EP!C Prepares for Bon Appétit 2016 with EP!Casso

There's no time like the present, and that is why we are already working toward two of our New Year's resolutions: improving art opportunities and increasing funding and awareness through Bon Appétit. EP!C individuals can be seen hard at work creating some of the artwork that will be for auction at Bon Appétit 2016 as part of EP!C's art program, EPICasso! Phoebe Johnson, EP!C's Activities Director and a talented artist, teaches the individuals about color mixing, depth, and painting technique while offering suggestions as they paint.  Each of the individuals has chosen the subject of their piece and will be working on them in the coming weeks.

Many of the individuals' pieces are already taking shape quite nicely and will fit in perfectly with the royal them of Bon Appétit 2016. Chef Darren McGrady, the former personal chef to the British royal family, will be treating the guests to a delicious, four-course meal that is sure to impress. Meanwhile, Bremer's Jewelry will be raffling off a piece of hand-crafted jewelry designed specially for Bon Appétit. The art pieces EP!C individuals have been working on in EP!Casso will be a perfect addition to the royal evening. In addition to them, there will be painted pottery created by EP!C individuals as well as several live auction items.

To round out the royal theme, EP!C Harvest will contribute to the decorations with vibrant violas, grown and nurtured by EP!C individuals in EP!C's greenhouse. These little sprouts will grow into full, blossoming violas by the time Bon Appétit rolls around on March 3.

Between the artwork being created by EP!C individuals, Chef Darren, the Bremer's Jewelry piece, the auctions, and Harvest's violas, Bon Appétit 2016 will be a hit. To get your tickets, visit our event site.

Happy New Year! Now Let's Get down to Business...

Turning fives into flat-topped sixes, joining a gym, and setting the alarm clock earlier- it is the beginning of a new year and New Year's resolution time, a time when we make plans for the coming months and look to the future with excitement, optimism, and a fresh perspective. EP!C is embracing 2016 and looking forward to another year of serving the Central Illinois community with a host of changes, improvements, updates, and outreach. We are celebrating the New Year by diving into our New Year's resolutions and turning our plans into a reality. Though I can only scratch the surface in a blog post, here are some of the big ones to keep your eye out for in 2016:

1. Improve Art, Music, Dance, Cooking, and Fitness Opportunities

EP!C's day services are going to see a big boost this year with more regularly scheduled art, music, dance, cooking, and fitness classes. We are moving the location of our art room to a more spacious one and are upgrading many of our art supplies and materials. Meanwhile, we are increasing the frequency and regularity of interest clubs and classes. We plan to add a quiet sensory room where individuals with autism in particular will be able to engage and learn in an environment that is more comfortable for them.

2.  Recruit and Retain More Direct Service Providers

Like many organizations in Illinois, EP!C is looking to recruit and retain more Direct Care Providers. In order to recognize the fantastic job our DSPs do and to attract the most qualified professionals, we have increased our pay rates. And we are starting off the New Year with an HR bang: a job fair this Saturday, January 9 from 9-12 a.m. at EP!C. We are looking forward to growing the EP!C team to continue offering the high level of care we are known for.

3. Expand the EP!C Host Family Program

The EP!C Host Family Program enables individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities to be immersed in home, community, and work life, allowing for more independence while maintaining an EP!C network of support. The Host Family Program is welcoming seven new host providers within just the first two months! This is sure to be an exciting year as Host Family continues to match more individuals and host families over the course of 2016.

4. Increase Community Involvement through Service

We believe that we can accomplish the most when we work together, which is why we are increasing our engagement with the community through service. We are hosting more volunteers at EP!C as well as volunteering in other community projects. Through our involvement with Bradley, CAT, United Way, Early Ford V-8, Limestone High School, OSF, and Ameren volunteers over the past year, we have witnessed the difference a helping hand can make. For more information of ways you can support EP!C by volunteering see a list of our upcoming projects at justserve.org.

5. Cultivate Relationships between EP!C Harvest and More Local Restaurants

Our record-breaking poinsettia sales of December were a harbinger EP!C Harvest's big plans for 2016. Not only is Harvest expanding the garden to be able to produce a greater amount and variety of fresh produce, it is also in the process of building partnerships with more local restaurants and vendors. Keep posted for updates as Harvest gears up for the growing season by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter!

