The Arc of Amador and Calaveras Counties

The arc receives $1,000 grant from Sutter Health foundation

The arc receives $1,000 grant from Sutter Health foundation

Thank you Sutter Health Foundation for the generous donation of $1,000 to benefit The Arc's Health and Wellness programs!

Your continued support of The Arc is truly appreciated and has allowed The Arc to continue incredible programs such as College PE, Healthy Eating and Nutrition, Gym Memberships and much more! Thank you!!!

The arc receives 3 Year CARF Accreditation

CARF International announced that The Arc of Amador and Calaveras has been accredited for a period of three years for its Community Employment Services, Employment Supports and Job Development, and Community Integration programs. The latest accreditation is the 9th consecutive Three-Year Accreditation that the international accrediting body, CARF, has awarded to The Arc of Amador and Calaveras.

This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. It has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality.

Congratulations to staff, consumers and the board for playing an important role in this wonderful achievement!!! We did it!!!

The arc receives $5,000 grant from american river bank foundation


American River Bank Foundation generously granted The Arc of Amador and Calaveras $5,000 for use in it's Enhancing Self-Esteem in Women with Disabilities program.

Thank you ARB!!! Your generosity will make a huge impact on the lives of many women!!!

bank of america foundation gives $5,000 to The Arc's Supported       Employment  Program!


Patrick graciously accepts a $5,000 grant check from Debbie with Bank of America Foundation. B of A generously donated $5,000 to benefit The Arc's Supported Employment Program.

Thank you Bank of America!!! These funds will help keep individuals employed throughout Amador and Calaveras counties!!!

The arc's amador campus gets a little free library!

Lovingly painted in the theme of "One Minion Reasons to Read" by Pine Grove Elementary, it's the newest addition to the Little Free Library program.

The Mission: To promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide and to build a sense of community as we share skills, creativity and wisdom across generations.

So please come take a book or leave a book!

MARCH IS DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH!!!

Celebrating the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is easier than ever with this handy list of things you can do to help spread awareness. Don’t forget to encourage your family, friends, coworkers, fans and followers to do the same. What are you waiting for?

MAKE YOUR SUPPORT VISIBLE

  • Swap your profile picture. Make our online community visible by changing your social media profile pictures to the March is Our Month.
  • Post this as your status on Facebook at least once during March. March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Help me celebrate the contributions of all people with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other disabilities by reposting this as your status this month. Learn more at www.arcjc.org
  • Tweet this. March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Know someone w/autism, Down syndrome, etc? Celebrate people. www.arcjc.org
  • Listen and share. Follow The Arc on Facebook and Twitter and repost our daily updates to your friends and followers.
  • Tell us what you’re doing. Got a great idea to spread the word? Post your activities on your Facebook page. We’re listening!
  • Write a blog post in March about someone you know with an intellectual or developmental disability and how they have inspired you. Encourage your blogger friends to do the same.
  • Change your desktop picture, screensaver, or cell phone background. Download and save this picture anywhere your friends might see it. Tell people who ask that you’re celebrating people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

START A CONVERSATION

  • Invite The Arc to make a presentation to any groups or clubs you belong to, such as service clubs, church groups, or book clubs. We can customize our message to fit each group's needs.
  • Take time to talk to your children that disability is natural. Encourage understanding, respect and friendships.
  • Contact your legislators and local policymakers to let them know you expect them to promote and enact policies that benefit people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • Attend campaign events and let candidates know how to earn your vote. Help us educate candidates about the issues concerning people with I/DD. Learn more about public policy that impacts people with I/DD and then write letters, email, and go to campaign events to tell the candidates what you expect them to do to earn your support.
  • Read a book! Try Another Way: A Story of Self-Determination is one local mother’s story about accepting her son’s disability, becoming an advocate for all people with disabilities, and teaching her son to advocate for himself. Read it. Share it. Talk about it. Pick it for your book club.
  • Talk to your employer about their practices for recruiting and hiring people with disabilities. Many employers don’t realize just how much an employee with I/DD can contribute to the workplace. Tell them.

