December News & Updates

December 11, 2025

Happy Holidays from The Price Center!

From our family to yours, we wish you the happiest of holidays this season!

What's Cooking at The Price Center (and at my house)

Another Brick in the Wall: Building Skills, Confidence, and Community at the Kindness Café

by Mike Markowitz, Dad of Sarah and member of The Price Center Board of Directors

At The Price Center, we believe opportunity grows when people are given the space — and support — to shine. That is exactly what’s brewing with one of our most exciting initiatives to date: the Kindness Café, a fully functioning on-site coffee shop designed to help participants in our Chuck Flynn Employment Program gain real, hands-on job experience in a welcoming, inclusive environment.

Now in its final stages of construction and scheduled for completion this month, the Kindness Café represents a major step forward in our mission to prepare individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, for meaningful employment. With professional-quality equipment and funding generously donated by Board Member Al Gordon and his brother John, trainees will learn the full spectrum of café operations — from brewing and beverage preparation to customer service, point-of-sale interactions, and teamwork.

Beginning with a “soft opening” in January, the Café will operate during designated hours, giving trainees the chance to serve agency participants, employees, and visitors. Instead of traditional sales, the Café will accept donations, ensuring that trainees benefit from a real-world service environment while keeping the experience supportive and accessible. The goal is simple: build confidence, develop practical workplace skills, and foster the pride that comes from contributing to a vibrant community space.

The Café’s brick-face and industrial décor also opens the door to a unique way for families, businesses, donors, and community members to show their support. Through our “Another Brick in the Wall” sponsorship opportunity, supporters can help lay the foundation — quite literally — for the future of inclusive employment training. Each sponsored brick contributes directly to program enrichment and becomes a lasting part of the Café’s story.

Just outside the Café, we’re putting the finishing touches on the Kindness Gallery, a new exhibition space showcasing artwork created by individuals across our programs. The gallery will feature rotating displays, and some artists may even offer pieces for purchase, giving them the opportunity to share their talents more broadly and earn income from their work.

In addition to these larger initiatives, we are also introducing two new efforts aimed at making our community even more welcoming for new families. First, we are developing comprehensive welcome packets that bring together essential information to help families navigate services and feel at home from day one. Second, members of our Board will begin hosting small welcome dinners, creating warm, personal opportunities for new families to meet leadership, ask questions, and build connections with one another.

Together, the Kindness Café, Kindness Gallery, and our new family-welcoming initiatives reflect our commitment to fostering a community where everyone — participants, families, staff, and supporters — feels informed, connected, and valued.

Please, it is important that you let us know how we're doing by completing the Family Satisfaction Survey.

What's Cooking at My House

Grilled Cheese with Cranberry Sauce
Serves 1

Prep/Cook Time: 20 min

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. And traditionally, my family hosts. In fact, since our days living in Hong Kong, when we often hosted officers and enlistees from the US Navy passing through, everyone is welcome!

I often start shopping and cooking on Monday and prepare turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, mashed potatoes, 2 kinds of veggies, a salad, and 2 kinds of cranberry sauces.

With lots of cranberry sauce left over, this grilled cheese was an easy (and delicious) dinner choice. Bonus: It scales well for however many you need to serve!

Ingredients:

* 2 slices of whatever bread you have on hand

* 2 tablespoons Butter

* enough of your favorite melty, soft cheese to generously cover the bread (I used Brie)

* 1 tablespoon of cranberry sauce

Directions:

Step 1: Spread butter over the outside of the bread and saute, butter side down, in a skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes.

Step 2: Place cheese on one slice of bread to cover it. Drain cranberry sauce to remove some liquid and place on top of cheese. Cover with the other slice of bread and cover the sandwich with a plate or heavy pot to help it compress. Cook for 3 minutes to melt the cheese.

Remove from heat and enjoy!

This Month

What's Cooking at The Price Center
Staff Milestones and Additions
Artist of the Month: Danny
Did you know?
Love us? Tell a friend. Have a complaint? Tell us!
December Calendar
Need a gift? Visit The Price Pop-Up!
Happening in the Community

December Milestones

Ivelisse Colon 9 years

Catalina Cardona 8 years

Guillaume Semi-Bi 7 years

Ysabel Mosely 6 years

Andy Armagost 2 years

Sara Buys 2 years

Shelle Louis 2 years

Caasandra Telijeune 2 years

Robert Mutakubwa 2 years

Annmarie Addesa-Adegoke 1 year

Welcome to The Team!

