Pictured L-R: (Back row) Chris Snell, Heather Mantell, two additional presenters from Triton Systems, Angela Otieno (Front row) Two LHS students.
Human services is often overlooked as a viable career path for young adults. With the help of Incompass Care Champions, Project LEARN is helping change that narrative. Project LEARN funds innovative programs and services to inspire Lowell Public Schools’ students and equip them with the skills, knowledge, and mindset they need for college, career, and life.
Incompass directors from three departments joined last week’s Career Speaker event hosted by Project LEARN, presenting to a freshman seminar class at Lowell High School.
Angela Otieno, Director of Residential Services
Chris Snell, Director of Clinical Services
Heather Mantell, Director of Family and Community Services
Rather than presenting their chosen career paths in a rigid format, the directors used this opportunity to engage in thoughtful discussion with the students. Otieno says that one student felt comfortable enough to ask a more personal question, such as,
“the value of taking advanced placement (AP) classes to prepare for the future, and how to handle family pressure to follow a particular career path.”
The conversation naturally shifted towards discussing students’ exposure to those with disabilities. Snell asked students to raise their hands if they knew someone with a disability.
“Nearly every one of them raised their hand. That would not have been the case 20 or maybe even 10 years ago.”
Fostering these types of relationships between young adults and human services professionals is more critical than ever. Mantell noted,
“This isn’t a line of work that students would typically gravitate towards. But, if convinced at least one of them that this work is rewarding, then the day was a success.”
Earth Day is a special holiday in the Incompass Human Services community, not just because of what it represents to the planet – but it’s also the official kick-off of our gardening season!
This year, Earth Day fell on Friday, April 22 and Activities Specialist Cathy Brunelle once again put on a wonderful event! Day program participants at Incompass Human Services met outside of agency headquarters at 4 Omni Way in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, where Care Champions had setup stations with garden beds, flower pots, watering cans, and gardening tools. And this year was made even more special because a group of volunteers from the local BNI Global chapter!
“It’s been more than two years since we’ve been able to welcome members of the community to take part in an event like this, and the looks of joy on the faces of both the participants and volunteers said it all,” remarked Dan Esdale, chief marketing officer at Incompass.
Earth Day at Incompass is Really Earth Week!
As is tradition, each day hab room provided Care Champions with a list of seeds they wished to grow on Earth Day. And throughout the week, members of the Incompass community worked to prepare the garden beds and purchase soil so the group would have the tools they need to celebrate Earth Day right. Bianco’s Catering, who is also a tenant at 4 Omni Way, even got in on the fun providing individuals with the lettuce heads that were planted in the vegetable garden!
“We planted everything from onions to garlic to beans throughout the afternoon, and the weather could not have been better!,” said Brunelle.
Volunteers Had A Lot to Share About Their Experience…
For the volunteers from the BNI Power Players, it was their first time at Incompass Human Services – and their first chapter volunteer engagement since the beginning of the pandemic.
“My business is rooted in spreading joy, and spending the day with the Incompass day program participants was the definition of spreading joy,” remarked Dot Richards, vice president of the BNI Power Players and owner of Cards by Dot. “I loved being outside with the volunteers and participants!”
Ryan Hart, a financial advisor with New York Life and treasurer of the BNI Power Players remarked that he was impressed with the coordination of the event by the Care Champions, and could see the impact first-hand. “I was struck by just how genuine the Incompass team was in engaging us as volunteers, and ensuring they put on a great program for the people in their programs. And I can’t wait to see the progress of the vegetables that we planted throughout the day!”
At this special time of year, we extend our warmest wishes to all of you in the LifeLinks CLASS community. Thank you for your unwavering support, and best wishes for a healthy and prosperous new year!
LifeLinks CLASS ended the month of October on a spooktacular note with costumes, pumpkin contests and loads of candy! On Friday, October 25, our Family Support Center welcomed individuals, family and community members to our Chelmsford location for a Trunk or Treat. Trunk or Treats were created as a safer alternative to trick-or-treating. Rather than walking through neighborhoods, kids and families dress up and collect candy from decorated cars. For many of the children and individuals that we support, a Trunk or Treat is a less stressful and more inviting way to experience the magic of Halloween. While weaving through the crowds, you could run into a variety of characters: Beetlejuice, Thor, Batman and Cinderella! Chelmsford Police joined the festivities, handing out “Police Pal’ stickers to everyone in attendance. After families made their rounds for candy, they moved inside to enjoy pizza generously donated by Suppa’s in Billerica and capture a shot of their costumes with the interactive photo booth. The evening wouldn’t be complete without a memory to take home.
The bone-chilling fun continued this week at our facilities in Chelmsford, Lawrence and Wilmington. Halloween dances have been a longstanding tradition in the LifeLinks CLASS community, and this year they were bigger and better than ever. Individuals gathered in the day programs, some joined by family, to show off their dance moves.
Left: Suzanna is joined by her mother at the Chelmsford Halloween dance. Right: Tina arrives for the Lawrence Halloween dance in her dazzling costume.
It was a wicked sight to see. The Chelmsford Day Habilitation program topped it off with a pumpkin contest. It was a close call but the “Spa Day” pumpkin took home first place! Thank you to the dedicated LifeLinks CLASS team for making these Halloween festivities possible! Most importantly, thank you to the individuals and families who joined us! We can’t wait to do it again next year.
“Spa Day” pumpkin – winner of the pumpkin contest.
