Beautiful Justice

By Marisa Geitner, president & C.E.O. of Heritage Christian Services

I’m honored to share this space with Dr. Beth Mount, who teaches we all have gifts – and that those gifts can and should be used in community. She is an activist and an artist, a quilter who uses fabric and stitches as a metaphor for weaving people together. May you find beauty in her words.

Beth…

My life's work of 40 years is devoted to the possibility that all people, particularly those with disabilities, are seen in the light of their capacities and possible vision. My community of friends and colleagues work steadily on many aspects of personal, neighborhood, organizational, and cultural change so that the hopes expressed by people and families have some concrete impact on the structures of society. This work has affirmed in me the belief that all people have gifts to bring, and that the fabric of community is strengthened when we incorporate the capacities of all people

I grew up in Atlanta during the civil rights movement and consequently had the privilege of living with the voice of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. calling us all to remember that, “We are all tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality.”

Dr. King’s beloved community is a global vision, in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth. Racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood and this will be accomplished thru the attainment of civil rights and mutually respectful relationships. Legal rights create the foundation for equal opportunity, however the vision of the beloved community invites personal and social relationships that are created by love—and these cannot be legislated. Dr. King describes this agape love as an “overflowing love seeking to preserve and create community.”  Undoubtedly, the people I know best benefit from and contribute to this art of relationship building and belonging.

The TEDx talk “Beautiful Justice” expresses the vision that people can work and belong to community regardless of their intellectual limitations and other constraints. We are all better together when we create new worlds for people that bring forth the best in all of us.

Appreciating families and their input

By Marisa Geitner, president & C.E.O. of Heritage Christian Services

At Heritage Christian we are so thankful for the rich support we receive from the family members and friends of those we serve.  Your input helps us focus on what matters most to each person, particularly when an individual has a challenging time communicating.

We are also grateful to those who took time to complete our family engagement survey. You reminded us that personalized support, good communication and consistency in staffing are key to providing excellent and dignified service. Please know we welcome your thoughts – not just on this survey but throughout the year. We are committed to improving because we are committed to your loved ones and our mission.

We have an agency full of creative, solution-focused staff members who work hard each day to digest feedback and plan for an approach that strengthens people’s relationships and builds their experiences. Why?  Because we have an agency full of people who see endless possibilities for the people we serve. Thank you for being part of that.

Learning about citizenship for all

By Marisa Geitner, president & C.E.O. of Heritage Christian Services

I’m committed to being a lifelong learner. I celebrate accomplishments, but I always search for ways to grow and improve – especially when it comes to the way we partner with people who are in need of our supports and services.  That’s why at Heritage Christian we’ve dedicated time and resources for some of our staff members to take an online course in Citizen Centered Leadership.

In the course, they learn about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, of belonging within a community, and they learn alongside those who receive services from our agency. For example, Joanie Parker, director of day services, and Tina Crandall, who is employed by Heritage Christian and also benefits from some of our services, meet weekly to discuss what they are learning and how our supports could improve.

“We look for things that are different in her life and mine that don’t need to be,” Joanie said while Tina nodded. Things like waiting until it is your turn to go out for the evening or having other people make doctors’ appointments for you when you’re capable of doing it on your own.

“I’m learning to speak up about myself,” said Tina, who likes to please people, even if it means she doesn’t get what she wants. “I want to run my own life.”

Already, Tina has told her parents and the people who work at her home that she wants to take a more active role in making decisions and start volunteering on her days off.

“It is helping me to be myself,” she said.

And that’s worth the extra studying and additional time. It’s worth it to all of us.

If you are interested in joining the conversation about citizenship, we’ll be hosting very casual “lunch and learns” every fourth Friday at both the main office and the regional office. Bring your lunch and we’ll start at noon.

Finding the lessons in adversity

Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.

