at the Day Services Christmas Party on December 20. To pick up your set of wings, stop by Mosaic at 124 W. 3rd Street in Ellsworth during regular business hours and complete the enclosed form. Thank you for your generosity to our mission!
Mosaic’s Holiday Angel Tree Bella Dietrich. Ellsworth 3 Mosaic Message
124 W. 3rd St. Ellsworth, Kansas 67439-0169
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A life of possibilities for people with intellectual disabilities.
Staff Spotlight PASTOR WILLIAM (BILLY) KRYGER How did you come to work with Mosaic? I was looking for a part-time job to supplement my income from being the Pastor of Smoky Hill Baptist Church (no, not all preachers live in mansions with air-conditioned doghouses). I saw an ad in the paper that Mosaic was having a day for folks to apply and interview. I went down and applied, interviewed and hired within a few days. What is your favorite part about your job? Clients. Talking with them, listening
to them. Laughing with them. Crying with them. Making a difference in their lives. Interesting fact about yourself? Once while I was preaching my wife handed me a note that someone had given her. It said “Pastor’s fly is down.” Without skipping a beat I stepped behind the pulpit, zipped up and continued preaching. Do you have any secret talents? If I do it’s a secret to me. Do you have any special memories of working at Mosaic? Many—occasionally a person will give
me a picture they’ve drawn for me. I have a special file for those. Sometimes when I’m having a bad day a smile or hug from a person is all I need to set me right. Thank you Billy for the outstanding services you provide to Mosaic. If you would like to learn how to work at Mosaic, search our jobs online at www.mosaicinellsworth.org. October is Clergy Appreciation Month! We appreciate Pastor Billy for his love, compassion and leadership to our ministry. Thank you to all our local clergy who partner with our organization!
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