Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Mandy On the Radio!

Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Mandy and other students in Imagine!’s C.O.R.E./Labor Source “On the Air” class had their first radio piece air last week on KGNU radio in Boulder. Mandy and her classmates did almost everything for the show themselves and spoke candidly about their disabilities and their efforts to be contributing members of our community.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Donna's Diary July 2010

Have you seen Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome resident Donna's latest online diary entry? If not, check it out below to find out which SmartHome resident is “the queen of coffee bean stirrers.” And see all of her diary entires here.



On the 4th of July, we partied over at the 19th Street Group Home. Some of the clients and staff from there are friends of mine, and it was a great time going over there. Some of the clients from the old Iris House (before it became the SmartHome)came too. We had a barbecue and watched fireworks from the back yard.

Some people sure do go wild over the 4th of July. I remember one year I was over by the St. Vrain River waiting for the fireworks and heard a loud noise from behind us. It happened to be eight teenagers packed into a Camero, and they drove right into the river and had to be towed out. Now I’m all for a good time, but that seems a bit much to me.

I had a wonderful time at the Millennium FAC last Friday night. It was cool. I liked being out with Gerald and all of my housemates. Having so many kids come by to paint and draw with us was a lot of fun. I love the teachers from my art class, Aliza and Chris. They are always cooking up something neat for us to do, and they always take time to sit and talk with you to see how you’re doing.

We have been roasting coffee beans over at the SmartHome too. It’s a fun project, and we roast the beans in a popcorn popper. As a matter of fact, we are roasting coffee beans right now but I took a few minutes off to do my monthly diary entry. My housemate Rebecca is the queen of coffee bean stirrers. She stirs the beans to cool them off, she is really good at it, and seems to love it.

Well, that’s all for now. Donna

Friday, July 23, 2010

Upcoming Presentations

Members of Imagine!’s SmartHomes team continue to be in demand, making presentations across the country about this ambitious project and how technology can be used to improve the lives of those with developmental disabilities and related conditions. Here are a few upcoming examples:

On August 4, 2010, in Cripple Creek, CO, Imagine!’s Director of Public Relations Fred Hobbs will present: Getting Social: Why Service Organizations Need To Embrace Social Media at the Arkansas Valley Community Center Leadership Training Conference.

On October 15, 2010, in Vail, CO, Imagine!’s Director of Business Development Greg Wellems and Imagine!’s Director of Public Relations Fred Hobbs will present: SmartHomes and SmartSupports: The Future of Residential Care at the Housing Colorado Now! Conference.

On November 11, 2010, in Baltimore, MD, Imagine!’s Director of Business Development Greg Wellems will present at a session entitled: Using Technology to Create Disease Management and Community-Based Service Programs at The Open Minds 2010 Institute for Behavioral Health Informatics 6th Annual Conference on the Future of Technology in Behavioral Health.

And on December 9 and 10, in Denver, CO, SmartHomes Project Manager Sterling Wind and Imagine! Director of Public Relations Fred Hobbs will present: Using Social Media To Connect, Communicate And Network Regardless Of Ability/Disability at the TASH 35th Annual Conference entitled Embracing Difference.....It's Time!.

To see a list of past presentations by SmartHome leaders, click here.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Meet SmartHome Residents This Friday Evening!

The Millennium Harvest House in Boulder is continuing its support of the community by hosting non-profit groups during each of the 2010 FAC Rockin’ The Gardens concerts. The Millennium is located at 1345 28th Street, Boulder, CO 80302 (just south of the intersection at Arapahoe and 28th Streets, behind the Safeway).

Imagine! will be a featured non-profit at the FAC on July 23, from 5:30 – 9:30 PM. The event is free and features a performance by the Steve Thomas Band.

SmartHome residents from C.O.R.E./Labor Source art classes will be on hand, and attendees of the FAC will have opportunities to meet the residents, learn about Imagine!, and are welcome to draw and paint with the residents.

Last year, many kids who attended the concert sat side by side with Imagine! artists, creating mini masterpieces together. I’m looking forward to seeing the creative artwork I’m sure will emerge from this year’s event.

Please consider joining us!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Gerald and Donna's Honeymoon

This past May, Bob and Judy Charles SmartHome residents and lovebirds Donna and Gerald went on their long anticipated honeymoon. Check out the pictures from their trip below. If you want deets on the trip, read Donna’s May online diary entry.











Monday, July 19, 2010

Upcoming Presentation

This coming December, SmartHomes Project Manager Sterling Wind and PR guru Fred Hobbs will be presenting at the 2010 TASH Conference, the largest and most progressive international conference advancing equity, opportunity and inclusion for people with disabilities. The title of the presentation is: "Using Social Media To Connect, Communicate And Network Regardless Of Ability/Disability."

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Leah at Public Speaking Class

On June 25, Charles Family SmartHome resident Leah participated in a public poetry reading at Buzz Coffee in Longmont as part of a public speaking class she is taking through Imagine!’s CORE/Labor Source department.