So much excitement happens each week at Bona Vista Programs; when 2,000 children and adults are served every day, no two days are the same! Last week, we invited a handful of community members to our new facility at 1800 S. Plate to introduce them to our Community Connections program housed at that location. Then, we took them on a virtual tour of our other programs so they could get a general idea of what all we do. Most people, honestly, have no clue all that a given day or week at Bona Vista entails. They have no clue that some of the people they run in to in the community are people we serve or have helped transition into employment. The purpose of this tour was to help make those connections and create awareness.
And, we did! The people in attendance now have a better understanding of our organization. They made connections with programs they had heard about, but didn’t realize were ours. They connected with each other in a small-group, networking situation. They put faces to names with our staff. But, a few things were happening that were even better than that!
The day before the tour, members of our new Bona Vista Bistro group were preparing the snacks and refreshments. You might be asking, “You didn’t have the event catered? Has this ever been done before?” No and no. Some of our adult persons served expressed an interest in learning about food preparation, handling and serving skills. So, we put them to the test (thanks to seriously amazing leadership and certification-holding of our staff)! The Bistro workers couldn’t have been more nervous! They practiced ahead of time how to ask people what they would like to drink, if they needed refills, and if they were done with their plate so they could clear the trash away, etc.
When you’ve never done something, though, the anxiety can be overwhelming. Remember your first day at a new job? It was just like that, but with a twist. These amazing adults were SO excited to serve. They wanted to learn, took what they were taught and executed like champions. I was extremely proud of them and their staff.
Imagine with me: You have a disability (regardless of what it is). You’ve been told that you can’t do certain things. You have people look at you in ways that would make you feel like you’re not capable. You have goals and dreams that you don’t think are attainable based on how other people have treated you. How horrible, right? It’s hard enough to navigate this life as typically-developing people. Overcoming additional obstacles makes it that much more difficult.
That’s where Bona Vista does an incredible job. If one of our persons served wants to do something, the staff makes it happen. They don’t see obstacles. They see opportunity. They took a group of people who had little to zero food service knowledge and turned them in to a well-oiled machine who served others with a smile! They’ve allowed some persons served to teach classes in the Sky’s the Limit program – the history of marshmallows, for example. They started a choir. They have cooking classes. They’ve learned how to create art, and appreciate it. The possibilities are endless and the sky truly is the limit.
We want to make it so when people in the community recognize some of the folks we serve, that they say, “Hi!” without hesitation or offer up a friendly smile. Our persons served are just as much a part of this community as the rest of us, and they should feel as such. I’m not stepping down off my soap box just yet. I want you all to step up on it with me! Be the change. People notice how you treat other people. Show them through your actions that the people we serve are valued members of this community. That’s all I’m asking (perhaps on my list for Santa, even).
Want to be invited to a future community tour so you can learn more about our organization or you just want to see how amazing the Bona Vista Bristo crew is? Let me know by calling 765-457-8273. Want to join our organization so you can be a part of the team that makes opportunities happen? Let us know by calling 765-457-8273 or visiting www.bonavista.org & clicking on Career.
Until next time…keep a good view on life!
-AB