S p o t l i g h t s N e w s l e t t e r
Saint Peter's Adult Learning Center - Spring 2008
From the Executive Director’s Desk
Dear Friends,
Greetings to everyone! My very best wishes to all of you for a Happy 2008. Here at St.Peter’s Adult Learning Center, 2007 was a milestone year. We set aside one day a month to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of St Peter's Adult Learning Center. At our Annual Awards Gala held in July at the Charlestown Retirement Community, we honored Katherine Neuslein, Sister of Mercy and founder of St Peter's Adult Learning Center. The year-long celebration served to renew our dedication to Sr Katherine's mission. We are grateful both to the Charlestown Retirement Community and to the Knights of Columbus whose support made our celebrations possible.
Happily, we experienced another year of growth in program services, members, advocates, staff, and corporate supporters. Relationships were a key element in the expansion of our services. In order to provide more physical fitness and social activities for our members, we teamed up with Special Olympics. As a result, St Peter's renewed its link with the ARC of Baltimore and its services. By partnering with Alliance and Chimes, our supported employment division expanded work opportunities to include MD State-owned buildings and BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. Our involvement in the Ask Me Project enabled us to increase membership in the self-advocacy program. SPALC staff visited Baltimore City/County public schools and CCBC to observe life skill programs serving individuals with special needs. Finally, we saw an increase in referrals and visits by schools and families interested in our services.
As we look back at the successes of 2007, we look forward to the challenges of 2008. St Peter's Adult Learning Center has been at 13 South Poppleton Street since it was founded in 1982. On January 26, 2008, St.Peter the Apostle Church closed it doors. In anticipation of this move, SPALC submitted a proposal to the Archdiocese of Baltimore for its consideration; namely, that SPALC encompass the remaining buildings within the complex. The added space would be used for expansion of current and future programs. We believe that our site proposal would would blend well with Baltimore City's plans for the revitalization of West Baltimore Street and the on-going development of the University of Maryland's Bio-Park.
In closing, I would like to express appreciation to all who have supported St Peter's in the past and ask for continued support of our important mission.
Sincerely,
Chip Woods
P r o g r a m N o t e s
Day Habilitation
Meeting the Mayor
On February 5, Day Habilitation members and staff set off for the University of Maryland Baltimore to attend a celebration in honor of Black History Month. They knew they would be participating in a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr and his on-going dream of equal rights for "all God's children." They joined those whose faces lit up and hands clapped in affirmation of the stirring words of the Honorable Sheila Dixon, Keynote Speaker and Mayor of Baltimore City. During the ceremony, individuals were recognized for their outstanding contributions to society – among them, those who had aided the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Caught up in the excitement of the day, participants sang along during the musical selections. Immediately following, guests were regaled with a delicious lunch.
The biggest thrill of the day came when St Peter's participants met Mayor Dixon and posed for a picture with her. On their way back to the Center, and even the next day, they talked about nothing else.
Was a good time had by all? Yes, indeed! And we're all anxiously awaiting a picture from the Mayor's office to prove it.
Hearts and Flowers
How else to celebrate Valentine's Day than with music and dancing and lots of food. But let's not leave out arts and crafts. In addition to designing cards, we made deorative desserts with the assistance of our music specialist, Juanita Curtis. The Electric Slide was a big favorite, but the highlight of the day was the crowning of the dance contest winners – Aisha Polk and Corey Roberson. Congratulations!
Supported Employment
News and Notes
We have been actively engaged in either group training activities at the Center or out in the community as volunteers or paid employees. Our sites include Maryland State Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped, Mercy Medical Center, Paul's Place, St Ambrose Outreach Center, Moveable Feast, Active Day, and Safeway.
Special note: Mercy Medical Center has offered us many opportunities for work experience. Recently, we assembled over 3,000 United Way packets for its employees. In gratitude for carrying out this important job, we were presented with a gift of $1,000.00 at a Pizza Party held in our honor.
Special thanks to ALL who help us find volunteer and employment sites and who instill in us values and skills we need on our road to independence.
Supported Employment Members In The Community
| Dante Abraham | Baltimore City Dept of Sanitation |
| Nicole Blake | Baltimore City Public Schools |
| Allen Bostic Jr | Volunteer, Paul's Place |
| James Calvert | New Life Backery |
| Zack Carraway | Chimes/BWI |
| Jordan Dickens | Chimes/BWI |
| Tamika Hinton | Chimes/BWI |
| Bernair Todd | Chimes/BWI |
Joseph Gaither | Personal Touch |
| Damon James | Safeway |
| Channell Jones | Mercy Medical Center |
| Alevia Keys | Volunteer, MD State Library for T he Blind & Physically Handicapped |
| Tabitha Mason | Alliance/Shaeffer Building |
| Shaun May | WalMart |
| Kevin Mazan | Gallery/Harbor Place |
| Dwayne McFall | Johns Hopkins Hospital |
| Frank Nyer | Benson Concrete |
| Kimberly Parker | St Peter's Adult Learning Center |
| Donte Patterson | McDonald's |
| Debra Rausch | Volunteer, Active Day |
| Harry Rice | Volunteer, Mercy Medical Center |
| Saneaka Anderson | Volunteer, Mercy Medical Center |
| Corey Roberson | Shoppers |
| Jeffrey Rogers | Franciscan Center |
| Bernard Simmons | Sparrow's Assisted Living |
Who Takes The Cake?
