We are thrilled to invite members of our community to visit our brain injury community center in Tewksbury. The Incompass Safe Minds Community Center (SMCC) supports those who have experienced a brain injury. It empowers participants to maximize their level of independence, self confidence, and dignity so they can experience full lives in their communities.
Community members will have a chance to mingle with SMCC participants and their families, and learn about the impact that the program has had on their lives. RSVP here.
We are so excited to host our third annual “Days of Giving” campaign!
All proceeds raised through the “Days of Giving” campaign will help fund the programs and services that we provide to the Incompass community. Our portfolio of programs supports those with intellectual/developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries as well as their families and caregivers. We’d love for you to donate to these causes, but there’s another way you can be involved…by becoming a Care Champion Fundraiser!
Incompass relies on the generosity of our community to help us achieve our mission to empower the people we serve in Greater Lowell and Greater Lawrence to live full lives. At the end of the day, we’re all care champions!
Incompass is excited to host our first-ever Holiday Festival! We of course would like to extend an invitation to the community, and we hope you’ll all be able to join us for a night of holiday fun!
Thank you to our sponsors! Your generosity will help make this a memorable event for the individuals and families we support, as well as the community.
Pictured L-R: (Back row) Chris Snell, Heather Mantell, two additional presenters from Triton Systems, Angela Otieno (Front row) Two LHS students.
Human services is often overlooked as a viable career path for young adults. With the help of Incompass Care Champions, Project LEARN is helping change that narrative. Project LEARN funds innovative programs and services to inspire Lowell Public Schools’ students and equip them with the skills, knowledge, and mindset they need for college, career, and life.
Incompass directors from three departments joined last week’s Career Speaker event hosted by Project LEARN, presenting to a freshman seminar class at Lowell High School.
Angela Otieno, Director of Residential Services
Chris Snell, Director of Clinical Services
Heather Mantell, Director of Family and Community Services
Rather than presenting their chosen career paths in a rigid format, the directors used this opportunity to engage in thoughtful discussion with the students. Otieno says that one student felt comfortable enough to ask a more personal question, such as,
“the value of taking advanced placement (AP) classes to prepare for the future, and how to handle family pressure to follow a particular career path.”
The conversation naturally shifted towards discussing students’ exposure to those with disabilities. Snell asked students to raise their hands if they knew someone with a disability.
“Nearly every one of them raised their hand. That would not have been the case 20 or maybe even 10 years ago.”
Fostering these types of relationships between young adults and human services professionals is more critical than ever. Mantell noted,
“This isn’t a line of work that students would typically gravitate towards. But, if convinced at least one of them that this work is rewarding, then the day was a success.”
Earth Day is a special holiday in the Incompass Human Services community, not just because of what it represents to the planet – but it’s also the official kick-off of our gardening season!
This year, Earth Day fell on Friday, April 22 and Activities Specialist Cathy Brunelle once again put on a wonderful event! Day program participants at Incompass Human Services met outside of agency headquarters at 4 Omni Way in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, where Care Champions had setup stations with garden beds, flower pots, watering cans, and gardening tools. And this year was made even more special because a group of volunteers from the local BNI Global chapter!
“It’s been more than two years since we’ve been able to welcome members of the community to take part in an event like this, and the looks of joy on the faces of both the participants and volunteers said it all,” remarked Dan Esdale, chief marketing officer at Incompass.
Earth Day at Incompass is Really Earth Week!
As is tradition, each day hab room provided Care Champions with a list of seeds they wished to grow on Earth Day. And throughout the week, members of the Incompass community worked to prepare the garden beds and purchase soil so the group would have the tools they need to celebrate Earth Day right. Bianco’s Catering, who is also a tenant at 4 Omni Way, even got in on the fun providing individuals with the lettuce heads that were planted in the vegetable garden!
“We planted everything from onions to garlic to beans throughout the afternoon, and the weather could not have been better!,” said Brunelle.
Volunteers Had A Lot to Share About Their Experience…
For the volunteers from the BNI Power Players, it was their first time at Incompass Human Services – and their first chapter volunteer engagement since the beginning of the pandemic.
“My business is rooted in spreading joy, and spending the day with the Incompass day program participants was the definition of spreading joy,” remarked Dot Richards, vice president of the BNI Power Players and owner of Cards by Dot. “I loved being outside with the volunteers and participants!”
Ryan Hart, a financial advisor with New York Life and treasurer of the BNI Power Players remarked that he was impressed with the coordination of the event by the Care Champions, and could see the impact first-hand. “I was struck by just how genuine the Incompass team was in engaging us as volunteers, and ensuring they put on a great program for the people in their programs. And I can’t wait to see the progress of the vegetables that we planted throughout the day!”