CONNECT WITH A WELCOMING COMMUNITY

  • Become a member of The Arc. A larger membership means a louder collective voice will be heard by legislators and key decision-makers. We need your support to ensure that people with I/DD have the opportunity to achieve their dreams. Join now!
  • Connect with someone new. Expanding our social connections is important for everyone, especially adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH DEVELPOMENTAL DISABILITIES

  • Watch movies and TV shows that positively portray actors with disabilities and discuss them with your friends and family. Several shows currently feature actors with Down syndrome, autism, and other disabilities. Contact the networks and thank them for including people with I/DD.
  • Support businesses that employ people with disabilities and make sure they know you noticed. Take time to tell a manager how they’ve earned your business.

THE ARC IS CO-RECIPIENT OF THIS YEAR'S DIGINITY HEALTH GRANT...


This year’s honorees, Community Access and Education Program, include the following organizations:

The Arc of Amador and Calaveras (will provide more than 150 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities greater access to a broad range of health and nutrition related activities.);

Common Ground Senior Services (supports the independence of individuals with disabilities through resources, advocacy and services); and

Creative Support Alternatives (provides Supported Living Services and Independent Living Services to people with developmental disabilities).

Harmony Ranch (horsemanship program offering recreational therapeutic services to children and adults with or without special needs).

“We are honored to join Dignity Health and our grant partners in improving the lives of others through increased access to health and wellness activities and resources in our local community,” remarked Karyn Gregorius Executive Director of The Arc of Amador and Calaveras. “The Community Access and Education Program will assist people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and seniors in accessing their community without barriers. The program will improve access to health related services and information in Calaveras County. Emphasis will be on prevention and education. The Arc and our grant partners will promote local resources while working to provide opportunities for learning in the local community that will focus on intervention and prevention. We thank Dignity Health for their continued commitment to community health and look forward to the meaningful experience of empowering others to increase their health and overall wellness.”

Working in partnership with Mark Twain Medical Center, The Arc of Amador and Calaveras, and Creative Support Alternatives, Common Ground Senior Services, and Harmony Ranch will conduct four nutrition workshops to help educate Calaveras County residents on healthy eating, physical activity, and community resources.

The nutrition workshops will educate attendees on three steps for eating healthy on a budget - planning, purchasing, and preparing. The workshops will utilize the United States Department of Agriculture Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion materials.

Thank you Diginty Health and Mark Twain Hospital!!! This grant will make a tremendous difference in the lives of many in Calaveras County!

LIGHT IT UP BLUE 


Today we kick off "Light It Up Blue"  -- our international campaign leading up to World Autism Awareness Day.

Light It Up Blue is all about celebrating the millions of individuals and families affected by autism. We wear blue, spread the #LIUB love on social media, light up our homes or offices with blue bulbs, and watch iconic landmarks turn blue across the globe.

And we need you to make it a success. So, first thing's first!

During Light It Up Blue, Autism Speaks and the entire world listens.

We shine our blue lights to increase understanding, and raise awareness about early diagnosis and intervention, and the real need for lifetime support. In a very public and beautiful way, Light It Up Blue honors the unique talents of people with autism, inspiring acceptance and hope for all people on the spectrum.

Last year, more than 18,000 buildings in 142 countries and on all seven continents went blue -- from the Empire State Building in New York to the Great Pyramids in Egypt and the Miracle Pine in Japan.

We just learned the Burj Khalifa in Dubai -- currently the world's tallest building -- will be going blue for LIUB 2016, and Patrick and I can't wait to see it.

You don't have to light up a building to make a huge impact -- all you have to do today is commit to participate in your own way.

So find your favorite blue shirt, or pin, or hat, and tell your friends and family why it matters.

THE ARC RECEIVES 3 YEAR CARF ACCREDITATION!!

