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To our Community Partners,
It is with mixed emotions that we announce the departure of Coni Nepomuceno, Director of Family Programs and Outreach for The Arc Maryland.
Throughout her tenure at The Arc Maryland, Coni has held important roles in several projects that both supported our Spanish-speaking community and strengthened connections with other IDD organizations in our state.
She developed The Arc Maryland’s Facebook en Español page, which has grown to nearly 270 followers. This page has been a meaningful way to engage and support our Spanish-speaking audience, offering resources, updates, and connections. Coni also created the Maryland Coalition of Spanish-Speaking Parents of Children and Adults with IDD (MCSSP-IDD) which has provided a safe haven for families to connect and speak with other family members in their native languages, sharing resources and support.
As The Arc Maryland's co-representative on the Maryland Autism Coalition, Coni's work has helped to raise awareness about the dangers of wandering and drowning in children with autism. The Coalition's campaign, available in several languages encourages families to call 911 for assistance immediately when a child with autism wanders away.
On behalf of The Arc Maryland, Coni fostered a relationship with the White House Department of Engagement and has translated documents for The Arc Maryland and our Coalition partners, expanding accessibility and inclusion in our community.
Finally, but certainly not least, Coni has co-led the Maryland Partners in Policymaking® program with Ande Kolp over the past few years. She planned and held a Partners graduates' reunion, provided assistance with recruitment for the program, session development, and worked to make the Maryland Partners in Policymaking® program the national role model advocacy training program it is today!
As Coni prepares for the next chapter in her life, she says she will remain deeply committed to The Arc’s mission; her time here has been incredibly rewarding, and she is grateful for the relationships, partnerships, and experiences that have shaped her work.
“Supporting families, building bridges within the IDD community, and expanding access to resources for Spanish-speaking families have been my greatest commitments at The Arc Maryland. I am grateful for the opportunity to make a difference and proud to have been part of an organization so dedicated to inclusion and equity.”
Coni's last day with The Arc Maryland will be on December 2nd. She may continue to be reached until then at cnempomuceno@thearcmd.org. At the Arc Maryland, we are grateful to Coni for her commitment, her work, and her kindness. We look forward to seeing all that she accomplishes in her future endeavors.
Ande Kolp may be contacted for public policy and advocacy questions and Natalie Dohner will continue to be a contact for the Empowering Partners Initiative.
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