Peace of Mind: Your Journey, Your Way’s Post

✨🚨STAFF SPOTLIGHT🚨✨ My name is Anita. I’m from San Diego, I’ve lived in Laramie for about four years. I’m an elementary education major with my certification in special needs. I enjoy spending my time at work or at home with my cat watching movies! #StaffSpotlight #DSP #DirectSupportProfessional #friendship #inclusion #diversity #disabilityadvocate #support #awareness #qualityservices #companion #respite #homemaker #community #peaceofmind #peoplefirst #nonprofit #disabilities #advocacy #makeadifference #bethedifference #inthistogether Image Description: This is a graphic with a dark background and centered circular photo of a smiling young woman with long blonde hair and warm reddish pink lowlights. She is wearing a dusty purple sweater and black leggings. In the background, there is a beautiful and colorful sunset with streaks of clouds and golden yellow light. From top to bottom the graphic reads: “Staff Spotlight Direct Support Professional (DSP) Anita.” At the bottom left of the centered picture of Anita is the Peace of Mind logo featuring a signature rusty-red-orange aspen leaf. On either side of the phrase “Staff Spotlight” at the top of the graphic, there are small images of gray and yellow abstract spotlights.

Merry Christmas from our crew at Peace of Mind! 🎄 May your holidays be merry, bright, and spent in the company of loved ones! 💜 #MerryChristmas #Christmas2024 #MerryandBright #friendship #inclusion #diversity #disabilityadvocate #support #awareness #qualityservices #companion #respite #homemaker #community #peaceofmind #peoplefirst #nonprofit #disabilities #advocacy #makeadifference #bethedifference #inthistogether Image Description: This graphic has a light pinkish background and is Christmas themed with red and blue snowflakes falling across the image. In the bottom left corner is a decorated Christmas tree with presents underneath it in colors of orange, red, yellow, and blue. The presents are topped with bows. In the bottom right corner is a snowman wearing a red scarf and green Santa hat. The hat has red and white polka dots on it. Centered in the image are the words (from left to right & top to bottom), “We Wish You A Merry Christmas from our crew at Peace of Mind.”

It's Christmas Card Day! 🎄 Miah celebrated by getting his Christmas cards signed, decorated, and ready to give to his loved ones! 💌 #NationalChristmasCardDay2024 #ChristmasCards #TisTheSeason #MerryChristmas #JoyPeaceLove #friendship #inclusion #diversity #disabilityadvocate #support #awareness #qualityservices #companion #respite #homemaker #community #peaceofmind #peoplefirst #nonprofit #disabilities #advocacy #makeadifference #bethedifference #inthistogether Image Descriptions: This is an off white colored graphic which is Christmas themed. In the center is a picture framed on the top and left sides by colorful Christmas lights. In the picture, Miah sits at his card table in his apartment and is very focused on signing his name on a green Christmas card. More Christmas cards and markers are on the table next to him. His apartment is decorated for Christmas with stockings and garland hung around. A banner which reads “Happy Birthday” in colorful bubble letters hangs behind the card table- a memory from a past celebration. On the TV, Pete’s Dragon is playing. Above the centered picture are four green and red Christmas ornaments hanging from the top of the image. On either side are many tiny gold stars. To the right of the centered picture is a green christmas ornament with Peace of Mind’s logo with the signature rusty-red-orange Aspen leaf. At the bottom in green and gold letters are the words, “Happy Christmas Card Day From Peace of Mind.”

Happy National Color Day! 🎉 This year on National Color Day we celebrate how color impacts us positively in life - for example, everyone has a favorite color which brings them happiness. 💜 What’s your favorite color? 🌈 #NationalColorDay2024 #friendship #inclusion #diversity #disabilityadvocate #support #awareness #qualityservices #companion #respite #homemaker #community #peaceofmind #peoplefirst #nonprofit #disabilities #advocacy #makeadifference #bethedifference #inthistogether Image Description: This is a graphic with a background that is made to look like a crinkly sheet of white paper. There are crayons and scribbles in the corners with the colors red, yellow, and blue. From top to bottom we read “Happy NATIONAL COLOR DAY Color adds so much to our lives! Here are a few of our participants’ favorite colors: Red, Purple, Green, Blue, Rainbow and Teal Green, and Bright colors she can see!” There are small images next to each color including a red flower, a purple butterfly, a green branch, blue stars, a little rainbow, and neon purple hearts.

Happy DSP Appreciation Week! 🎉   Peace of Mind would like to recognize the incredible work of our DSPs: Abby, Bree, Brian, Byanca, Courtney, Eliza Ann, Gianna, Karri, Kenzie, Kira, Mack, Madi, Mondell, Sophie, Lynora, Logan, and Taeli. Day in and out, they all make a huge difference in the lives of our participants and are shining examples of how to be an advocate for our family, friends, and neighbors with disabilities. We are so proud of our DSPs, and we are so lucky to have such an extraordinary team. Thank you for all that you do! 💜 #DSP #DirectSupportProfessional #DSPAppreciationWeek #friendship #inclusion #diversity #disabilityadvocate #support #awareness #qualityservices #companion #respite #homemaker #community #peaceofmind #peoplefirst #nonprofit #disabilities #advocacy #makeadifference #bethedifference #inthistogether Image Description: The background of the image has a dark gray chalkboard background with a rectangular white chalk scribble in the center. The words, “Thank You Direct Support Professionals DSP Appreciation Week 2024,” are overlaid in dark gray letters. There are chalk doodles including squiggles and hearts at the top and bottom of the image. On all four corners, there are pictures in the shape of hearts of Peace of Mind DSPs with participants making happy memories. Subjects of the following pictures are listed from left to right: In the top left corner, Sam and DSP Madi smile for a selfie during their hike. In the top right corner, Cindy and DSP Taeli pose together with matching blue backpacks. In the bottom right corner, DSP Kenzie cheers on the Rockies with Kennith and Miah. In the bottom left corner, Miah and his favorite staff Logan pose with the statue outside of the UW basketball arena.

