St. Louis Arc

In honor of Black History Month, we want to celebrate individuals, including persons with disabilities, who have made an impact in our world. This week, we are excited to feature Lois Curtis a Black artist and activist with IDD and schizophrenia. Learn more about Lois Curtis in a recent feature by the Art of Autism. https://the-art-of-autism.com/disability-history-month-loi/

This is AWESOME!! Thank you, United Way of Greater St. Louis for featuring Megan Eader our Volunteer Manager. Our volunteers mean the world to us and help us provide the best experiences for our participants. We couldn't do what we do without our volunteers.

Community Engagement North and Aging With Empowerment North programs will be open on Tuesday, 1/12. The building’s gas leak has been fixed and the building has reopened.

Are you looking for a great note to end 2020 on? Check out the story of Blaire Mosby below. 2020 has presented us with extraordinary challenges, but if we channel Blaire and her determination, we can overcome anything! Happy New Year from the St. Louis Arc! https://youtu.be/YYGYvFRNFwI

Kick-off the new year by staying active and engaged virtually! As the pandemic continues and we see less daylight and colder temperatures, it is important to find ways to stay connected to others. Learn more here: https://www.slarc.org/virtual-yoga-dance-and-music/

https://youtu.be/7ABt9Scr8KA Missouri is facing a serious workforce shortage, that no one is talking about. The Direct Support Professional Crisis is the most critical challenge Missouri's community providers who support people with disabilities face. #MOLeg we need you to help stabilize this essential workforce and be our hero. #NoMOdspCrisis We need you, our legislators, to fix this problem for your constituents and their families, and the businesses in your community and ...their employees. Tony Lovasco - MO State Representative - District 64 Tom Hannegan State Representative District 65; St. Charles, MO LaDonna Appelbaum Gretchen Bangert State Representative Raychel Proudie Jay Mosley, State Representative Of The 68th District Marlene Terry for State Representative Kimberly-Ann Collins Michael A Person Marlon S. Anderson Rasheen Aldridge 78th District State Rep Lakeysha Bosley For MO House District 79 Group Peter Merideth State Representative Steve Butz, 81st District MO State Representative Donna Baringer Jo Doll for State Representative Wiley Price IV Kevin Windham Jr. Ian Mackey Tracy McCreery Dean Plocher Barbara Phifer State Representative Sarah Unsicker Michael Burton for State Representative - District 92 Missouri Needs Moore Bridget Walsh Moore Jim Murphy Missouri State Representative Michael O'Donnell David Gregory State Representative Mary Elizabeth Coleman State Representative Shamed Dogan Trish Gunby Representative Derek Grier Bruce DeGroot Representative Ron Hicks John D Wiemann Adam Schnelting State Representative Phil Christofanelli Adam Schwadron State Representative Nick Schroer State Representative Justin Hill Dottie for Missouri Shane Roden Rob Vescovo Representative Dan Shaul Becky Ruth State Representative District 114 Cyndi Buchheit-Courtway Committee to Elect Paula Brown Doug Clemens See more

Fun and fabulous activities with Bounce Forward are coming! Mark your calendars!

A message of gratitude from Mark A. Keeley. Happy New Year! https://www.slarc.org/a-message-of-gratitude/

The St. Louis Arc offices and day programs will be closed on Friday, January 1 for New Year's Day. We wish you all a safe and healthy new year.

Today is World Kindness Day! Please take a moment to share a kind word, a phone call to a family member or old friend, do something nice for a neighbor or someone you know is alone or isolated. Be safe, wear a mask, and socially distance.

Transgender Awareness Week is a week when transgender people and their allies take action to bring attention to the community by educating the public about who transgender people are, sharing stories and experiences, and advancing advocacy around the issues of prejudice, discrimination, and violence that affect the transgender community. For more information and resources visit: https://www.glaad.org/transweek or https://transequality.org/

Happy Kwanzaa from the St. Louis Arc!

The St. Louis Arc offices and day programs will be closed 12/25 in observance of Christmas! Have a safe and happy holiday!

Several staff from CONNECT delivered pizzas yesterday (12/23) to the folks at Dautel Circle. The pizzas were from Pie Guy Pizza. Special thank you to Lizzie Diehr and Beth Moeller for pulling this together and bringing the residents some holiday cheer.

Thank you to the amazing, dedicated volunteers from US Bank who helped to (safely) wrap all of the gifts purchased for the Giving Tree. These gifts were then delivered to St. Louis Arc families in our Capable Kids & Families and Parents Learning Together programs. Happy Holidays!!

We are excited to share this Holiday Edition of Transition Tips! With the holiday season looking quite different this year, the transition team has put togethe...r a few activities and recipes you can try out from the comfort of your home. Wishing everyone all the best throughout the holiday season and as we welcome a new year. Stay safe, stay healthy and Happy Holidays everyone!

