DOORWAYS

Opal M. Jones, DOORWAYS President and CEO, recently hosted our friends from HUD for a visit and tour of the Jefferson Avenue Campus. L-R:?James Heard, St. Louis Field Office Branch Director, Opal M. Jones, and Peter Hunter, Assistant Deputy Secretary

This afternoon DOORWAYS held a decommissioning ceremony for our Delmar Residential Building. The event was attended by current residents, both former and current board members, staff, and long-time supportive donors who had volunteered to help rehab and clean up the building when it was first obtained in 1990. Current residents of Delmar will transition to the new Elliott Place Building in early October. Reverend Kathleen Wilder and Reverend Dr. Jeff Moore led the ceremony entitled "A Service of Thanksgiving for the Care, Healing, and Shelter of Delmar House". During the ceremony, attendees were encouraged to share stories of their times and memories, there were a few laughs and some tears as well, especially since Delmar served as more of a dignified hospice than long-term housing. Memory stones were available on which guests wrote or drew a sentiment through a word, phrase, or image. The finished stones will be displayed at the new Elliott Place Building.

Today, we had an amazing turnout at the Jefferson Avenue Campus as our Employment Alliance hosted a Career Fair. Over 15 businesses were there to meet potential employees, and sixteen applicants stopped by during lunchtime. It was a fantastic opportunity to network and find new opportunities! The Alliance sponsors three job fairs a year. Potential employers wanting more information for future fairs can call our office and ask for Career Services Program Director, Tricia O'Brien, MS.

September 18 is National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (NHAAD) focuses on the increasing number of people who, because of major advancements in HIV treatment, are living long, full lives with HIV. The day calls attention to the unique health and social needs, as well as the challenges of HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care among people who are aging. This year’s theme is, “Protect Our Aging Populations: Meeting New Challenges to Live Longer and Improve Lives!” More than half of people living with diagnosed HIV in the United States and dependent areas are aged 50 and older. Some were diagnosed later in life, while others have lived with HIV for many years. Last year more than 28% of those DOORWAYS served were over the age of 50.

It was an absolute joy and privilege to present DOORWAYS’ pioneering model of care to our contemporaries from across the nation in New Orleans last week. Thank you #NMAC and #NHAHC for the opportunity.

Opal M. Jones, President and CEO, and Gary M. Mudd, CPA, MBA, Chief Financial Officer, presented this morning at the NMAC US Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA) during a session on expanding housing for People Living With HIV (PLWH) and discussed the new Jefferson Avenue Campus project. #2024USCHA Photos via National HIV/AIDS Housing Coalition - https://lnkd.in/gC_whukS

A heartfelt thank you to the Enterprise Mobility team for your dedicated volunteer work at Cooper House. Your creation of Halloween, birthday, and back-to-school cards for our residents and the children at our Learning Center is sure to bring joy to their faces. Your involvement in hosting bingo, playing pool, and caring for our flowerbeds significantly enhances our residents' quality of life. We deeply appreciate your creativity, kindness, and generosity. Your commitment to making a positive impact in our community is truly valued. Thank you Paul Huber, Ashley Hever, Jamie D., and Katherine Mauschbaugh, for helping to further our mission through your time spent volunteering and making such a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents.

Thank you Wells Fargo and the many volunteers who, through their United Way of Greater St. Louis Kickoff, helped to assemble Home Helper and Hygiene Kits to be distributed among multiple organizations in need. DOORWAYS was honored to receive several large boxes of kits to be distributed to residents and clients through various program channels. Thank you again to the United Way and Wells Fargo for thinking of us and helping to further our mission.

Wow, what a night at our Annual Meeting! A huge congratulations to The Reverend Dr. Jeff Moore for receiving The Michael Edlin Award, Lila Daus for taking home our Volunteer Of The Year Award, and Michael Brave for being honored with the Generosity Award. Pictured alongside the recipients are Opal M. Jones, President and CEO, and Steven M. Scott, MPH, FACHE, Board Chairperson who presented these well-deserved awards. A big shoutout to ALL of our incredible volunteers (board and committee members, event volunteers, and regular program volunteers) - your dedication and hard work are truly inspiring! Thank you for supporting our staff and furthering our mission every single day. We couldn't be more proud of our honorees and all of our amazing volunteers!

Our friends from Places for People, Inc. joined us this week for a President’s lunch at the Jefferson Avenue Campus. Places For People is a long-standing partner and works with our Behavioral Health Program to provide access to psychiatric care to our residents and clients. L-R: Martha Orlet - Places For People, Nurse Practioner; Colleen Donovan - Places For People, Medical Director; Jess Cox - DOORWAYS, Director of Behavioral Health; Opal M. Jones - DOORWAYS, President & CEO; Tony Hilkin - Places For People, CEO