Starlight Enterprises makes plans for the new year
Trevor Herzig, left, Mecca Moulton, Jenny Hostetler, Alli Ickes, Kristina Chambers, Jacob Jones, back, and Todd Newsome are ready to party.
A $3,000 grant from the Dover Exchange Club Children’s Foundation awarded to Starlight Enterprises Inc. has allowed them to purchase a new learning-based curriculum called Step Up to Social Connection.
Starlight Enterprises Inc. is a local nonprofit organization that provides services for individuals with disabilities. Grants and donations such as the one from the Dover Exchange Club help them enhance their programs and services for their participants.
The grant was presented by Kevin Korns, chairman of the Dover Exchange Club, as part of the group’s goal to be supportive of educational areas.
Cassie Elvin, CEO at SEI, is grateful for the donation.
“The purpose of the curriculum is to provide creative and engaging options to support the participants in our services in real-life situations,” Elvin said. “With the assistance of the Dover Exchange Club, we were able to specifically purchase a curriculum tailored to the needs of our participants.”
The curriculum provides the flexibility to use the learning activities in person or virtually. The benefits include enhancing the skills and knowledge of life situations, increased community membership, adaptations to learning, and building confidence.
“Our new mission statement developed earlier this year of learning, growing and contributing to our community ties into this curriculum, giving us a basis for our services and keeps us grounded in our work to support participants in their life journey,” Elvin said.
According to Elvin, the participants have expressed happiness in working with the curriculum.
“I like being with my friends to work on things for my life,” Gordon Gerber said.
SEI helps people develop their abilities, and its new vision logo is Shine Bright, Be Happy. In addition to implementing the Step Up to Social Connection program, it has increased its use of technology for participants in its services, provided many activities and opportunities, participated in the Scarf Project, and created 500 Christmas in the Park themed ornaments for McInturf Realty Group.
Its creative endeavors continued with a performance of “Stone Soup” and dance group performance at the Tuscarawas County Center for the Arts. Its participants have sung Christmas carols at local nursing homes, and in the fall SEI’s Carrollton location won the Scarecrow Contest, assisted in decorating the town square and participated in a craft show there.
Art is important for many SEI participants, and in 2022 they increased their art sales in New Towne Mall, Alley Cats Marketplace and the Tuscarawas County Courthouse. They also participated in a new art and mural project with local artist Jon Stucky and hope to be able to collaborate with him again in the future. They have acquired a new site to sell their art. It will be displayed at Fourth & Faith, a facility of St. John’s UCC church in Dover.
SEI participants also help with projects for the Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Two internships with college students were developed and provided learning opportunities, not only for the students, but also those at SEI. The interns worked alongside SEI staff.
The individual is the driving force in getting the services they want through individual plans developed in collaboration with the individual, family, staff at the Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities and the service provider such as SEI.
“We make sure that we follow what the outcomes are from the plan and provide real-life experiences so that people are able to make decisions about their life and what they would like to do, try or pursue,” Elvin said.
Elvin is looking forward to 2023 for SEI participants.
“At this point one of the things we’re looking at is providing a couple different community experiences for people,” Elvin said, “some things where people go in and actually meet with people in the general public and interact more face to face.”
The program also helps participants by providing vocational sites for work experiences and help and support in a job in the community if they desire.
“We have gone to various different other spots because somebody has specifically requested to try it out, and we still do job placement for people,” Elvin said.
SEI is planning to hold another summer program in 2023 for people age 14-26.
“Maybe they don’t come to our program but want something different just for the summer, or if they’re sitting home and want something different, that’s what we’ve targeted the last couple summers,” Elvin said, adding parents really appreciate the options a summer program provides.
Elvin is appreciative of all the support SEI has received from the community and the opportunities others have helped them provide.
“We love being part of the community and making the community even more attractive for travelers from out of town (with the mural projects),” Elvin said.
The Carrollton SEI program is located at 713 Canton Road NW, and there are two SEI locations in New Philadelphia at 400 E. High Ave. and 246 E. High Ave.
SEI is a 501(c)(3) organization, and donations can be sent to P.O. Box 1054 in New Philadelphia, or people can stop by the 400 E. High Ave. location.
For more information about Starlight Enterprises Inc., find them on Facebook at Starlight Enterprises Inc. or visit www.thinksei.org.