Charles River AR 2021 Printer Singles - Flipbook - Page 9
”
We want to thank you so much
and thank all of the staff who
help make this happen and
of course all of the volunteers
that have been helping us!
Thank you! Thank you!
Maggie and Jill
Peace Flag Movement
”
Community Partner
The Peace Flag Movement began partnering with the Charles River
Center in 2017. Volunteers from Charles River Center came to help
Common Street Spiritual Center with some things. The Rainbow
Peace Flag Project were just starting to distribute peace flags out
to whoever wanted one in Natick and surrounding areas. CRC
volunteers helped by placing an informative postcard with each flag.
In 2018, the project designed their very own version of the flag and
changed our name to Peace Flag Movement. “We continued to give
flags away, as we always had, but now their were our own designed
flags. CRC volunteers grew with us, learning how to roll the flags
and wrap the flyer around them. Then the pandemic hit and CRC
took a needed pause in helping us. By the time CRC returned, in
the fall of 2021, we had grown to shipping flags across the country
and sometimes globally,” states Maggie Sky, Co-director of Peace
Flag Movement
“We have moved into a steady routine of every other week with
about 5-8 volunteers each time. We’ve had some regulars helping
us, like Emily, Kayla, Chris, Polina, Daniel, Kyle, Ryan and Stephanie
and sometimes others pop in to help like Liz, Stephen, JP and
Ryan. And they’ve all found specific roles that they like best while
we work together, which range from carefully folding, to taping,
to running flags from one station to the other. All the while the
CRC crew weaves in lots of positive reinforcement to one another,
appreciation of the beautiful art in the building, taking care of the
plants in the room, high fiving, and lots of lively conversations not
only with words, but also with hand gestures, and facial expressions
(which we’ve all gotten good at even with masks on). Everyone
works as a team, supporting one another and cheering each other
on, with Emily as lead cheerleader and Kayla on lead folding detail.
Everyone who has come to help, has their own gift that they share.
It is a really special time together for us all, and we have a ton of fun!”
Angel, program
participant
Danelle Pitts
Senior Life Skills Coach
The relationship between Danelle and
Angel began over 5 years ago, when Danelle
came to interview at the Charles River Center.
Danelle was taking a tour of the Grugan
Center and Angel walked up to Danelle and
said Hi!” Since that time, Danelle has been
working with Angel to utilize art as way to
express herself. According to Danelle, “Angel
is willing to try anything and everything.”
Together they have worked on poetry,
painting, and craft projects. “I love art class
and Danelle too!”, according to Angel,
program participant at the Grugan Center.
In additional to the art programming,
Danelle and Angel are working on job skills
training because Angel would like to obtain
a job as a receptionist at the Grugan
Center. “Sometimes we are presented
with challenges and with re-direction
and kindness, we all really can do it.
The individuals at the Grugan Center
inspire me every day,” states Danelle Pitts,
Senior Life Skills Coach.
”
Just wanted to thank everyone at the
day program for providing Melanie with
a really great program that she loves and
treating her with respect, kindness and
love. There has not been a day that I
have not felt that, and I wanted to thank
everyone at Charles River.
Paul and Robin Allen, parents of Melanie
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