Isabella Chiara Filoia - Intern, Specialized Supports

Ashley Kinsley - Direct Support Specialist, CBDS

Barry Leonard - CFO, Admin

Neil Mayfield-Sheehan - Direct Support Specialist, CBDS

Artist of The Month: Danny

Thanksgiving/Christmas (2025) by Danny M.

Pencil

Danny says the holidays are his favorite time of the year! This piece was inspired by his two favorite holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Danny says the holiday spirit has inspired a lot of his recent work, "but [my family] is here, so this is my favorite."

Did You Know?

The MA-specific Kaileigh Mulligan Program allows children with severe medical needs to live at home by waiving parental income limits for MassHealth eligibility, thereby preserving family finances and unity.

People with Down syndrome have a significantly lower risk of developing solid-tumor cancers because an extra gene on their 21st chromosome naturally works to suppress tumor growth.

We've come a long way! Until as recently as 1974, several U.S. cities, including Chicago, enforced "Ugly Laws" that made it illegal for people with visible disabilities to appear in public spaces.

Love The Price Center? Tell a Friend.
Have a Complaint? Tell Us!

How is The Price Center doing? What are we doing well? What could we improve on? We want to hear from you!

Every year, our Family Satisfaction Survey helps us better understand where you see room for improvement in our programs, services, and offerings to you and your loved ones. Your feedback helps us learn what we're doing well, ways we can improve, and how we can continue to best serve our individuals and our families.

Please take 10 minutes to answer our 2025 Family Satisfaction Survey. All responses are confidential; names will not be shared in the published report, and you can remain anonymous, if you wish.

As an added bonus, any (non-anonymous) surveys submitted before New Year's Eve will be entered into a raffle to receive an exclusive Price Center swag bag! Up to 3 winners will be notified by email on Friday, January 9th.

Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve our programs and services. Thank you for partnering with us to support your loved ones and strengthen The Price Center community.

Take the Family Satisfaction Survey

Price Pop-Up: Shop Our Holiday Store!

Still looking for that perfect holiday gift? Look no further! Show off your Price Center Pride this holiday season and shop at the Price Pop-Up!

Come into The Price Center during the month of December, see Olivia, and purchase some of your favorite Price Center swag! From cups to comfy sweatshirts, you're sure to find that perfect present!

All sales from the Price Pop-Up benefit The Price Center and our programs. Cash, online donations, and checks are accepted.

We can't wait to shop with you!

All models are wearing a size Large. Sizes are based on availability throughout the sale.

*Limited quantity of travelers available.

Discover the Price Center: Join One of our Monthly Tours

The Price Center is offering regular tours of our programs and facilities. These tours give friends, parents, caregivers, and prospective families an in-depth look at our programs and the incredible impact they have on our community.

Our next tour is on January 22, 2026.

What to Expect:

Meet the Team: See our dedicated staff in action. Learn about our mission to empower individuals with developmental disabilities, including autism.
Explore the Programs: Discover our Community-Based Day Programs, the Charles Flynn Employment Program, our day habilitation, and community living support.
Get Inspired: Hear firsthand stories from the individuals we serve and see why we are #PriceCenterProud.

RSVP Today!

Whether you're a long-time supporter and friend of The Price Center or are checking us out for the first time, we invite you to join us!

To schedule a tour, please fill out the form below or at this link.

Don't miss an opportunity to learn more about The Price Center, the incredible work we do, the amazing people who do that work, and the even more amazing individuals we do it for. We're looking forward to welcoming you!

Happening In the Community

Sensory-Friendly Hours: Winterlights at the Bradley Estate

Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate

2468B Washington Street (Route 138)

Canton, MA 02021

Thursday, Dec 11 & Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:30 pm

Get Tickets

Winter Market of Newton

275 Grove Street

Newton, MA 02466

Friday, Dec 12 @ 5 pm & Saturday, Dec 13 @ 10 am

Welcome to the Winter Market of Newton!

Come to 275 Grove, located shockingly, at 275 Grove St. in Newton for a festive Winter Market featuring local vendors with handmade crafts, artisanal treats, live music, food, and a raffle! Raffle ticket proceeds benefit the Newton Food Pantry. Come shop, eat, and support our community while enjoying a wonderful winter celebration!

More Information Here!

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

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