6. Increase Fundraising and Awareness through Bon Appetit

We are already getting ready for Bon Appetit 2016 and plan to make this year's Bon Appetit our most successful yet. Chef Darren McGrady, former personal chef to Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, and Princes William and Henry, will be our featured chef, and we will hold live and silent auctions and have a raffle for a custom-designed piece from Bremer's Jewelry. It is sure to be an exciting evening as we share what we do here at EP!C and how the community can help support us.



7. Employ More EP!C Individuals through Community and Organizational Employment
EP!C's individuals are well-known for their dedication, enthusiasm, and attention to detail throughout the Peoria area when it comes to employment. This year we plan to increase our contracts with companies and organizations for work at EP!C's production facility as well as increase the number of individuals working in the community.






8. Relaunch Our Website
We are in the process of redesigning the EP!C website and will be launching it early this year. By redesigning our website, we hope to better connect with those we serve, our community partners, and families more effectively, providing the information and support they need. Keep your eyes peeled in the coming weeks for more information about our website relaunch!





This year is starting with a bang, and EP!C is ready to take it on. We have big plans, and some of them are already off to a strong start. Stay tuned to hear more about how we achieve our resolutions!

The Most EP!C Moments of 2015

One of the best parts of the end of the year is being able to look back and reflect on the most important moments of the previous year. (I must admit that I am a sucker for "The Best (Insert Object Here) of (Insert Year Here)" lists, especially books and recipes.) EP!C has had a big year, and I have had the privilege of looking through all the things EP!C has been up to in order to find out what the some of most EP!C moments of 2015 were. The ones that have made it on the list reflect both the challenges and the successes EP!C has experienced over the last year.

1. The Komen Walk 'n Roll Campaign Sets a New Record
EP!C continued to grow its relationship with Susan G. Komen for the Cure with EP!C's Walk n' Roll campaign. On a brisk October morning, EP!C staff and individuals came out to walk and roll to raise money for Susan G. Komen. We were able to present a check of $1,368 to the memorial, our highest ever!





2. Lauren Coyle Revamps Educational Services
Lauren Coyle joined the EP!C team this year as the new Director of Educational Services. In the mere months since her arrival, she has spearheaded a series of changes to reorganize Educational Services. She has designed a new skill- and objective-oriented curriculum that provides individuals with the skills they need to achieve their personal best and greatest level of independence. To make sure that each individual can get the level of support they need, she has also implemented a new assessment scale and protocol to great success. Under her direction, Educational Services has become more responsive with the creation of committees that include both Direct Care Providers and individuals to discuss what is working and what needs improvement.

3. EP!C Harvest Cultivates its Relationship with Table 19 
Another of the successes of this year is the cultivation of a close relationship between EP!C Harvest and Table 19 at the Pere Marquette. Marc, EP!C's horticulture expert, and his team of individuals from Dunlap High School witnessed the full farm-to-table process. They helped cultivate Harvest's produce, made deliveries to Table 19, and then were treated to a delicious lunch by Table 19 where they got to see their hard work come to fruition. This trip highlighted the growth of the EP!C Harvest program and commitment of Table 19 to serving high-quality, fresh, locally-grown produce.

4. Respite Must Close Due to the State Budget
This year, EP!C closed the doors of the Respite Care Center as the Illinois State stalled and cut the center's funding. Though the closing of Respite prevented families throughout Illinois getting the temporary and emergency care they needed, EP!C hopes to reopen its doors in the future. Meanwhile, the closing of Respite presented the opportunity to raise awareness of how an ineffective State budget can mean major changes in the availability of human services. We made two presentations to the Illinois House of Representative and were featured in four news segments addressing the far-reaching effects of the State budget hold. We hope that as the impact the budget is having on Illinois families becomes more and more apparent, the State will be able to find a solution that provides people with the access to the services they need.

5. EP!C Harvest Breaks Records with Poinsettia Sales 
Marc outdid himself in many ways this year, including selling a record number of poinsettias. In EP!C's annual poinsettia sale this year, Marc managed to find welcoming homes for some 400 plants! Our greenhouse was certainly a sight to see with rows of poinsettias bursting with their vibrant reds. In typical Marc fashion, we also had some special varieties of poinsettias with spotted, deep maroon, and even fuchsia leaves.



6. EP!C Increases the Wages of Direct Service Providers
In a series of efforts to offer more competitive pay, EP!C increased the wages of Direct Service Providers as well as some management positions. The Direct Service Providers are EP!C's feet on the ground, as they ensure all individuals are getting the care they deserve. EP!C Direct Service Providers are at the core of EP!C's mission, and the new wage increase reflects the efforts and skill they offer the individuals and EP!C.




