Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 10:54:00 AM - Written by Mike Little - 5 comments
I want to thank you again for your interest in Club Stairways. We have had a very exciting month and I want to update you on recent milestones toward our goal.
Club Stairways has a temporary home! The Jesus Center Board has approved leasing approximately 2,000 sq ft of their space on Park Ave. to Club Stairways. The two front wood doors will be our entrance. The members will have access to the commercial kitchen. Additionally, the City of Chico approved a grant of $50,000 to renovate space for the Clubhouse. As a show of support, the Jesus Center is leasing the space to us for a nominal amount. The opportunity for a well-located, well-equipped space provides us a strong foundation for launching and growing Club Stairways.
After three years of creating partnerships and collaborative agreements with others concerned about people with mental illness, the pieces necessary to launch Club Stairways are falling into place.
Why is Club Stairways so important to individuals and to the community? As with all clubhouses, we focus on people's abilities, not their disabilities. Instead of being a drain on the community, this simple philosophy provides members a stairway towards contributing their natural gifts, talents, and abilities. As a member on our work group said, I'm really excited about this because when I'm in an environment where everyone is pursuing something, it makes me want to pursue something too. At the clubhouse it won't be like �I'm Kevin. I'm schizophrenic�. It will be �I�m Kevin and I'm an artist�. I'll be able to focus on being an artist instead of sitting around focusing on my schizophrenia.
Social Investment
What we continue to need is funding. I hope you are able to make a commitment to help. Please contact us at Socialinvestment@Clubstairways.org and we will send you detailed information about our capital campaign in partnership with the North Valley Community Foundation.
Comments
congratulations,Mike! I look forward to seeing you at your open house on April 21st. It's exciting to see that while many services for the mentally ill are being curtailed or eliminated, there are new opportunities for people with such challenges to help and support one another. Dory
Dory Cleary @ 3:17:00 PM 3/25/2009
To Mike and staff and members:
I have 2 Starbucks Espresso Machines and am experienced as a "barista." What I would like to know is if you would like me to bring my machines there and help raise some funds by making and selling espresso drinks. I could train some people to be 'baristas'. Let me know if or when...Great Website and hope to see you soon!
mary nordskog @ 3:36:00 PM 4/20/2009
Dear members, staff, board, friends and families of Club Stairways,
Congratulations on your amazing success in finding a temporary home, funding and your Open House! I know you are all proud of your accomplishments and looking forward to many more in the days and years to come...
We are on a similar journey as we have very recently opened the doors to the B'More Clubhouse in Baltimore, Maryland. We share your joy and are with you in Clubhouse spirit!
Hooray for Club Stairways!! I look forward to keeping in touch and sharing in our excitement and accomplishments.
Fondly,
Deb Yates, Executive Director,
B'More Clubhouse, Inc.
5 E. Read Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
Deb Yates @ 6:13:00 PM 4/20/2009
When I heard on the television news last night that there was a place for people like me facing the stuff that I have endured all these years I CRYED and thanked JESUS for making my hope come true. If there is anything that I can do to help make this a staple in our community please let me know. I don't have any money but I can do alot of other things like type, answer phones, researching and resourcing. Like MLK said "I have a dream". Getting a job and keeping the job without prejustice about mental illness is one of them. Thank You for your time.
Natalie Kirby @ 10:50:00 AM 4/22/2009
Thanks to all who helped make the Grand Opening a success. It was a teriffic turnout, and everybody had a good time. And a special thank you for all the members, staff and volunteers who helped make this event a success.
Armando Hernandez Jr. @ 9:30:00 AM 4/27/2009
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