Menifee’s All-Inclusive Programs Are Mighty Popular

Parker Richotte of Menifee and Sara Zerr of Sun City work on some Valentine’s Day themed crafts at a recent Be Mighty event at the Kay Ceniceros Senior Center in Menifee.

Menifee’s Be Mighty program welcomes adults with special needs to socialize, dance, listen to music, play games, do crafts and more while interacting with the city’s Community Services Department team members.

Be Mighty program participants socialize at a recent event sponsored by Menifee’s Community Services Department.

by Diane A. Rhodes

Menifee’s Community Services Department established its “Mighty Me” program in 2019 in response to requests to provide socialization programs for local children and adults with special needs. Open to all ages, the monthly events focus on games and activities for the groups to enjoy in a safe environment.

“Be Mighty” was developed shortly after the original program and is open to adults 18 and older. With meetings twice a month, it is designed to be a more social program with crafts, game nights, painting, karaoke and themed dances. Both programs have been a popular addition and even when they had to be held virtually during the pandemic, the participation was strong, especially with the adults.

Michael Rinehart has worked for Menifee’s Parks and Recreation Department for 11 years and began his role as community services coordinator six years ago. He recalled attending the city’s programs when he was in preschool and volunteering throughout high school to meet his community service hours requirement. His first job was working at the department’s summer camp and when he went to college with the plan to become a teacher, he switched his major to recreation management.

“The reason we offer Mighty Me for all ages is to give everyone a chance to be involved regardless of their skill level,” Rinehart said.

Community Services leader Lety Alegria works with Rinehart for all youth programs. She said Mighty Me is designed for those with special needs to meet others and she said some have formed friendship groups outside of the program.

“I’m very passionate about wanting them to be included rather than excluded,” she said. “It’s also for the parents as they can learn about available resources from each other.”

With a college degree in kinesiology, Alegria said her current position is helpful for her future career goal in occupational therapy. She wants to work with clients who have special needs and her current position allows her to observe and see where needs are at different ages and levels of development.

“This whole program is a team effort,” Alegria said. “We want this to be a welcoming place where everyone can hang out together.”

Menifee Community Services Department team members who oversee the Mighty Me and Be Mighty events are, from left, Lety Alegria, Michael Rinehart, Miriam Barragan and Ariana Martinez. Billy Brayley and Rebecca English share a dance at the Be Mighty Sweethearts Dance Friday, Feb. 18, 2022 in Menifee. Be Mighty program participants, their parents and Menifee’s Community Services Department staff work together to provide enjoyable socialization activities.

The “Mighty” programs require registration but participants do not need to be Menifee residents. A large part of the department’s direction comes from what the community wants and needs. The dances are particularly popular and typically attract more than 20 people, plus many parents who visit with one another during the events.

Community Services leader Miriam Barragan is new to her position but has a strong background in the recreation field, mostly in Moreno Valley. She said she likes working with those with special needs because they are so honest.

“Yes they have challenges, but at the end of the day they just want to be treated like everyone else,” she said.

Ariana Martinez has been a community services leader for about a year and said a parent committee provides input on programs such as this one.

“They said there was nothing in Menifee and they had to drive to Temecula or Murrieta; they expressed a need for this type of program where they live,” she said. “The parents are very supportive of everything we’ve done and provide honest feedback and offer great ideas.”

Martinez said many of the participants attend for the crafts but enjoy coming together as a community and getting to know one another.

“For the dances, they come to us with song requests so they can sing along,” she said. “The parents tell us they love this program and are super grateful for it; we always get good feedback.”

From the heart

Most recently, Be Mighty visitors were treated to a Valentine’s Day themed dance and crafts Friday, Feb. 18, and it didn’t take long for the laughter and camaraderie to start once the first adults started arriving at 6:30 p.m. Many came dressed up with men in suits and women in fancy dresses and Rinehart said that he likes to see everyone get so involved, adding that they went all out with their costumes at the last Halloween party.

Parker Richotte, 35, said he attends because “it’s fun and there’s not too much for people with disabilities to do.” He enjoyed the music, especially reggae musicians such as Nattali Rize and Rebelution. He has lived in Menifee since 2016.

Karen Ritter’s daughter Rebecca English, 40, has been attending since the program started and Ritter said she thinks it is a wonderful opportunity for the kids to get out.

“Rebecca says ‘thank you for taking me’ because she enjoys seeing all her friends here,” Ritter, of Lake Elsinore, said. “I tell her she doesn’t have to thank me. I’m just happy she has fun.”

Hilda Bojorquez of Menifee is on the parent committee and said many of the attendees have been together for a long time, knowing each other from school or similar programs such as High Hopes in Temecula.

“They are a close-knit group and we are thrilled to have Menifee support all this for us,” she said.

Valerie Raecke is new to the area, having moved to Menifee in July 2021 from West Hills. She said her daughter, Andrea Burnett, 30, found the Be Mighty program after doing some research and they have been pleasantly surprised with it since they started attending the regular events.

“She loves it and I like the fact everyone is so open to having parents participate,” Raecke, a retired special education teacher, said.

Michelle Brayley said her son Billy, 35, loves music and dancing.

“And he loves to be with his friends,” she said. “We are so thankful it’s in Menifee. We used to have to go to Temecula or Murrieta for programs like this.”

Sara Zerr, 40, was attending her first dance but saw a lot of familiar faces when she arrived, said her mother, Linda Zerr of Sun City.

“I love it; it brings out their imagination and freedom of space. I love this, it’s excellent,” Linda said.

The department also has many other recreational youth programs available year-round and staff enjoys working to make sure all children have a good experience when participating.

“To say that Menifee’s Community Services team is dedicated to youth would be an understatement,” Menifee Mayor Bill Zimmerman said. “These professionals have a heart for our children. They are mentors and role models, showing our kids how to be the best they can be.”

For more information, contact 951-723-3880, mrinehart@cityofmenifee.us, lalegria@cityofmenifee.us or visit http://www.cityofmenifee.us.