Happy Birthday to All Celebrating Spring Birthdays!
| March | Corey Roberson, Aisha polk, Bernard Simmons, Dorothy Dorsey |
| April | Travis Johnson, Harry Rice, Shawn May, Karl Jones, Bernair Todd, Lannaea Davis, Shanta Thomson |
| May | Frank Nyer, Jonvier Roberson |
| June | Donte Patterson, Tamika Hinton, Donte Abraham, Stacey Thomlinson |
We Welcome Our Newest Staff Members
My name is Linda Bull, the new Lead Program Instructor for Day Habilitation. Prior to coming here, I worked for a year and a half as a one-on-one Special Education Aide for the Baltimore City Public Schools. Having received my associates degree from Montgomery College, I am presently attending Coppin State University to obtain my bachelors degree in psychology. I am truly happy to be a part of the St. Peter's Adult Learning Center's team. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you in the days and months to come.
Hi, I am Elizabeth Chambers. I am the new Mercy Corps Volunteer. I come all the way from Washington State, just north of Seattle. I am the 4th of 7 children, so I am used to noise and activity (which really helps me here at St. Peters!) I graduated with a religious studies degree from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington in May 2007. You might wonder what I am going to do with that? Well nothing really, I am going to go back to school to get my masters degree in elementary education. My time here at St. Peter’s has been one of learning, growing and fun! I like coming to work each and every day It’s a great place to be. I truly appreciate the staff, the participants and their families who have made me feel welcome. I enjoy the new experience of living on the other side of the country, and working at St Peter's has been a blessing.
My name is Sister Debbie Mitchell . I am a Bon Secours Sister in a formation program. Part of the program includes involvement in a ministry such as St Peter's Adult Learning Center. I have been so blessed to be with all of the staff and participants. I love talking with participants of the Supported Employment Program (as well as filling out surveys with their input), helping individuals with resumes, and assisting in any way I can with the Day Program. I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for making St. Peter's such a beautiful place. It really is sacred ground.
My name is Antwann Pegus. I hail from Riverdale, MD and will soon graduate from Coppin State University here in Baltimore City. I was introduced to St. Peter's Adult Learning Center through Eric Green, a former employee. Not long afterward, I became his replacement as the aerobics instructor. Since then I have also assumed the position of supported empyment instructor and the DORS liaison for St. Peter's Adult Learning Center.
We Also Welcome
Odessa Haynes, Head of Housekeeping
Nellie Dorsey & Sue White, Receptionists
Bernie McNulty & Juanita Davis, Volunteers
In Memory
Ms Emma Johnson (1923-2007)
(The following is the eulogy given by Nancy Van Horn on the occasion of the funeral of Emma Johnson, Receptionist at St Peter's ALC, 2003 – 2007.)
In 2003, The Senior Aides (SECEP) Program sent us a new receptionist. Emma was 80 years old. That was not a problem for us. But on her first day, as I was training her on our phone system, she pulled out her magnifying glass to see the phone. Her face was so close to the phone, I thought, “Uh oh, what are we getting ourselves into?" Without complaint, without missing a step, Emma said to me, “Tomorrow, I’ll bring my big magnifying glass". And indeed she did.... looking a bit like Sherlock Holmes, Miss Emma learned that phone system and everything else she needed to do ....and more!
As her supervisor, there were times when I would have to explain to Emma how something had “gone wrong”. She would simply say, " Oh, thanks for telling me! I’ll do it that way next time.” Never did she become defensive. Never did she become dismayed. Never was she irritated. I found myself saying, ”I wish I could be like Miss Emma”. Two years after that first day, St. Peter’s hired Miss Emma as a regular staff member. That year, we had a week-long celebration of her 82nd birthday. What we all learned about Emma during her 4 years with us was that Emma was the living, breathing demonstration of JOY. Emma found happiness in everything. She loved greeting visitors. She loved being with our clients. She loved snapping together bubbles and lids (her toys - she called them). She loved her co-workers. She loved going places and seeing things - even with her weak eyes. She loved simple pleasures: a spicy book, a good friend, a cold beer, and her old cat Tiger. She was dependable, endearing and consistent. When I spoke with Emma’s sister Grace this week, she told me that Emma had always been like that - even as a child. Emma never owned a house, drove a car, ran a business, had children, or earned a lot of money....but Emma had something many of us never achieve in life – grateful contentment. I found a quote by Henry Ward Beecher that sums Emma up.... ”The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.” Each of us here was fortunate to have the gift of Emma in our lives. This time of year we sing a favorite Christmas song. This year - it’s Emma’s song. “JOY TO THE WORLD” for Emma truly was... JOY to the world.
Glancing Back
Although Christmas seems so far away, we at St. Peter’s Adult Learning Center would like to acknowledge the debt of gratitude we owe to those benefactors who helped to make our annual Christmas Party such a huge success. As it does every year, Stella Maris Hospice purchased, wrapped, and delivered gifts for all of our participants. Thanks to the generosity of Mark Fitz-Patrick and his associates at Wachovia Securities, the children of five individuals in our program were able to enjoy a bounty of gifts. Clement Bakery donated 100 pies, and L&H Produce at the Hollins Street Market contributed a copious basket of fresh fruit. Riggs, Councilman, Michaels, and Downs made a monetary donation. Our thanks go out to all these sponsors as well as to Northrop-Grumman and the Law Offices of Tydings & Robsenberg for their special support.
Looking Forward: Calendar Notes 2008
March 21 Spring Holiday
April 8 Health Fair/U of MD School of Nursing
May 16 *CENTER CLOSED: Staff In-service
May 26 *CENTER CLOSED: Memorial Day
*Coverage Provided
Did you know…
At St. Peter’s Adult Learning Center, we strive to empower adults with developmental disabilities to be contributing members of society. We reverence the uniqueness and dignity of each individual and promote self-sufficiency, community integration, and quality of life through vocational and recreational programs and services.
Spotlights Newsletter
St Peter's AlC
13 So Poppleton St
Baltimore MD 21201