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Dear Price Center Community,
I’m filled with gratitude and excitement for everything happening at The Price Center. February is a beautiful reminder that kindness isn’t just a feeling — it’s an action, a culture, and a commitment we live out every day in the way we support one another and the individuals and families we are honored to serve.
It is no coincidence that our annual report was titled The Art of Kindness. That title reflects something deeper than a theme — it reflects who we are. Kindness is woven into our mission, our values, and our vision for the future.
This month, we are proud to bring that vision to life in powerful and meaningful ways:
- The Art Wall of Kindness, which celebrates the creativity, talent, and voice of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, while strengthening our sense of community and belonging.
- The continued expansion of The Art of Kindness as a movement — highlighting the everyday moments of compassion, inclusion, and joy that define life at The Price Center.
- And most exciting of all, the launch of our Kindness Café — a space that represents opportunity, training, empowerment, and connection. The café is more than a new initiative; it is a symbol of what is possible when we invest in people, believe in potential, and build programs that create real pathways to independence and purpose.
As we grow, The Price Center remains deeply committed to excellence. Alongside these exciting initiatives, we are also strengthening our quality metrics and performance measures to ensure we are consistently delivering safe, person-centered, high-quality services. This includes a continued focus on outcomes, compliance, staff development, and a culture of accountability — all rooted in dignity, respect, and compassion.
At The Price Center, kindness is not a “nice-to-have.” It is the foundation of quality. It is the heart of our culture. And it is the future we are building — together.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. February is going to be a remarkable month, and I can’t wait to share all that’s ahead.
With gratitude and kindness,
Abby
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This Month
- Message from the CEO: The Power of Kindness
- Another Brick in the Kindness Café Wall
- What's Cooking at The Price Center
- Staff Milestones and Additions
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Artist of the Month: Long
- Did you know?
- February Calendar
- Happening in the Community
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Another Brick in the Wall at The Price Center Kindness Café
Highlighting our legacy of Inclusion, Opportunity, and Empowerment
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The Kindness Café at The Price Center, which will have a soft opening for families on Thursday, Feb 12 from 10a - noon, makes every cup of coffee much more than a beverage. It represents possibility.
The Kindness Café is a hands-on barista training and employment-readiness program that we've designed to empower adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, with real-world skills, confidence, and pathways to meaningful employment in the community.
Through our Another Brick in the Wall sponsorship opportunity, we're inviting supporters to leave a lasting legacy while directly investing in inclusive workforce development.
Your Brick. Their Future.
With a contribution starting at $1,000, donors may sponsor a personalized brick that will be permanently installed at the Kindness Café. Each brick symbolizes a commitment to dignity, independence, and opportunity for individuals with intellectual and developmental differences, including autism.
Brick sponsorships directly support:
- Hands-on barista training and job coaching
- Skill development in customer service, teamwork, and workplace readiness
- Pathways to competitive, integrated employment beyond The Price Center
- A culture of inclusion where individuals are seen for their abilities, not their limitations
Naming & Recognition
Each sponsored brick may include the donor name, family name, business name, or dedication message, and recognition as a Founding Supporter of the Kindness Café.
Brick sponsorships start at $1,000 per brick and we have custom and corporate sponsorships available, too.
Stop by for a cuppa on Thursday, Feb 12 from 10a - noon!
| | What's Cooking at The Price Center (and at my house) | | Artist of The Month: Long | | Long's vibrant artwork reflects a powerful sense of movement and emotion, expressed through bold layers of color that flow confidently across the canvas. His painting speaks clearly in its own way — it is full of energy, feeling, and individuality. It reminds us that creativity offers many paths for self-expression, each one meaningful and worthy of being seen. | | | | |
Long's self-portrait offers a quiet, thoughtful glimpse into how the he sees himself.
Drawn with simplicity and care, the image focuses on essential features rather than detail, inviting us to slow down and truly look. It reminds us that self-expression doesn’t need complexity to be meaningful — sometimes clarity itself is the message.
Together, these two pieces, of the many on show in the Kindness Gallery, show the wide range of how Long expresses himself — through both bold color and quiet reflection — reminding us that creativity can take many forms, all equally powerful.
| | - Massachusetts is consistently ranked among the most progressive states for disability services, yet provider reimbursement rates still lag behind the true cost of delivering high-quality, person-centered care. Last year those rates only covered 89.5% of our expenses.
| | - Inclusive employment doesn’t just benefit employees with disabilities— studies show businesses see higher retention, better customer loyalty, and more engaged teams. Our Chuck Flynn Employment Program is always looking for great employment opportunities.
| | - Creative arts programs —like music, visual art, and theater — can improve communication skills, emotional regulation, and confidence for individuals across a wide range of abilities.
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Welcome to The Team!
Amos Appolon - Assistant House Manager, 1751 Washington St
Emma Bradshaw - Direct Support Specialist, CBDS
Norlens Cipryen - Direct Care Professional, Humanity House
St Rose Kathura Dutrevil - Direct Care Professional, Auburn St
Jordan Riley - Direct Support Specialist, Specialized Supports
William Shopnick - Direct Support Specialist, CBDS
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January Milestones
Mike Thibodeau, 33 years
Nia Charles-Stewart, 17 years
Beverly Silcott, 11 years
Morvane Sidney, 11 years
Leili Ghezlli, 8 years
Joe Maloba, 7 years
Linda Olans, 7 years
Maureen Kusemererwa, 5 years
Susan Paige, 4 years
Enshell Koilor, 4 years
Landry Ntwari, 3 years
Qudus A Balogun, 3 years
Nathalie Joseph, 2 years
Tracey Goodwin, 1 year
Kerin McGue, 1 year
Alexander Morin, 1 year
Brock Roberts, 1 year
Kim Austin, 1 year
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The Price Center has begun compiling a
directory of families to encourage communication and support our community.
The directory will include the names and programs of Price Center attendees as well as names and contact details of caregivers and family. It will be shared among The Price Center community and participation is voluntary; you can opt out if you'd prefer. We anticipate the directory will help facilitate conversations about programs, supports, and activities of value to all.
| | Happening In the Community | | |
Newton Parks and Recreation / Athletes Unlimited
Valentine's Dance
American Legion Post 440
295 California St, Newton, MA 02458
February 12, 2026, 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Registration Required ($10)
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Have an upcoming event that our staff, individuals, or community should know about?
We want to hear about it.
Please send details to: Communications@thepricecenter.org
| | The Price Center empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities including autism to thrive in their living, social, and work communities. Every gift, whether monetary or in-kind, goes directly towards our programs and supports our individuals in achieving their goals. | | |
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