On January 11, 2016, CARF International announced that The Arc of Amador and Calaveras has been accredited for a period of three years for its Community Employment Services, Employment Supports and Job Development, and Community Integration programs. The latest accreditation is the 9th consecutive Three-Year Accreditation that the international accrediting body, CARF, has awarded to The Arc of Amador and Calaveras.

This accreditation decision represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows the organization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. It has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality.

Congratulations to staff, consumers and the board for playing an important role in this wonderful achievement!!! We did it!!!

NIKE UNVEILS SHOES FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Thanks to a plea from a teen with cerebral palsy seeking shoes he could put on his feet independently, Nike is introducing sneakers designed specifically for people with disabilities.

Matthew Walzer, then 16, wrote an open letter to Nike in 2012 asking the athletic-wear giant to make a more accessible line of shoes that would still provide the support people like him need....
“At 16 years old, I am able to completely dress myself, but my parents still have to tie my shoes. As a teenager who is striving to become totally self-sufficient, I find this extremely frustrating, and at times, embarrassing,” Walzer wrote. “My dream is to go to the college of my choice without having to worry about someone coming to tie my shoes everyday.”

Now, Walzer is getting his wish.

The company said that after working with Walzer for three years on testing prototypes, they are introducing an “easy-entry footwear system.”

Rather than rely on laces, the new approach uses a wrap-around zipper system to secure the shoe. What’s more, a larger opening at the back makes it easier to slide the foot in and out.

“In talking to Matthew and many other athletes with disabilities, the ease of entry was just as important as the lacing solution,” Tobie Hatfield, a Nike designer, said in a posting on the company’s website. “While varying levels of mobility make it difficult to provide a universal solution, we feel this is a significant development for anyone who has ever struggled with independently securing their foot within Nike shoes.”

Limited quantities of the LeBron Soldier 8 FLYEASE will be available on Nike.com. Additional FLYEASE styles are in the works, the company said.

“I knew what I was doing was, in football terms, ‘a Hail Mary,’ and to be quite honest I had very low expectations. I was expecting a very polite letter back in recognition of my request,” Walzer, who is now a sophomore at Florida Gulf Coast University, said in the Nike posting. “There are not enough ‘thank yous’ in the world to express my undying gratitude.”

Care for california's disabled ensnared in capitol politics


A strange thing is happening in Sacramento: voices on the political left and right are calling for the state to spend more money on services for Californians with developmental disabilities.

The message is coming from Republican legislators, who have delivered boxes of petitions to Gov. Jerry Brown’s office, as well as labor unions that have mounted billboards in the Bay Area asking the governor to “Increase funding now!”

It’s not often that Republicans and organized labor take the same side. But unions are defending programs that employ their members to care for some of the roughly 300,000 Californians with autism, cerebral palsy and other developmental disorders. And Republicans are speaking up for a suite of services that have become a legacy for California’s GOP. The Lanterman Act that requires the state to provide care to the developmentally disabled was written by a Republican legislator and signed into law in 1969 by Republican Gov. Ronald Reagan.

Advocates argue that the system that cares for the developmentally disabled is on the brink of collapse because of a nearly decade-long freeze on the rate the state pays service providers.

“I think they are definitely the most vulnerable part of our society and government has a responsibility to assist them,” said Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), a former special education teacher who has a photo of himself with Reagan on the wall of his Capitol office.

Lackey was among the Republican lawmakers who brought petitions to the governor and participated in rallies around the state asking for more money to serve the developmentally disabled.

Republican support for the program is so strong that Brown appears to be using it to entice GOP lawmakers to help him achieve one of his priorities this year. Brown wants a new tax on health plans to replace one that’s been challenged by the federal government. But his proposal needs approval from two-thirds of the Legislature, which means the tax only moves ahead with the support of all Democrats and at least two Republicans in the Assembly and one in the Senate.

