Hero & Game Changer

From the moment Kerri Bain joined WeAchieve (CHI) in June 2005, she was recognized as a woman with many talents. She has overcome every obstacle and done so with a fearless spirit. On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, she helped us launch our first Challenge Talk at Wheaton Library. The purpose of the Challenge Talks is to inspire listeners with differing abilities to overcome any roadblocks in their journey. Kerri gave a courageous speech regarding her finding employment at a restaurant and what it took to accomplish this. 

Kerri often encourages her peers to go after their dreams and not let the fear of being told “no” get in the way. She is an active member of The Game Changers, our Self Advocacy Group. She also was one of the first people to attend our Virtual Day Sessions. Created during the pandemic, the Virtual Day Sessions offers the people we serve Discovery Groups, Social Hours, Cooking with Ty, Bingo, and many games. Another accomplishment Kerri has conquered was actually hosting a few Virtual Day Sessions, including  “Superheroes: Marvel vs. DC Comics.“ She and her mother Susan came up with an amazing session that included reading comics, telling amazing jokes, playing games, and performing magic tricks.

Standing Up for Community

When Mohamed Agabein spoke at the Challenge Talks, it was his first time in front of WeAchieve people. His topic was people with and without disabilities getting together.  Mohamed felt the importance of the occasion, an experience to express himself and his views. His voice was heard throughout the room. “I know if I speak,” he says with a smile, “people will listen because I am handsome.”

Mohamed is also part of WeAchieve’s Game Changers, advocating before Maryland decision-makers in Annapolis. “Game Changers has helped me learn about myself,” he says. “I also have learned how to stand up for myself and my friends. My opinion is important to the people in my life and in Annapolis.” Mohamed likes going to DD Day (Developmental Disabilities Day) in Annapolis because “it’s a lot of fun and I meet people who make laws for people with disabilities.” 

A New Full Life

High school student Leroy Allen spent three months in the hospital recovering from several serious medical issues. Sadly, his mother, after a stroke and renal failure, was unable to provide the loving support and manage his care the way she always had. Those health crises eventually took her life, but not before she was able to help Leroy settle into his new life with WeAchieve (CHI). 

Leroy transitioned from the hospital to our Brooke Road residence in March 2017. Our personalized approach to helping everyone we support reach their goals and aspirations worked for Leroy. Today, he has healthy, fulfilling relationships with his grandmother, uncle, and sister, as well as his church family. He has learned new skills and refined existing skills. He has continued his education at Suitland High School, where he has many friends. He also has lived life like other people his age, taking weekend trips, going out to eat and to the movies, and cheering on his favorite sports teams in person — the Bowie Baysox, Baltimore Ravens, and the Washington Nationals. Because of our agency, Leroy has tried new things and met people he might have otherwise never known, as he builds a self-defined life that is rich and full. 

Healthy, Active & Smiling

Before moving into one of our agency’s group homes, Sean Beynon lived alone with his mother and had limited contact with his father. His mother worked in the evenings and night shift, with Sean staying home alone much of the time. Neighbors reported seeing him walking around the neighborhood alone at night. At that time, Sean lived a very unhealthy lifestyle. His diet was poor and included large amounts of junk food and candy.  He became very overweight and developed health and dental problems. 

After Sean’s mother passed away, Sean moved into one of our group homes. He quickly became good friends with his housemates and seemed to enjoy the company of others in the house with him. He was also able to reconnect with his father. Residential staff met with a nutritionist, and Sean began to eat a healthier diet with fruits and vegetables. His dental problems were addressed, and he started to smile more. He began to lose weight, and the more weight he lost the more active he became. He began to take part in more and more activities with his housemates, such as going to the movies and going shopping. Sean eventually lost more than 100 pounds and has become very active. He has developed a close bond with the people who support him and the people he lives with. He enjoys regularly taking part in activities with his housemates and talking with them about current events and his interest in history. 

Committed Donor & Business Leader 

In May 2019, Matthew Carroll decided to leave his position in corporate America to start his own business, inspired by the idea of becoming a contributing member of local communities and their outreach programs. As a business owner, he wanted to do more than just show up for photo opportunities. He wanted to make a measurable difference in people’s lives that he could see and feel. He also wanted to work with others who felt the same way. So he set up his new company, City Wide Facility Solutions, with the first rule on our books that a major portion of all profits must be donated to charity.  

Matt and his wife felt great about the idea of contributing to a well-run organization. They only had one problem: they weren’t sure what that organization was or how to find it. By happenstance, while prospecting for new business in February 2020, Matt was introduced to Daphne and WeAchieve. He learned and was inspired by how the agency impacts clients’ lives, and truly wanted to contribute in any way he could. Within days, COVID hit the US, and changed everyone’s plans for the future were put on hold. Somewhere along the way Daphne and Matt connected again, and discussed challenges presented by COVID. Together they were able to come up with a solution that kept their people safe and gave everyone a feeling they were going down the right path. 

Since then, while so much in our society has changed, the relationship between the agency and City Wide has become stronger and more valued. They feel great about being able to contribute to the agency and its mission, and look forward to continuing to do so as their business grows, with the hope of making even bigger impacts as the years progress. 

Learning & Growing 

Bill has been with WeAchieve for about 35 years, living in the agency’s Cresthaven home, attending our meaningful day program … and steadily blossoming. Thanks to the agency’s caring and responsiveness, Bill’s limited language skills for example, have come a long way. Though at age 10 he couldn’t say yes or no, today he quotes staff members and uses language correctly, continually expanding his language and expression. 

Bill wants everyone to eat healthy food. It’s his way of keeping everyone safe and well. Staff have tapped into this interest, bonded with him over it, and encouraged it, making healthy eating one of his goals. They involve Bill and incorporate his interest in healthy eating into outings, menu planning, and preparing dinners together. Yet food is just one of Bill’s interests that the WeAchieve staff validate and nourish. Throughout his years with the agency, staff have listened to what he wants to do and what he thinks, then helped him take those interests to the next level.

Long-time Burger King Employee

Joe Proctor has worked for Burger King for 20 years, and at the Burger King in Leisure World, Silver Spring, for the last five. “I wipe down the tables for people,” he says proudly, and works with his WeAchieve job coach to learn any new tasks that come his way. “She shows me what to do.” Joe especially likes earning a paycheck and working independently, and he enjoys taking the bus to and from his job. 

The process of matching Joe’s strengths with Burger King’s needs was simple. His coach worked with the Burger King site’s manager to customize a position exactly right for him. Joe’s coach then helped him complete and submit his application, prepared him for his interview, and helped him practice the necessary  job skills. With WeAchieve’s support, Joe was set for success from the start, benefiting Burger King, as well — for 20 years!

A Full Life Among “Family”

When Tom Greene first moved into his WeAchieve residence in 1994, he was apprehensive. This was a new place. Different. But soon, the WeAchieve staff helped him feel comfortable. Tom’s WeAchieve residence became his home, and the people he lives with became his family. Here there’s always something cooking in the kitchen, and a deck out back to enjoy. Here is where Tom thrives. 

Tom’s parents Cathy and Mike credit the WeAchieve staff’s kindness, openness and excellent support services with helping him steadily grow intellectually and developmentally, and come into his own. “More than 25 years is a very long time to have your loved one taken care of. We’ve been very happy — and we know Tom has been too.”