INCLUSION MONTH IS EVERY MONTH IN OMAHA
By Jan McCarthy, Yachad CoordinatorFebruary is the month Yachad has typically celebrated NAIM or North American Inclusion Month. It is a month for groups with members who live with a physical, intellectual or emotional impairment to develop activities that promote greater community inclusion.
For the past two years Yachad of Omaha has developed special activities for February. Last year we had a Shabbaton at RBJH which included residents of the home, community members and Rabbis and their families who joined with us in activities. We also had a Job Fair which included several local Omaha and Jewish businesses. So this year as we contemplated what we could plan for February we came to a wonderful realization: In our community we do not need a special month for inclusion. The warm spirit of this community has opened for us a world of opportunities, acceptance…inclusion.
You have embraced and supported our art shows and acknowledged us as regular vendors at the Beth El Boutique. We love to attend Holiday and special programs that the synagogues offer. We have been invited to participate in the dance program at the JCC and activities with BBYO and YJO. The Friedel Academy has invited us to work together on a community garden. We had so much fun competing in the Pesach Art program. This will be the second year we have been honored with an invitation from the Blumkin Home to light a Menorah candle for Hanukkah. We have been blessed with the financial generosity of our community which has enabled us to participate in our personal training program at the gym, a self defense course at a local Martial Arts Academy, and our yearly camping trip to Mahoney. These programs are crucial to the health, safety and esteem of our members.
We feel secure in pursuing new and creative ideas and events because we have the support and encouragement of our community.
So this February the NAIM program for Yachad of Omaha is to acknowledge how grateful we are for our community. To take the opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to the community for being a part of us or are we a part of you? Our wonderful realization was that we are truly one community.
Please feel free to go to our website, www.jfsomaha.com, go to the Yachad page and click on the calendar to see when and where we will be each month. We’d love to see you.