7. Bradley Students Commit to Volunteering at EP!C
In a trend of increasing ties between EP!C and Bradley University, student members of the Lewis J. Burger Center for Student Leadership and Public Service have made a commitment to volunteer regularly at EP!C. At their most recent event, they helped us celebrate the holidays by assisting individuals as they made personalized stockings, Christmas tree ornaments, and holiday cards. They were a great help, and we are looking forward to working with them in 2016!



Liked what we've been up to in 2015? Tune into our Facebook and Twitter pages to keep up to date on what's happening in 2016.

Celebrating the Holidays at EP!C

EP!C poinsettias decorating the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church

The holiday season is one of my favorite times of year as I join the millions of others taking part in the holiday festivities- attending parties, buying gifts for family and friends, and giving back to the community. Luckily, I have found that EP!C shares the same enthusiasm for the holidays. There seems to be a continuous stream of exciting and unique events going on in all corners of EP!C in celebration of the holidays, ranging from the annual poinsettia sale to making and decorating Christmas trees to donating toys and games to the Children's Hospital. So grab your mug of hot cocoa (with whipped cream if you're like me, though I'll leave that up to you) and take a look at the ways EP!C has been celebrating and impacting the lives of individuals and the community.

One of the completed trees welcoming
 EP!C employees and visitors

Marcus lining up for his turn to paint the tree

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The individuals in room 152 helped us kick off the holidays by creating Christmas trees from recycled wooden pallets, Christmas trees that now warmly welcome anyone to EP!C!

Limestone High students pitching in to get
 EP!C into the holiday spirit

The Early Ford V8 Club helping to stuff
stockings for the individuals

We also had a number of volunteers help us celebrate by decorating the hallways, making ornaments and personalized stockings with the individuals, and stuffing stockings for the individuals. Bradley students, Limestone High School students, members of the Early Ford V8 Club, and volunteers from OSF generously offered their time to brighten our holidays. EP!C individuals joined in the giving spirit, too, as they gave back by donating two big bags of toys to the Children's Hospital!

A volunteer from OSF on Rt. 91 doing
 arts and crafts with Devon

Tim and one of the Bradley volunteers
decorating personalized stockings

The Host Family program did hold back either in their celebrations. EP!C welcomed individuals and their host families for an evening of fun, cheer, and fantastic food.

The Host Family Program is all smiles
 at a big holiday get-together.

The staff at EP!C even got to have a bit of fun, too. We joined in the celebrations with a delicious buffet lunch and raffles. We were even treated to beautiful caroling and live guitar and saxophone music.

Eric and Amanda spread the holiday cheer
with their enthusiasm at the EP!C
holiday party.

Celebrating the Holidays and Curing the Winter Doldrums with EP!C Harvest

Technically, it is not winter until December 22. But when the temperature is consistently hovering around freezing, it has snowed multiple times, and I no longer leave the house without a hat and gloves, the name is just a formality. Though winter plays host to a number of much needed holidays to break up the stream of frigid days, it is nevertheless easy to get a case of the winter doldrums. It may seem counter-intuitive considering garden and winter don't exactly go well together, but the EP!C Harvest program has the cure.

Marc striking a pose among a multi-colored crowd

You might think that there is nothing more depressing than seeing an empty garden during the winter with hard, frostbitten soil, possibly with a few dead plant scraps frozen in place. And I would tend to agree with you, but the Harvest program is happily much more than just an outdoor garden. The outdoor garden has indeed closed up shop: organic plant matter has been added to the soil for a boast in nutrients, cover crops of rye and hairy vetch planted, and the hardy spinach and kale covered. Though the garden is closed, Marc Britton, the brain behind the veggies, can be seen on any given day working in the greenhouse among planters, packets of seeds, and organic soil supplements or buzzing throughout the building delivering centerpieces and making arrangements for the next growing season.

Adam, Maria, and Jaclyn from Dunlap
High showing off their hard work

Rather than sinking into the inactivity characteristic of winter, Marc is hard at work getting ready to celebrate the holidays, growing microgreens for Table 19, and preparing for next year. The big project this week is getting the first bunch of poinsettias from the annual poinsettia sale ready for distribution. Marc and some helpers from Dunlap High School have also been busy creating beautiful holiday centerpieces from recycled wooden pallets. Meanwhile, there are boxes of microgreens tucked away in the corner of the greenhouse observing all of the holiday hubub and getting ready to be shipped off to Table 19.

