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Newsletter for the JESPY Community | |
GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION MARKS JESPY'S NEW DAY PROGRAM SITE IN MAPLEWOOD | |
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With great enthusiasm, JESPY celebrated the grand opening of our first Day Program location in Maplewood this past September. Attendees at the opening included the town’s Mayor Dean Dafis, JESPY Executive Director Audrey Winkler, JESPY Board President Ahadi Bugg-Levine, and Day Program Manager Shaleice Jenkins, who all addressed the gathering.
Also in attendance were several JESPY board members, clients, and staff; Candice Davenport, Health Officer at the Maplewood Health Department; and Sarah Taylor, Local Health Outreach Coordinator for the Township of Maplewood.
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“I’m so honored and proud to have you in Maplewood,” said Mayor Dafis. “We really want JESPY to keep growing and we hope with this new space that you’ll continue to do just that, offering more opportunities for health and wellness and inclusion.”
Our clients love the new space that allows for even more life-skills learning and creative programming through hands on group activities offered in a smaller focused group setting.
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Left: JESPY Day Program clients are enjoying their new program space. Shown right: Maplewood Mayor Dean Dafis, JESPY Board President Ahadi Bugg-Levine; and JESPY Executive Director Audrey Winkler. | |
JESPY TRIVIA NIGHT: A BIG SUCCESS! | |
JESPY supporters, clients, and board members turned out in large numbers to participate in our second Trivia Night! A Community Friendraiser for JESPY House. In addition to delicious eats from The Fox & Falcon by David Burke (which hosted the event), attendees enjoyed a little friendly competition as they answered trivia questions provided by Genopalooza Productions. There were three Top Prize winners, a 50/50 raffle winner, and tasty desserts provided by Three Daughters Bakery in South Orange, NJ and Delice Macarons in Cranford. | |
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Above: JESPY Executive Director Audrey Winkler welcomed the room full of trivia buffs (left) and Matt Dolan of Genopalooza Productions (right) outlined the rules for game play.
Below: Attendees took on trivia!
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JESPY clients love theatre! As a result, thespians in the JESPY Theatre Group are participating in ongoing workshops with Maplewood-based Little Apple Arts Theater Company.
The company is currently working with clients to enhance their theater skills and develop a musical production of Mary Poppins to present to JESPY families, staff and clients on December 12th at 7:30pm at the Judi House. Broadway actress and teaching artist Elizabeth Broadhurst is the instructor for this project. Little Arts is owned by Becky Fisher.
The company, which also works extensively with children, consists of Broadway professionals who enjoy “sharing our love of the dramatic arts. Our aim is to celebrate and spread the love of Theatre by learning.”
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BRANDT FAMILY LIBRARY UNVEILED AT JESPY | |
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Located inside Tico’s Gym at the JESPY Club House, the Brandt Family Library was recently unveiled at a grand opening. The multi-use Library and technology center is a donation from Lillie and Ron Brandt and their family including their children and grandchildren. An adjacent room includes a computer lab with new computers and a Smartboard.
“I realize how important JESPY House is, what it does for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and the fact that it’s here,” said Ron Brandt, JESPY’s former board president. “We very much hope that the library meets the clients' needs and we hope to add more support in the future.”
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Left: Lilly and Ron Brandt. Right: attendees at the opening included JESPY's executive director, board members, and clients. | |
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JUDY AND KEN PESKIN SUPPORT JESPY
WITH $1 MILLION DONATION
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JESPY is excited to announce a transformative gift of $1 million from longtime JESPY supporters Judy and Ken Peskin. Judy is also a longtime board member of JESPY House. Their gift supports our Go Big for JESPY campaign, which will provide affordable housing and create clinical, vocational, and other program spaces and services for JESPY clients.
The Peskin’s gift is not only amazing in and of itself, it helps JESPY to move closer to meeting the Go Big for JESPY challenge match made by Toby and Leon Cooperman.
Click HERE to read more about Judy and Ken’s special donation! For more information about the Go Big for JESPY Campaign, please click HERE.
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The Peskins, shown left, have been advocates of JESPY programming for many years. In photo right: Judy Peskin, far right, is shown with JESPY clients and Matt Wonski (left), owner of Town Hall Deli in South Orange, during the making of the ‘JESPY 45 Wrap’ during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. | |
IN RECOGNITION: DR. AHADI BUGG-LEVINE | |
JESPY Board President Dr. Ahadi Bugg-Levine was recently honored by the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race during their Celebrating Integration: Growing Our Commitment to Equity & Inclusion event. She was recognized for her unwavering dedication to inclusion opportunities; collaborations with the Coalition on Race that furthered their mission; and her ongoing work aimed at JESPY House's growth and expansion. Congratulations Ahadi! We’re so proud of all you do for our clients each and every day! | |
Photo right: D. Ahadi Bugg-Levine is shown with husband Antony Bugg-Levine and their daughter, JESPY staff, Executive Director Audrey Winkler, and friends. Photo by Tracy Sham Photography. | |
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JESPY clients participated in the second annual outdoor fashion show sponsored by South Orange Downtown. The high-energy event was held in Spiotta Park in celebration of October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).
Nine JESPY models wore a variety of fashionable outfits from Sadie’s clothing boutique in front of a supportive audience. Other local participating businesses included Yoni Kreger hair salon, which provided hair styling, and Miti Miti Latin Street Food and 3 Daughters Baking Company, which provided refreshments. All four businesses employ JESPY clients.
