Building Community, One Day at a Time

At MSS, providing opportunities to build and engage with the wider community has always been a key part of our mission. But rarely do individuals get the chance to spend an entire day outside of our program spaces. Until now!

Last July, MSS Eagan began piloting a new program with a novel approach to community-based care. Every Wednesday, a small group is picked up from their homes, enjoys a full day in the community, and returns home in the afternoon—all without stopping at an MSS location.

Four individuals are a part of the new Community Life Engagement program so far, plus a rotating set of staff. Their Wednesday itineraries include a wide variety of experiences, from museums and zoos to volunteering and advocacy events. On Tuesdays, the group reconvenes to discuss the events of the previous week, consider changes to be made, and map out where they’re headed next.

Spending quality time in the community is nothing new at MSS. But it is our hope that offering these extended opportunities for community engagement will create more lasting connections between the people and places involved. "I like all the different places that we go,” says Craig Delorme, who joins the group each week. “We go to Optage, we go to rallies at the capitol, we go to the zoo. I enjoy every place that we go."

Of course, a program like this is not one-size-fits-all. Some individuals may not be interested in spending their whole day in a community setting. Each person’s individual needs are also an important consideration. Like all of our programs, the ultimate goal is to provide a variety of options that empower people to make meaningful choices for themselves.

We are excited to see how the Community Life Engagement program continues to develop as time goes on. Stay tuned!