The new state budget Brown proposed last week provides $6.4 billion for services for the developmentally disabled. That includes an increase of $130 million – less than half the amount advocates want. It makes additional funding contingent on the Legislature approving the health care tax, which Brown said “would be a very wise investment on the part of my Republican colleagues.”

So far, Republicans have argued that a tax isn’t necessary because the state is flush with cash. They say Democrats who control the state budget could choose to pay for the services through the general fund. The Legislature’s Democratic leaders proposed increased funding for disability services last year but lost the money in final budget negotiations with Brown.

“I am appalled that the governor is attaching funding for people with developmental disabilities to any tax,” said Barbara Maizie, executive director of Contra Costa ARC, which offers services for disabled residents of the East Bay.

Her agency recently closed a preschool program that provided intensive help to children with speech and motor delays. Maizie blamed the state’s rate freeze, saying the program requires more staff than state funding could support.

“The obvious thing is that we’re being used as a pawn in that political battle,” she said.

Legislators are feeling the heat from advocates and can see how funding problems have impacted services for disabled people in their communities, said Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), who chairs the Senate’s budget committee.

“There are always tipping points and I think we may be there right now,” he said, adding that the health care tax Brown is advocating would provide a long-term source of funding for disability services.

Incoming Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) said he supports boosting funding for those services “either way” – from the proposed tax or the state’s general fund.

Brown’s move to attach the funding to the health care tax could wind up being an effective political move, said Bill Whalen, who served as the chief speechwriter for Republican Gov. Pete Wilson.

“It’s a very clever ploy by the governor… He needs an enticer. He needs a reason to bring the Republicans to the table,” Whalen said.

“There aren’t many programs you could talk about spending more money on and make Republicans happy, but this is a lone exception to the rule. It’s smart politics by the governor going straight to what the Republicans care about.”

In other words: Politics are brutal. And that’s how deals are made.

Knights of Columbus raise a record breaking $3,600 for the arc

The Knights of Columbus raised over $3,600 with their annual Tootsie Roll Drive, a record breaking total!

Thank you Mark, Arnold, Dave, Paul, John, Charlie and Jacob for presenting Karyn with this incredible donation, and thank you to the other Knights of Columbus members who helped make this possible!

ArCreations raised over $2,000 in commissions for arc consumers

A record high for art sales at the 2015 ArCreations Art Show and Sale resulted in over $2,000 in commissions for the Arc Artists! Thank you to all of the community members who came out in support of The Arc and purchased art projects!

Another $5,500 was raised with this year's Holiday Raffle, another record! Thank you! Your generosity will help The Arc continue to provide its quality programs and services to these very deserving individuals!

13 Year old, gabby, raises $615 for the arc!


13 Year old, Gabby, wanted to make a difference and do something nice for an organization in her community. After seeing the Talent Show in July, Gabby decided to make The Arc her mission for the summer. Using a GoFundMe account on Facebook, Gabby raised $615 for The Arc.

This $615 will help The Arc to continue its fabulous programs, such as the music program, to thrive!!! Thank you so much Gabby for your generosity! You are an angel and an inspiration!

National Disability Employment Awareness Month


Held each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is a time to celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. The theme for this year — which marks 70 years since the first observance — is "My Disability is One Part of Who I Am."

Please join The Arc in celebrating our very gifted and talented friends!

Direct support professionals week

Thank you to the dedicated Direct Support Professionals at The Arc!!

DSPs at The Arc work tirelessly every day of the year administering skilled and compassionate care to individuals with disabilities.

The important work of our DSPs helps us to fulfill our mission of providing support and services to persons with developmental disabilities so they can better learn, work, live and recreate in the mainstream of life. Through teaching and compassionate service, the DSPs at Th...e Arc provide life-enhancing support and services to Consumers in the areas of employment training, placement and support, community access and inclusion, self advocacy, self care, money handling, mobility training, safety, relationships, meal planning and preparation, access to medical and dental services, assistance and care for medical conditions, choice of living situation, and much, much, more.