Thrilled to share the remarkable appointment of Marlene Sallo, a beacon for those in disability advocacy, to the Dept. of Homeland Security's Disability Advisory Committee. A testament to the power of diverse perspectives in decision-making. Every voice counts, especially in spaces where they've been unheard! Grassroots nonprofit leaders, we learn a crucial lesson: representation matters. Every day you champion for inclusivity & representation. Consider this occasion as inspiration to double down on your mission. Is there a pain point you might be overlooking? Remember, authentic narratives foster connections which ultimately reinforce your cause, so share the stories that need to be heard. Marketing your #nonprofit can be daunting, but it's about accentuating the human element, and tapping into the power of empathy. You are not just running a business - you are igniting change & impacting lives. Continue the inspirational work & #GiveHopeDaily! Let Sallo’s achievement be a beacon for us all. You got this! #NonprofitLeaders #Business #MarketingSolutions #DisabilityAdvocacy.

Fall-ow Us! We’re on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn! 🍁🍂🌲 #friendship #inclusion #diversity #disabilityadvocate #support #awareness #qualityservices #companion #respite #homemaker #community #peaceofmind #peoplefirst #nonprofit #disabilities #advocacy #makeadifference #bethedifference #inthistogether Image Description: The visual has a light tan background with various sized images of fall leaves in colors of red, orange, and brown around the border. There are smaller leaves and stars around the words which say, “Fall-ow Us! Instagram~ @ pom.wy Facebook~ Peace of Mind: Your Journey, Your Way LinkedIn~ Peace of Mind: Your Journey, Your Way.” In the bottom right corner is Peace of Mind’s logo with the rusty red-orange aspen leaf.

Our September recap continues with reflection on our quarterly Board meetings. A Board member cannot only show up fully engaged in four times a year for a nonprofit organization. Board participation and service demands being present for the leader and the staff throughout the organizations existence. On September 13 we spent our Friday in Charlotte with our Board of Directors from Disability Rights of North Carolina. The team at DRNC has worked with passion and purpose to create impact. A wise leader once reminded us that not every room deserves you in it. We have been astonished in how valuable we have felt in a room that actually celebrates deserving each other. In these Boardrooms we have sense of belonging and team orientation for the work we do together. We are grateful for this presence in community and our continued involvement to bolster this amazing team. While our leader took no photos to capture our session, she did come back locally to try Dames Almost Famous Chicken and Waffles with another leader. We are wondering between our Charlotte travels through the NASCAR Museum and the Chicken and Waffles, if that has made us more southern in our identity than originally thought? Our next recap will continue to celebrate DRNC on a grander scale for their commitment to serving people with disabilities. They practice actual inclusion to integrate people holistically on a societal level. You can explore connecting with this local nonprofit to support their work through donations at https://lnkd.in/ehyrp7Ya We even had our leader have a full circle North Carolina moment for her relocation. It’s really amazing the exponential human potential when people embrace being human to cure their human. #DRNCBoardMeeting #BoardRoomLove #BOD #BoardInfluence #HRThoughtLeader #SouthernCuraHuman #NonprofitExcellence #ExecutiveBoardroom #EmbraceBeingHuman #SelfLeadership #ExistFully #HumanExperience #LeadershipDevelopment #HRCoaching #LeadershipCoaching #AuthenticLeadership #AuthenticCoach #WomenOwned #ChiefHuman #MinorityOwned #FractionalCHRO #LightkeeperLeadershipCoaching #CelestialChoicenessCoach #ChoicenessCoach #HumanResourcesThoughtLeadership #ServeUnderserved #ServantLeadership #HRservices #HRInterventions #CureYourHuman #ExquisiteBeing #ReactivateChoiceness #CoachingHuman

Let’s talk SUMMER GRUB! 🌭🍉 Tell us about your favorite summer grub below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️ #SummerGrub #yummyfood #friendship #inclusion #diversity #disabilityadvocate #support #awareness #qualityservices #companion #respite #homemaker #community #peaceofmind #peoplefirst #nonprofit #disabilities #advocacy #makeadifference #bethedifference #inthistogether Image Description: A graphic with a tan background is pictured. In the center of the graphic read the words, “Best Summer Grub?” in green lettering. Circled around the words alternate graphics of watermelon, hamburgers, hotdogs, and ice cream sundaes. All graphics of food contain bright colors.

🚨 Ableism in Leadership: We Deserve Better 🚨 David Mack, a member of the MTA Board representing Nassau County, recently made headlines for parking in a designated Access-a-Ride spot during an MTA Board meeting. When criticized, Mack dismissed the concerns, claiming it was "a total exaggeration" and that only a small portion of his car was in the space. But that’s not all. Mack defended himself by stating, "There's no better advocate for the handicapped than myself," citing his charitable work. This is tokenism. Advocacy isn’t about throwing around outdated, ableist language or doing performative charity work—it’s about respecting and empowering the community you claim to support. Mack’s actions and dismissive attitude highlight a larger issue: the lack of proper representation for the disability community in decision-making roles. Long Island—and all communities—deserve leaders who understand the lived realities of disabled individuals and who uphold the principles of respect and inclusion. True advocacy means listening, learning, and leading with accountability. We deserve better representation for both Long Island and the disability community. #DisabilityRights #InclusionMatters #Ableism #RepresentationMatters