– the Rev. Billy Graham

 
By Marisa Geitner, president & C.E.O. of Heritage Christian Services

I recently attended a meeting with some of our agency’s leaders in the Buffalo area and I found myself inspired when we took an opportunity to offer prayer requests. As you might expect sharing those moments left us with heavy hearts, yet we also saw sincere and gentle smiles begin to emerge with the stories. 

Whether supporting someone through medical challenges, loss or day-to-day moments of frustration, there was one common experience: On those most challenging days we all seem to walk away with grateful hearts. 

Adversity has a way of stripping away all but the most essential. The phones go unanswered, the paperwork is set aside, and appointments and emails are ignored – all are irrelevant in the moment. Our full attention is directed to being there for those we love. It is food for our soul.  It nurtures and strengthens us, sharpening us for the next challenge and opportunity.  It reminds us of the importance of why we’re here.

 I am thankful each day to witness the pureness of our care for one another.  It is inspiring. Thank you.

Focusing on faith and family

By Marisa Geitner, president & C.E.O. of Heritage Christian Services

At Heritage Christian Services, we describe ourselves as family. We celebrate when our co-workers have weddings and babies – and we walk with them when there is loss, or things that are difficult to bear.

We have a tradition of focusing on faith and family every Sunday in our residential and respite programs, and we’re proud of the relationships that have come out of that. In fact, I’ve invited a few people to tell how setting aside time for relationships and spiritual growth has influenced their lives. You’ll find their stories below.

We are mindful of our staff members who work holidays and weekends, and we are always working on how we might be better able to honor their family and faith traditions, too.

Edie Fantaske started working at Heritage Christian the same day Lisa Peters moved into her apartment at South Forest, and they have been close ever since. Edie knows that faith and family are important to Lisa. “I think that singing in the choir brings Lisa total joy to be able to use the gifts that God has given her.”

“I love Sundays because I get to relax and get refreshed before the week coming up,” said Lisa Peters, who attends Holy Infant of Prague Roman Catholic Church in Cheektowaga and sings in the choir. “My mom and dad meet me at church every other week to pick me up afterward. They come to my church on Christmas and Easter to see me sing.”

When Lisa returns home on Sundays, she enjoys catching up with friends. “Sunday is a day I can dedicate myself to my church, my family and my friends at South Forest.”

Focusing on faith gives Lisa Jackson inspiration for the week.
“It gives me a sense of strength to push me forward and know there is a greater purpose in life.”

The men who live at the home on Fairport Road in Pittsford have been enjoying church for years – but it didn’t really become a natural part of Sunday until they made friendships there.

“We participate in several of the activities the church holds including bowling parties, pancake breakfasts and game nights,” said Lisa Jackson, who often attends Perinton Presbyterian Church. “And all of the men we support participate in the adult work camp that is held in the spring.”

Lisa has become involved with the church, too. “I was recently asked by a member of the church to also join the missions team and have attended several meetings. I took on the holiday food baskets and organized 11 families receiving a Christmas dinner.”

Now, Sunday is a day they all look forward to.

“Being so involved with the church I feel does change our overall perception on life and that we are here not to serve ourselves but to serve God and each other.”

 

A vision for 2014

By Marisa Geitner, president & C.E.O. of Heritage Christian Services

This month I have the pleasure of introducing you to our new chairman of the board, Richard Vander Horst. Rich, who is a vice president with Wegmans Food Markets, has served on our board since January 2007 and we are so thankful for his time and expertise. His involvement with the organization dates back many years, an introduction made by his grandfather - a very faithful, dedicated supporter of Heritage Christian up until his passing. I’ve invited Rich to share a few words on his vision for 2014. Rich…

Richard Vander Horst

I’ve always enjoyed my time serving on the Heritage Christian board because of the great work that this agency does, and I think we have a lot to look forward to in 2014.

Certainly, there are challenges ahead for this industry but I believe Heritage Christian is focused on the right things – supporting relationships that are really meaningful for people with developmental disabilities and offering the kinds of experiences that matter to a person’s life.

People and their well being have always been at the center of the agency’s mission statement, and we can’t go wrong by keeping our focus there.