DSPs do so much for our Consumers, extending a thank you and recognition is only a small part of what we can do. Please join The Arc in extending a heartfelt "THANK YOU" to all direct support professionals this week for carrying out one of the most important jobs in the community support system!!

TALENT SHOW 2015 WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!!!

With a few hundred supporters present the arc's music program raised over $650. thank you so much to all those who came out in support of the arc players! dvd's will be available for purchase at the fiesta august 22, 2015 for just $7. your presence at the talent show and the monetary support will allow this wonderful program to continue...

THANK YOU BANK OF AMERICA FOR THE $5,000 GRANT TO BENEFIT OUR SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM!!

This $5,000 will help create new job opportunities and expand coaching opportunities to our clients. thank you so much!!!

THANK YOU SUTTER HEALTH AND SUTTER AMADOR HOSPITAL FOR THE $1,000 GRANT TO BENEFIT OUR PROGRAMS!!

SUTTER HEALTH AND SUTTER AMADOR HOSPITAL'S CONTINUED SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED BY THE CONSUMERS IN AMADOR AND CALAVERAS COUNTIES. THANK YOU!!!

THANK YOU TO THE ITALIAN CATHOLIC FEDERATION FOR THE $2,000 GRANT!

These funds will allow the arc to continue to provide the quality programs and services it currently offers. It is support and generosity such as yours that makes a difference to the lives of the people we serve.

AMADOR CAMPUS GETS NEW A/C SYSTEM!!!

Thank you to the jackson rancheria for helping fund the new a/c system at the amador campus!! The new system is exciting as it has a unit for each room allowing for more control over the temperature of a specific room. this is so great for the campus and the various programs and classes that it hosts.

MARCH IS DEVELPOMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH!!!

Celebrating the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is easier than ever with this handy list of things you can do to help spread awareness. Don’t forget to encourage your family, friends, coworkers, fans and followers to do the same. What are you waiting for?

MAKE YOUR SUPPORT VISIBLE

  • Swap your profile picture. Make our online community visible by changing your social media profile pictures to the March is Our Month.
  • Post this as your status on Facebook at least once during March. March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Help me celebrate the contributions of all people with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other disabilities by reposting this as your status this month. Learn more at www.arcjc.org
  • Tweet this. March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Know someone w/autism, Down syndrome, etc? Celebrate people. www.arcjc.org
  • Listen and share. Follow The Arc on Facebook and Twitter and repost our daily updates to your friends and followers.
  • Tell us what you’re doing. Got a great idea to spread the word? Post your activities on your Facebook page. We’re listening!
  • Write a blog post in March about someone you know with an intellectual or developmental disability and how they have inspired you. Encourage your blogger friends to do the same.
  • Change your desktop picture, screensaver, or cell phone background. Download and save this picture anywhere your friends might see it. Tell people who ask that you’re celebrating people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

START A CONVERSATION

  • Invite The Arc to make a presentation to any groups or clubs you belong to, such as service clubs, church groups, or book clubs. We can customize our message to fit each group's needs.
  • Take time to talk to your children that disability is natural. Encourage understanding, respect and friendships.
  • Contact your legislators and local policymakers to let them know you expect them to promote and enact policies that benefit people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • Attend campaign events and let candidates know how to earn your vote. Help us educate candidates about the issues concerning people with I/DD. Learn more about public policy that impacts people with I/DD and then write letters, email, and go to campaign events to tell the candidates what you expect them to do to earn your support.
  • Read a book! Try Another Way: A Story of Self-Determination is one local mother’s story about accepting her son’s disability, becoming an advocate for all people with disabilities, and teaching her son to advocate for himself. Read it. Share it. Talk about it. Pick it for your book club.
  • Talk to your employer about their practices for recruiting and hiring people with disabilities. Many employers don’t realize just how much an employee with I/DD can contribute to the workplace. Tell them.

