From the Desk of Karen Lee, SEEC's CEO

Change Makers Wanted: Join us at SEEC!

As graduation season brings reflection on future careers, consider the profound impact of mission-driven nonprofit work - a chance to truly transform lives each day.? At SEEC, supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work, and thrive is more than just a job description. It is a calling for our staff, eager to directly connect with the community, assisting the people we support in accessing resources and fostering belonging. Every interaction provides insights into the cultural, social, and economic dynamics influencing our work. These grounded perspectives enhance our ability to implement relevant, transformative services.?

Our advocacy initiatives are not born in meeting rooms but arise from the real experiences of those we support as a community-based provider. Whether combating ableism with modern technology, enhancing employment access, or pioneering fresh approaches, our efforts are continually molded by on-the-ground experiences and needs. This intensive community engagement ensures we are flexible and agile.? The constructive collaboration between SEEC, those we support, families, caregivers, staff, and the wider community fortifies our mission's foundation. Partnering with local leaders, businesses and organizations creates a powerful network - a convergence of efforts advancing independence and inclusion.? I invite you, especially new graduates, to embark on this purposeful path with SEEC. Apply your energies to making tangible, lasting differences in a mission driven organization. ?Explore our current job openings, volunteer opportunities, and summer internships program for current students (next session will open in 2025) to glimpse the varied, rewarding career possibilities in this field.? Together, we will carry forward the insights from those we serve, continually evolving to meet their needs while paving a future of empowerment. Join this vital work - be a catalyst for transforming ability into empowered possibility!?

Cheers,

Karen Lee, CEO

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Top Things to Know at SEEC in May

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• SEEC hosted the Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event celebrating our amazing volunteers and all that they have accomplished throughout the year. The highlight of the evening was recognizing the four most dedicated and committed volunteers who directly have impacted the people we support through coaching, companionship, and community building.
• Rodney Jackson, SEEC DSP, and Arlene McCrehan, SEEC family member, testified about their lived experiences at a U.S. Senate briefing on the state of Medicaid-funded disability services. They spoke in support of a new report, The Case for Inclusion, which underscores the need to ensure state and federal lawmakers can transform signs of progress into sustainable community-based services.
• SEEC Celebrates National Nurses Week and appreciates our amazing SEEC nurses for the effort, dedication, and sacrifice they make, and all nurses make, every day. Thank you for caring for others and improving the health of all.

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Direct Support Professional Making a Difference: Jewneika Wright

Jewneika has demonstrated remarkable dedication in two key areas: Empowerment/Advocacy and Person Centered Planning. In her commitment to Empowerment/Advocacy, she has gone above and beyond to deeply understand the world of the person she supports, spending countless hours researching and bringing tools and resources to foster better understanding and communication. Her relentless curiosity and advocacy are truly inspiring. In the realm of Person Centered Planning, she has shown exceptional creativity and dedication. Despite only supporting a new person for a few months, she has "cracked the code" on his unique communication style. By watching the scary movies he often references, she discovered that each film represents an emotion he is trying to express. This profound insight has allowed her to respond to his needs in a healthy and supportive manner. Congrats, Jewneika!

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