Program Spotlight: Building Lasting Connections Across State Lines

Alex Junge, who attends MSS St. Paul, and Ben Merritt, an Art Facilitator in St. Paul, already knew each other well. But a seven-hour train ride to Chicago took their friendship to another level. "It was really fun to develop a deeper relationship with Alex and learn more about him," says Ben. In Chicago, plenty more friendships were waiting to be discovered.

Alex and Ben were on route to a gathering of members of L'Arche, an international organization that is committed to building connections between people with and without disabilities. "They have different groups in US cities and around the world," explains Ben. "They kind of create an intentional community, so people with disabilities can create meaningful relationships outside of a day program setting or a group home."

L'Arche's goals, well aligned with MSS's vision for ongoing community membership beyond our programs, were a natural fit for Alex and Ben. "I think they really care and want to help," says Alex.

In Chicago, the Twin Cities L'Arche community was joined by other communities from throughout the Midwest. They spent four days swapping stories, seeing the city, and participating in advocacy workshops. "I got to meet some new people and see friends outside my circle," says Alex. The Chicago L'Arche community soon returned the favor with a visit to the Twin Cities—including a stop at MSS St. Paul. They even received one of Alex's famous tours of the patio garden.

Ben's travels will continue next month, when he heads to Washington, D.C. for ANCOR's Policy Summit and Hill Day. Ben will join other advocates to engage with policymakers on critical issues facing disability providers. As one of the event's first-ever DSP Ambassadors, Ben will serve an essential role representing his profession: "It's about educating people about what direct support actually entails and why it's important," he says.

It is through out-of-the-box opportunities like these that our community opens its doors to new experiences, new perspectives, and new connections. Awesome work, Alex and Ben!