CONNECT WITH A WELCOMING COMMUNITY

  • Become a member of The Arc. A larger membership means a louder collective voice will be heard by legislators and key decision-makers. We need your support to ensure that people with I/DD have the opportunity to achieve their dreams. Join now!
  • Connect with someone new. Expanding our social connections is important for everyone, especially adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

  • Watch movies and TV shows that positively portray actors with disabilities and discuss them with your friends and family. Several shows currently feature actors with Down syndrome, autism, and other disabilities. Contact the networks and thank them for including people with I/DD.
  • Support businesses that employ people with disabilities and make sure they know you noticed. Take time to tell a manager how they’ve earned your business.

THANK YOU AMERICAN RIVER BANK FOR THE $5,000 GRANT TO BENEFIT OUR WOMEN'S EMPOWERMWNT PROGRAMS!!

AMERICAN RIVER BANK CONTINUED SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED BY THE WOMEN OF AMADOR AND CALAVERAS COUNTIES. THANK YOU BETH STANTON FOR MAKING THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE!!!

FUTURE PLANNING: IT'S POSSIBLE AND NECESSARY

Future planning is important for all families. Yet, thinking about the future can be challenging and emotional. Last year, The Arc launched the Center for Future Planning to encourage and support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families as they plan for the future.

Having a plan is important especially after the parent or caregiver can no longer provide support. With an estimated 600,000 – 700,000 families in the United States where an adult with I/DD is living with aging family members and there is no plan for the individual’s future, the need for this resource was clear.

The Arc’s Center for Future Planning launches its new website! Visit the site today for the tools you need to begin planning for the future: futureplanning.thearc.org

THANK YOU JACKSON RANCHERIA CASINO AND HOTEL FOR THE $3,200 TO BENEFIT THE ARC'S TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE!!!

Your continued generosity truly makes a difference in the lives of many in Amador and Calaveras Counties.

Thank you Marshawn Morla for presenting Staff and Consumers with the check February 19, 2015!

THANK YOU WAL-MART FOT YOUR $2,500 GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ARC'S SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM!!

THANK YOU SACRAMENTO KINGS!!!

The sacramento kings generously donated 18 tickets for the march 1st, 2015 game!!! 15 lucky consumers and three staff were able to enjoy that game. go kings!!!

sacramento_kings

THANK YOU KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FOR RAISING $2,685 FOR THE ARC!!!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO DAVID PAYNE, PAUL NEASBITT, MARK KOENIG AND CHARLIE ESOLA, PICTURED BELOW WITH KARYN GREGORIUS.

ARCREATIONS! 2014

Arcreations! 2014 sales were over $3,000! Raffle ticket sales were over $5,000! the arc consumers thank the public who came out in support. the proceeds of the sale help to keep our art programs going and put some money in the consumer's pockets, which they really enjoy.

FIESTA VIVA EL ARC EARNS OVER $3,000

Thank you to all of the businesses who made generous donations to the silent auction and to the 25 volunteers who made this magical night possible...

PATRICKS STANISH CELEBRATES 14 YEARS AT BURGER KING

Congratulations patirck!!! we are so proud of you!!!

UNITED WAY'S DAY OF CARING A HUGE SUCCESS

Thank you to all the volunteers who came on September 12th to help build the raised planter bed for the united way's day of caring. with nearly 30 volunteers we had to find other projects to keep them occupied. along with the planter box, we were able to complete some painting and provide a wonderful tri tip sandwich lunch. The plaNTER BED MEASURES A WHOPPING 5' BY 32'!!! WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT COMMUNITY SUPPORT, THANK YOU AGAIN!!!

ARC CONSUMERS ARE ARTISTS OF THE MONTH AT HOVEY WINERY

Visit hovey winery at 350 main street, murphy's, ca 95247 to view consumer's art work during the entire month of october!!! this is an exciting opportunity for our consumers and your support is greatly appreciated.

