Celebrating 25 years
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Resource Center for Independent Living, Inc. has been celebrating our 25th year of providing programs and services for people with disabilities all year long. We hosted ten Legislative Lunch & Learn events in the communities where we have offices (Arkansas City, Burlington, El Dorado, Emporia, Fort Scott, Iola, Overland Park, Ottawa, Topeka and Osage City) to communicate on a grass roots level with our legislators about the needs of people with disabilities. We also celebrated the 19th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act with “Parking Lot Parties” at each of those locations. This fall we hosted four “Walking & Rolling with RCIL” events to raise awareness about accessibility and raise funds for our Build A Ramp program. We wanted to wrap up our year with something special and Emporia was the perfect place to do it.
I was proud to bring in my 100-plus co-workers from throughout the eastern part of Kansas to my hometown. I was even prouder when I received such wonderful feedback about the event we hosted at the Emporia Granada Theater on Nov. 10, 2009. I want to send a special thank you to Jessica Buchholz of the Granada Theater, Eclectic Catering, Kim and her chocolate covered crew at the Sweet Granada, Rick and his staff at Flint Hills Laser Expressions, and Danny Boyce for taking the photographs. We didn’t have a huge budget to work with but you all made it an event we will always remember!
Deone M. Wilson
Deputy Director
Resource Center for Independent Living, Inc.