The microgreens for Table 19 waiting out the
storm of holiday festivities

Even beyond all the excitement of the holiday season, Marc and the Harvest program are never at a loss for something to do. There is always planning to be done for next year, including preparations to seed the flowers for the spring flower sale and seed selection for the next growing season. In fact, when I asked Marc about what he does during the winter months, he not only gave me a list of all the projects he works on, but also added that if he finds himself with a case of the winter blahs, he makes himself a hot cup of tea and browses seed catalogs for the next growing season.

A unique variety of speckled watermelon waiting
to be planted next growing season

Marc sifting through his seed collection,
including his red habanero peppers!

Marc's never-ending list of projects and plans, and even his own remedy for the winter doldrums, point to the larger theme of EP!C Harvest: looking forward. The Harvest program is continuously reaching out further into the community, cultivating not only fantastic produce and flowers, but also relationships with community members, partners, and businesses (see Harvest products for example at Table 19 at the Pere Marquette, Naturally Yours Grocery, and Alwan and Sons Meat Company). It is constantly developing and improving as it gains visibility and support through its connections to local restaurants, grocers, families, and volunteers. In the coming year, it will even be working with Mark Schneider from Living Water Farms to improve its efficiency and use of the greenhouse space, especially for microgreens. The Harvest program is spreading the word about the impact EP!C has while also providing high-quality produce for the community and horticultural training for the individuals at EP!C. (Stay tuned for news about EP!C Harvest's changes and growth!)

Now that's view that will brighten your day!

So when we are struck with the winter doldrums, we don't have to look any further than the Harvest program. With the greenhouse overflowing with festive poinsettias, holiday centerpieces, new seeds coming in, and the first seeds of spring already being prepared for sowing, the optimism and constant activity of Harvest will surely perk you up.

If you are looking beat the winter blahs, don't forget to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for a regular stream of inspiration!

Family Time on Turkey Traverse: Life inside a Host Family

When I was younger, my family and I used to go skiing once a year in Big Sky, Montana. It was a long drive (yes, we drove it), but it was all worth it. We got to spend our days as ski bunnies and our evenings by the fire with piles of blankets and plenty of hot tea and hot chocolate. The highlight of the skiing though, in my book at least, was always a run called Turkey Traverse.

Turkeys have the reputation for being skiddish, unpredictable, and unreliable, and their fickle character fits Turkey Traverse to a tee. As its name implies, Turkey Traverse is actually only a trail that cuts across the upper part of a slope. It is a very narrow path that, depending on the conditions, can twist, turn, go up, and go down suddenly. To make matters more exciting, there is really no way to slow down, except either a) trying to get off of it as smoothly as possible or b) cutting your losses and wiping out. To be successful as a Turkey Traverser, you have to adopt the character opposite of a turkey: you need to commit fully, taking every turn as it comes with stability and confidence.

Turkey Traverse is a lot like life- there are all sorts of twists and turns, ups and downs, that can take us for quite a ride. Family, however, can help us by providing the stability we need to successfully navigate the traverse. It is this stability and confidence that I witnessed when I visited one of EP!C’s host families for the first time.

An EP!C host family celebrating the holidays in style

I met Pat and Ron, two individuals that EP!C supports, and their host family member, Kelly. Kelly has provided an environment in which both Ron and Pat feel comfortable to be themselves regardless of what comes their way, including a visit from the likes of me. When I arrived, Ron got a quick shower before they both sat down for a snack. They moved comfortably around the house, watching TV, admiring the view from the window, and visiting with Kelly and me at the dining room table. Like in the case with Ron and Pat, many individuals with disabilities are moved from one place to another or live in an environment where they cannot feel entirely comfortable. Living with a host family, however, gives them the security and support they needed to live their lives to the fullest. They can relax at home, but they also enjoy going to Kelly's niece's basketball and volleyball games, going grocery shopping, and visiting Kelly's parents. Living with a host family also hasn't meant that they sever ties with their family members. Ron, for instance, regularly visits his aunt, who is also in close contact with Kelly. 

Ron as he takes a break from his magazine to help make
pumpkin pie cups in preparation for Thanksgiving

Ron and Pat are not the only ones who have benefited from their new living arrangements.When I asked Kelly how it had been for her when she welcomed Ron and Pat into her home, she enthusiastically responded that it had been fantastic. They had moved in about eight months ago, she explained, and she was so happy to have them there. They brightened her day, and they all fit really well together. She also appreciates their eagerness to help out. Pat, for example, excitedly waits for the end of dinner each night so he can take out the trash. Kelly joked that her mom was going to buy him a big box of trash bags for Christmas so he could take out the trash whenever he was so inclined!

