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Dear Price Center Families,
As we move into a new season, I find myself reflecting on growth — not just organizational growth, but the daily growth I see in the individuals we serve, our staff, and our broader community.
At The Price Center, our mission is lived out in the small moments and the big milestones alike: a new skill mastered, a creative talent showcased, a meaningful job secured, a friendship strengthened. These moments are why we do this work — and why we remain committed to continuously strengthening the programs and supports that make them possible.
This spring, you will continue to see exciting momentum across our organization:
🎨 Celebrating Creativity through our Artist of the Month and Art Wall initiatives — providing platforms for self-expression and confidence.
🍽️ Family Dinners and Community Gatherings that deepen connection and partnership.
☕ The Kindness Café — one of our most exciting initiatives — is creating hands-on vocational training opportunities in a welcoming, community-centered environment. The Café is more than a coffee space; it is a platform for skill-building, confidence, teamwork, and real-world employment preparation. It reflects our belief that inclusion means opportunity — and that every individual deserves the chance to learn, grow, and shine.
We are doing the important behind-the-scenes work of ensuring long-term sustainability and operational excellence across all programs. This includes careful financial stewardship, program evaluation, and strategic planning to ensure The Price Center remains strong and responsive for years to come.
Our priorities remain clear:
- High-quality, person-centered supports
- Safe and welcoming environments
- Meaningful opportunities for growth and independence
- Strong staffing and professional development
- Responsible financial management
- A culture rooted in kindness, dignity, and respect
Change and growth require intention, and every step we take is guided by our commitment to the individuals and families who trust us each day.
I am deeply proud of our staff and grateful for your partnership. Together, we are building not only stability — but opportunity. Not only services — but belonging.
Thank you for being part of The Price Center community.
With appreciation,
Abby
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This Month
- Message from the CEO: Spring is Springing!
- Meet the Baristas
- What's Cooking at The Price Center
- Staff Milestones and Additions
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Artist of the Month: Maurizio
- Did you know?
- March Calendar
- Happening in the Community
| | Meet some of our Baristas at
The Price Center Kindness Café | | |
The Kindness Café at The Price Center, is now open to staff, families, and invited guests Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays 8:30 am - noon. Our Baristas-in-training, make every cup of coffee, tea, and hot chocolate with incredible care. The Café also serves an ever-changing choice of yummy pastries, often including banana bread, cookies, and chocolate-chip or blueberry muffins.
If you haven't already visited, the baristas at the Kindness Café are looking forward to demonstrating their skills and soon, their employment-readiness.
The Café has recently agreed to a multi-faceted partnership arrangement with Fazenda Coffee Roasters, too. As a result, beginning in a few weeks, the Kindness Café will begin exclusively serving locally roasted and gourmet coffee from Fazenda, which also employs one of our Community-Based Day Service (CBDS) participants.
When you stop by the Kindness Café, don't forget to look at our Brick Wall. 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 Monday, Wednesday, or Friday mornings from 8:30 am to noon!
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What's Cooking at The Price Center (and at my house) | | Artist of The Month: Maurizio | | Maurizio's painting draws the viewer into a deep wash of blues and violets, layered and blended in a way that feels both expansive and intimate. The sweeping brushstrokes and gentle drips create a sense of movement, as though emotion itself is settling onto the canvas. Hints of warmer tones emerge from within the cool palette, suggesting complexity beneath the surface. While the artist may not put these feelings into words, the work speaks through color and motion, offering a powerful and personal form of expression. | | | | | | This piece from Maurizio blends a tender, heart‑shaped form with a quietly expressive face, creating a sense of emotion that feels both immediate and deeply personal. The layered reds and pinks give the heart a living, textured quality, while the surrounding earthy strokes add movement and grounding. There’s a beautiful tension between vulnerability and strength here, as if the artist is letting us glimpse an inner world that doesn’t rely on words. Families often find that works like this reveal how powerfully an artist can communicate through color, shape, and feeling. | | | - Social inclusion and friendship are among the strongest predictors of long-term happiness for people with disabilities, underscoring the importance of community spaces and shared experiences.
| | - We've named the Kindness Café and Kindness Gallery in recognition that small acts of kindness—being patient, offering support, or simply getting to know someone—are powerful tools for building more inclusive and compassionate communities.
| | - Consistent daily routines, like those offered in community-based day programs, can significantly reduce anxiety and improve overall well-being for many neurodivergent individuals.
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Welcome to The Team!
Caroline Nimuslima - Direct Care Professional, Dayhab
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March Milestones
Danett Smith-Holness, 11 years
Lissoit Jacques, 4 years
Marie Fortune, 4 years
Leah Noel, 3 years
Andrea Birch-Christian, 2 years
DeAnn Sweeney, 1 year
Heather Hodder, 1 year
Lydia Tusabe, 1 year
Marie Saintloth, 1 year
Ifeoma Osisiobila, 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
Kevin Clancy Basketball Tournament
Newton North High School, 457 Walnut St, Newton, MA
March 14, 2026, 8:30am to 2:00pm
Free to spectators! Special Needs Basketball teams from around the state will be playing 2 games each throughout the day. Cheerleading teams will each perform routines and receive medals. Teams will have schedule week of event, program booklets available day of event.
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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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