TALENT SHOW JULY 2014

JUNE 11, 2013:ANNOUNCING THE ARC OF AMADOR AND CALAVERAS COUNTY HOSTING PUSH AMERICA JOURNEY OF HOPE 2013.

MAY 2013: BANK OF AMERICA GRANT AIMS TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO THOSE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN AMADOR AND CALAVERAS COUNTIES.

ARC OF AMADOR AND CALAVERAS ARCREATIONS! 12/1/2012

ART IN EDUCATION

“The best kept secret to student success.” The Arts help kids succeed in school because it improves their ability to learn in other subject areas and increases their self esteem.

AmadorArts provides these Arts in Education programs:

  • Professional artists in the Schools – age-relevant, Standards-based, in-depth classroom instruction
  • Artists Scholarships – presented annually in May to qualified high school seniors studying the arts at the college level
  • A Taste of the Arts – a day of workshops for teens and adults
  • Mini-Grants for other arts-related non-profits to bring the arts to schools

AmadorArts awards two $1,000 Arts Scholarships to Christina Morris, second from left, and Morgan Johnson. Board President DeDe Doran and Scholarship Chair Chuck Swiderski presented the awards to the two young women who were selected based on their excellence in achievements in the arts. Christina, graduating from Amador High, is continuing her studies and drama training at Cal State Fullerton, while Morgan, from Argonaut High, will attend Biola University in La Mirada, CA, majoring in Communications with an emphasis on Theatre.

ARC is Recipient of Art Classes Given by Local Artists

The project of teaching art this summer and fall 2012 to 11 students at the ARC facility in Sutter Creek is a part of AmadorArts providing art in the community. Kim Vinciguerra and Ann Doner, Amador Coordinators for ARC are working with Sue Lagomarsino, AmadorArts Board member and chair of Arts in Education. They have planned a series of diverse classes, and based on the students’ achievements at the first class, watercolor lessons given by Julie Trail, the rest will also be success stories. Trail, a retired teacher, is fond of painting local landscapes. Her works can be found at Gallery 10 in Sutter Creek, and her murals are throughout the county. She loves to share her love of landscape painting, so working with ARC was a good place for her to be.

In the fall, a Matisse collage project will be taught by Bruce Peccianti, a retired school teacher and administrator who is now actively pursuing his passion for the visual arts. Being severely color blind made painting out of the question so Peccianti discovered the art of collage using elegant textured papers for his creations. His studio is in Sutter Creek.

Artist Christie Lane will give a pottery decorating class in December. Lane, who is Vice President of AmadorArts, is also a retired teacher who is involved in creating art. Her area of expertise is gourd art in which she paints surfaces much like on pottery.

Trail, Peccianti, and Lane are three of 16 artists who regularly teach Standards-based art in all K-6 local schools as part of the AmadorArts successful on-going Arts in Education Program.

The Arts are an essential part of public education. From dance and music to theatre and the visual arts, the arts give children a unique means of expression, capturing their passions and emotions, and allowing them to explore new ideas, subject matter, and cultures. Arts education not only enhances students' understanding of the world around them, but it also broadens their perspective on traditional academics.

We must continue to find a place for arts programs and partnerships not only for what it teaches students about art, but for what it teaches us all about the world we live in. -- Dr. Terry Bergeson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington State, November 2001

Scholarship Winners 2011 Robert Falco, Christine Dietrich, Kellsey Long

4th grade Hero Project

Dance at A Taste of the Arts

Plymouth 4th grade mural project

3rd grade Watercolors

3rd grade Gourd Project

CARF

CARF is a not-for-profit organization that accredits several types of specialized services: adult day services; assisted living; behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse); employment and community living services; and medical rehabilitation.

The mission of CARF is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served.

CARF will be visiting The Arc of Amador and Calaveras this November and we plan on receiving another three year accreditation, the maximum accreditation outcome an organization can receive.