Thank you so much!! We have been so overwhelmed by all the support this year from our friends, donors, staff, and many other folks in the St. Louis area! Thank you for supporting small businesses and the many fundraising efforts that are taking place in the community.

Thank you to Jacqueline Daniel and Jasmine C Daniel for hosting #ABrUNCHofGIVING on December 13. We are always so grateful to people in our community who choose to help the Arc by donating their time and talents while helping to raise money to support our mission. - From their post: To the organizations Black Millennials Mental Health & St. Louis Arc we are honored to be able to present to each of you this donation. We would also like to thank everyone who participated in t...his event whether that’s physical labor, monetary donation, food order, like, share, or prayers it was NOT in vain. - With your help, they raised $1,123.20 to be split 50/50 between each organization. - Thank you, thank you, thank you. #ABrUNCHofGIVING See more

Thank you to the @unitedwaystl for their commitment and passion to the health and wellbeing of all people in the St. Louis Region. #WeAreAllUnited #StLouisStrong #StrongerTogether

The St. Louis Arc is still taking monetary donations for this year's Giving Tree until Friday, December 18. If you are interested in helping provide gifts to families in our Parents Learning Together (PLT), and Capable Kids and Families (CKF) programs click here: https://slarc.formstack.com//holiday_gift_drive_donation_f

Grab your hot chocolate and cookies, and join us in just a few minutes (at 6:30) for some holiday cheer, St. Louis Arc style! https://www.slarc.org/home-for-the-holidays/

Tonight is the night! We are premiering our Virtual Holiday Celebration, Home for the Holidays, on our website, and YouTube at 6:30pm. All you have to do to join us for the viewing is click this link: https://www.slarc.org/home-for-the-holidays/ Can't watch at 6:30? Don't worry, the Arc's Home for the Holiday celebration will be available to view anytime afterward. If you’ll share 20 minutes of your time with us, we guarantee we’ll put warmth in your heart and a smile on your face, St. Louis Arc-style!

Only one more day until the premiere of our Home for the Holidays virtual celebration! Join us on December 15 at 6:30p.m. If you’ll share 20 minutes of your time with us, we guarantee we’ll put warmth in your heart and a smile on your face, St. Louis Arc-style! https://www.slarc.org/home-for-the-holidays/

Wonderful news to continue to share! Congratulations!

It is the start of Hanukkah. The St. Louis Arc wishes you a happy and safe holiday celebration. Happy Hanukkah!

Building Decision Making and Advocacy Skills with Madeline Webster, Family Navigator at St. Louis Arc and Christopher R.J. Worth, co-founder and lead consultant at It’s Worth Organizing, LLC

Mark your calendars and join us on December 15 at 6:30p.m. for a virtual Holiday Celebration - St. Louis Arc style! https://www.slarc.org/home-for-the-holidays/

Did you know many of the St. Louis Arc’s Family Support workshops are now available through the Arc’s Facebook page? Read more here: https://www.slarc.org/education-at-home/

Thank you, friends, family, Arc employees, and community members for your generosity on #GivingTuesday2020. We appreciate all of the love and support!

While therapy has helped their daughter Blaire achieve new milestones, Leann and Garon Mosby have taken advantage of St. Louis Arc’s wide-ranging support for familieslike equipment lending, parent groups, family workshops, and other helpful peer networking opportunities. "St. Louis Arc has introduced us to so many resources that we had no idea existed," says Garon Mosby. "With the resources and support we've been given, Blaire has the opportunity to become the best version o...f herself," Leann says. Join us today to help create opportunities for families like the Mosbys, and support the St. Louis Arc's mission to empower people with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families for a lifetime. Read more about the Mosbys here:https://www.slarc.org/meet-blaire/ https://slarc.formstack.com//giving_tuesday_donate_for_st_

Thank you for allowing us to tell Blaire's and your family's story this #GivingTuesday! Blaire is such an amazing, smart, and beautiful little girl, with incredible parents! We are grateful to be a part of your lives.

This has been a difficult year for many and #GivingTuesday is more important than ever before. While navigating a pandemic has been challenging to say the least, the St. Louis Arc has continued to provide high-quality services to the people we support. You can help us keep people with disabilities and their families connected and supported throughout the pandemic and beyond. https://slarc.formstack.com//giving_tuesday_donate_for_st_

Four-year-old Blaire is an outgoing little girl who is quick to grab your attention. When Blaire was very young, her mom noticed she wasn’t reaching developmental milestones as early as other children. Since every child develops differently, and I was a first-time mom, I initially considered that I was overreacting, says her mom Leann. Blaire was eventually diagnosed with Glut1 Deficiency, a rare genetic disorder that impacts brain development. But with therapy and support from St. Louis Arc, she's making amazing progress! Read more here: https://www.slarc.org/meet-blaire/ https://slarc.formstack.com//giving_tuesday_donate_for_st_

We hope you will join us tomorrow at 3:00pm to learn more about our READI Task Force and what the Arc is doing to address Race, Equity, Access, Diversity, and Inclusion.

