Community Options Hosts Successful Social Capital Training in Nashville, TN
April 30, 2021 | Press Release.pdf
Nashville, TN– Community Options, Inc. hosted an outdoor training on April 27th at Centennial Park in Nashville. The training was conducted by Dr. Al Condeluci as part of a national series to combat loneliness and social isolation among people with disabilities. The event was sponsored by the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities.
More than sixty people were in attendance. Community Options staff as well as representatives from other organizations like Advancecare Health Services, Progress Inc. and BlueCare were present.
As a nonprofit that provides housing and employment supports to people with disabilities nation-wide, Community Options also hosted sessions in Dallas, Texas and Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Al Condeluci has been an advocate for building community capacities, and a leader in understanding social culture for over fifty years. He has authored seven books, including the acclaimed, Interdependence: The Route to Community and most recently, The Macro Change Handbook.
“I want to thank Dr. Condeluci, our staff, and the community partners who helped make this training a great success. I’d also like to thank the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities again for sponsoring the event.” said Meika McClendon, Executive Director for Community Options in Nashville. “Loneliness and social isolation are issues that must be addressed for people with disabilities. I know our staff will utilize the lessons learned today to improve our services.”
During the event, Community Options recognized five finalists for the Outstanding Direct Support Professional in the Community Award. The Direct Support Professionals were nominated by their peers and then further vetted by a panel that included organization leadership and people with disabilities. The five finalists honored in Nashville were:
Tina Spangler
Agnes Cheaton
Doris Childress
Teresa Whittimore
Opeyemi Omotosho
The finalists are eligible to win two roundtrip flights to anywhere in the contiguous United States. The winner will be randomly selected in a drawing that includes the finalists from all three participating cities. The grand prize winner will be announced virtually on April 29th.
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About Community Options, Inc.:
For over 30 years, Community Options has developed housing and employment supports for people with disabilities – serving thousands of people from over 50 offices across 10 states. Community Options provides advocacy assistance to empower people with disabilities because all people – regardless of ability level – should live and work in the community with dignity, choice and self-determination. For more information, please visit our website: www.comop.org and to follow along with the #AllItTakes campaign, search #AllItTakes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.