Of course, not everything goes as planned, and life's pesky little stressors still like to liven things up every now and then; however, the family Kelly, Ron, and Pat have created together provides the support they need to see them through. When faced with a health issue that sent Ron to the hospital, for instance, Kelly and Pat were there for him (and came home with plenty of stories of Ron’s exasperation with the hospital food and wait times).  Even during the holidays when there is no shortage of events, trips, get-togethers, and outings, Kelly creates a home base, a safe haven, that they can always come back to. Kelly, like all EP!C host families, creates a home environment of stability and care and is herself enriched by her adopted family members in the process.

An EP!C host family at an EP!C event

The holiday season, a time when family is paramount and there are always unexpected twists and turns, highlights the loving and supportive environment that EP!C’s host families offer. These host families provide the stability and support to successfully navigate Turkey Traverse: regardless of what comes their way, they are able to confront it and overcome it as a family. So this Thanksgiving, I want to give thanks to our host families and individuals for showing how much family members can do for one another and how a family environment helps all to thrive.

Times of Change: New People, New Ideas, and New Toothpaste

EP!C Now and Then: A Peek into the Past

Welcome back to our blog! We’ve got a slightly different look to go with a new author, and I am excited to be here. Coming from a position in Erbil, Iraq, I hope to bring fresh eyes and experience to an exciting organization.

As you can imagine, transitioning from life in Erbil to life in Peoria has been quite a change, in both the big things and the small. For example, I can walk into the grocery store here and meander through the aisles for a couple hours in wonder of the impossibly large selection of products. When I pick out toothpaste, for instance, I’ve got options. I am not limited to Colgate Total and the off-brand tubes piled next to it that often constituted the oral health section of the markets in Erbil. I have an entire aisle with products promising to polish my pearly whites without irritation, transform them to be blindingly white, endow their enamel with Popeye-like strength, and make my breath smell like roses.

The strangely diverse options for toothpaste aside, I am not the only one going through transition. After I arrived in the U.S., what I had been reading in the news about the multiple waves of change that have rocked our country and our local community became a reality. On my frequent and drawn-out tours of the grocery store, I met people who had been laid off or offered early retirement from CAT and others who were part of State-sponsored programs that had had their budgets cut.  EP!C is no exception to the wide-spread change sweeping through our community, as the State budget crisis has forced EP!C to close the doors of the Respite Center and strains the budget.

The first class grew to impact more and more lives, becoming more visible in the community for what it was doing.

In some ways, though, change is nothing new for EP!C. Starting with EP!C, I was struck by its long and varied history . So struck, in fact, that I was inspired to recognize EP!C’s story with a Throwback Thursday post on Twitter.  As it turns out, EP!C used to be called PARC until 2013 when it became EP!C. It started out as a small gathering organized by parents of children with disabilities in a neighborhood house, becoming a school in 1950. It became incorporated in 1957, and since then has been on a path of continual growth and development as it has expanded it services, locations, and living options over the last (nearly) six decades.

From a chalkboard to a specially equipped computer

The EP!C I walked into a couple weeks ago was much larger than the class that started it all. Now there is a diverse array of educational, residential, and employment options. The Harvest Program, an arm of the organization that runs a carefully cultivated garden, is also thriving and helping people connect. The massive building I first walked into is not an empty shell; it is abuzz with all types of movement, change, action, and improvement. Though EP!C is indeed going through change, it continues to adjust and MAKE change happen in the lives of the individuals and families we serve.

Which brings me back to the grocery store (yes, really). While wandering through the aisles (I think I was in the coffee and tea section, amazed at the wall of Keurig capsules), I also met a family who happened to have a son with a developmental disability. When I mentioned EP!C, the father’s face lit up as he told me that they had just started working with EP!C and how great EP!C had been through the entire process. EP!C had permanently impacted and changed their lives for the better and continues to do so for hundreds of other individuals and families.

Sometime change is hard, but it also provides us with an opportunity to move forward. So during this time of change, let’s continue to do what EP!C has always done: adjust, adapt, and continue making a impact in the lives of those we love and care about in our community.

(And don't worry, I, too, am embracing change with a newly purchased tube of advanced whitening toothpaste. Let there be light!)