We have so much to be grateful for this holiday season, including being a part of Old Newsboys Day. The St. Louis Arc was one of the organizations featured in this year's Old Newsboy edition.

Thank you United Way of Greater St. Louis for your continued commitment to strengthening the St. Louis Region. And thank you to the companies, organizations, and individuals who, even during this extremely challenging time, found it in their hearts to support this year's United Way campaign. Your generosity and kindness help organizations, like the St. Louis Arc, continue to provide needed supports and services to individuals and families throughout the Greater St. Louis region and parts of Illinois. Together, we are giving the entire #STL community hope knowing that #WeAreAllUnited. Thank you for helping today. Thank you for a brighter tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the St. Louis Arc!

The St. Louis Arc (all offices and the day programs) will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 26 and 27 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Giving Tuesday is One Week Away - December 1. To learn more about Giving Tuesday, take a peek at this week's blog: https://www.slarc.org/this-giving-tuesday/

Annual Holiday Giving Tree - Your generosity and kindness have helped support the many children and families in our programs who otherwise would not be able to have holiday gifts. This year, due to the pandemic, we will only be accepting monetary donations for the Giving Tree so we may order the needed items and guarantee a holiday delivery. To donate to our 2020 St. Louis Arc Giving Tree, please click here https://slarc.formstack.com//holiday_gift_drive_donation_f Thank you for your generosity. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Lisa Miller at 314-817-2235 or at [email protected]

A big thank you and shout to the Health and Human Services Partnership Center, the Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response and their partners, the US Postal Service, and the National Council of Textile Organizations for donating 2,000 cloth masks to the St. Louis Arc!

It's been a challenging year for so many people, including first responders, DSPs, nurses, and doctors, but we should also remember the challenges being faced by family caregivers. November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. Family caregivers manage health emergencies, juggle priorities, and suffer isolation - and all that was before COVID. The pandemic brings even more challenges as family caregivers handl...e caring during a crisis. The Caregiver Action Network has chosen "Caregiving in Crisis" as the theme for 2020’s National Family Caregivers Month. During NFC Month 2020, CAN and its partners will be addressing the new realities family caregivers face with their loved ones during these uncertain times. CAN will also be releasing five essays throughout the month related to this year's theme. Topics include long-term care, risk during the pandemic, tele-health, home environment, and mental health. Learn more about this year's theme HERE. https://caregiveraction.org/national-family-caregivers-month See more

Congratulations to IDDHelp on the Missouri NEA Horace Mann Award!

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. You can learn more at https://www.glaad.org/tdor

The 2020-2021 Winter Leisure Times is now available! The deadline to register for programs is Friday, December 18, 2020 and registration is now available on the online registration page. Read more at this week's blog: https://www.slarc.org/winter-leisure-fun/

You won’t see the friendly faces of our volunteers on the streets this Old Newsboys Day but we still need your help to raise money for the kids. Donate online at OldNewsboysDay.org and get your special edition online or in today’s St. Louis Post-Dispatch. #oldnewsboysday

Today is Old Newsboys Day! Read the article about the St. Louis Arc here: https://www.stltoday.com//article_895b9824-21d7-11eb-b8c3- Donations to Old Newsboys Day at Oldnewsboysday.org

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.- Get your dancing shoes ready and join us for virtual dancing with a live DJ spinning current hits, old favorites, and any requests. Virtually connect with friends and meet new people from the safety of your own home. For more information, contact Clinton Hall at 314-817-2293 or [email protected].

Looking for some fun, holiday cheer? Check out this event!

In need of a turkey for your Thanksgiving meal? Our partner IDDHelp can help! An annual turkey giveaway is scheduled to take place on November 24, 2020. Please... call IDDHelp at 1-877-256-2202 and the Community Connector will be able to provide the time frame of the giveaway and location closest to you. See more

The St. Louis Arc is proud to congratulate the Eastern Region Alliance including, the Productive Living Board, St. Louis Office for Developmental Disability Resources, Developmental Disabilities Resource Board, and Developmental Disability Advocates on receiving the 2020 Exemplary Collaboration, Partnership or Regional Initiative Award from the East-West Gateway Council of Governments. For more information on the award ceremony: https://www.ewgateway.org//2020-ewg-annual-meeting-lunche/

Diwali, one of the most important festivals in India, commenced Thursday, with the main festivities due to take place on Saturday, November 14. Each year, Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world celebrate Diwali. The festival symbolizes new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness. From CNN: https://www.cnn.com//diwali-2020-covid-celebrat/index.html

We LOVE our DSPs!!

Mark your calendars for November 19 - Old Newsboys - St. Louis is going virtual this year!

This is really amazing!!! Thank you!