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As part of the Melton Jewish Learning Program, 24 JESPY clients and adults from Jewish Service for the Developmentally Disabled (JSDD) participated in an informative and active discussion at JESPY’s Judi House. Attendees learned about ‘Symbols & Reminders in Judaism’ during a discussion led by Rebecca Wanatick, Director of Disability Inclusion & Belonging at Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ.
The Wednesday program curriculum, titled 'For Those Seeking a More Meaningful Jewish Life' has been designed to be accessible for people with IDD and is offered weekly over the next several months.
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As the war continues, our JESPY community prays for peace and for the release of the hostages. We are saddened by the loss of life and the incomprehensible acts of terrorism. Our hope is for the safe return of hostages and an enduring peace in the region.
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JESPY clients recently got the opportunity to ‘up’ their football catching skills with Hall of Famer Eli Manning! The activity took place courtesy of Special Olympics NJ and NFL Play60. Manning met up with clients at the Special Olympics NJ Sports Complex in Lawrenceville, NJ. | |
Congratulations to the JESPY clients who took part in the Miles for America challenge (shown below). The challenge consisted of clients doing all-cardio sessions for an entire week. Staff in JESPY’s Athletics & Fitness department calculated the distance that each client would have achieved if they had traveled through North America. In total, clients traveled 2,669.86 miles. A special congrats to our winners - Myles L. Jill T. John S., and Jamie L. Way to go! | |
Football and fun were the order of the day for JESPY clients who had the opportunity to attend (and spend time in the skybox) at a NY JETS vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers football game at Metlife Stadium. A great time was had by all! | |
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JESPY staff and clients attended a recent Essex County Employer Recognition breakfast in recognition of October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
The event was hosted by Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, the Essex County Board of Commissioners and the Essex County and Newark Workforce Development Boards’ Disability Issues Committee.
The morning event included awards, networking opportunities, and a highlight of success stories. Pomptonian Food Service, which services the Maplewood School District, was one of the award recipients. JESPY's client and Pomptonian employee Sarah L., who has worked there for 17 years, offered comments during the event.
| JESPY WREE staff, Angelo Montoya and Glen Hoffs, pose with JESPY client and Pomptonian employee Sarah L., Pomptonian Food Service Operations Manager Kenisha Hodge, WREE Manager Lisa Fiore, and JESPY Executive Director Audrey Winkler. | |
ACTIVITIES, OUTINGS, AND MORE! | |
During recent months, JESPY clients have taken part in a wide array of activities, learning opportunities, and all-around exciting events! Here's a recap of their busy schedules! | |
Above: Clients recently displayed and sold their art and wares (including knitted items, fine arts, and more) at the SOMA Studio Tour. | |
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Above: Clients enjoyed several outdoor evenings of S'mores, courtesy of Judi House Fund and hosted by JESPY Board member Suki Shikiar.
Below: Clients also recently participated in a Sukkot ceremony, which included an explanation and discussion presented by JESPY Director of Operations Mitch Rottenstreich.
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Above: Day Program clients had an enjoyable time participating in recreation activities at the program's annual Field Day at Eagle Rock Park in West Orange, NJ.
Below: A successful client photography exhibit was held at Green Door Studio in Millburn, NJ.
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Above: clockwise starting top left: Clients enjoyed delicious eats, dancing and a DJ at their recent prom; JESPY's Athletics & Fitness department (staff and athletes) attended a SetonHall girls volleyball game; JESPY clients and friends from Bus 11 who were on the Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ trip to Israel got together at Judi House for an afternoon of Israeli dancing.
Below: Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest Board Member Jane Wilf conducted a Fall leaves painting activity with clients at JESPY's Day Program.
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Above and below: Clients and families participated in an afternoon of fun and connection at JESPY's annual Family Day. Activities included Zumba, caricature drawings, photo booth, food trucks, and a music performance! Photos top and bottom row by Joy Yagid. | |
Clients in JESPY's Day Program pulled out all the stops, wearing creative costumes and masks, during their recent Fall Harvest party. | |
OUR 2023 HERO AWARD WINNER: KAREN MAXSON | |
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A Transitional Coordinator in JESPY’s Work Readiness & Employment Engagement (WREE) program, Karen Maxson is JESPY’s 2023 winner of the NJACP Heroes Award. The award recognizes the outstanding service of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). Karen began working at JESPY in October 2021 and is responsible for providing prevocational, job development and job coaching to clients who receive employment services through JESPY.
Throughout the year, she initiated new community job sites that provided tasks related to client interests. Congrats Karen!
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In photo right, Karen is shown with client Virginia F. who is learning workplace skills at a community job site. | |
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Candid
JESPY House earned the Gold Seal of Transparency on GuideStar from Candid, a trustworthy source for high quality information on strong, sustainable non-profits that helps donors find, research, and support organizations aligned with their priorities and give with confidence.
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Charity Navigator
JESPY House has also earned a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator. This rating designates JESPY as an official “Give with Confidence” charity, indicating that JESPY uses its donations effectively based on Charity Navigator’s criteria.
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Audrey Winkler
Executive Director
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Please visit us at www.jespy.org
for more information about JESPY House services.
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