On Monday, September 28, Crossroads of Western Iowa held its Annual Meeting in Sioux City, Iowa.  With several hundred people in attendance, Crossroads staff was recognized, Crossroads clients were honored, and Outstanding Community Parnter Awards were shared with several key partners in Western Iowa.  Unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict, Angela and Tim Wilson received the Outstanding Community Partner Award for Advocacy and Awareness.  The Wilsons were presented this honor at a private dinner scheduled a few weeks later.  They asked that we share their letter of thanks and acceptance. 

We begin today, October 8, with the first in a series of THROWBACK THURSDAY publications, looking back with fondness over the past 40 YEARS of Crossroads of Western Iowa, and how Crossroads has grown to what we are today, from our inspirational beginnings as Monona Services in Onawa, Iowa. Great success and a solemn commitment to our consumers and their families, has led to the Crossroads of Western Iowa we know today . . . empowering individuals to actively seek out opportunities for an enhanced quality of life!

Earlier this spring, former NBA player Larry Sanders spoke out about his struggles with anxiety and depression and his exit from the league. Someone with Sanders’ celebrity status can reach a large number of people in America and throughout the World, lessening the stigma associated with mental illness.  People avoid discussing mental illness, even though it is more and more common in society. 

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, about 64.5 million Americans, or 26.5 percent of the adult population, volunteer annually.  Collectively they contributed 7.9 million hours of volunteer service, equivalent to about $175 billion in offset wages. 

This March, in recognition of Brain Injury Awareness Month, join a nationwide network of organizations serving those with traumatic brain injury in your community.  To help spread the word and raise awareness, Crossroads of Western Iowa is distributing green wrist-bands to those wanting to promote injury prevention, and help those who have experienced a brain injury.

For a person with an intellectual disability, having someone believe in their abilities and enstill confidence in them, means so much.  This is the story being told by News Anchor, John Knicely of WOWT - Channel 6 in Omaha, during a segment called 'Knicely Done', which will air Thursday, February 26 during the 6 o'clock News.  The story features a Client who receives employment services from Crossroads of Western Iowa and his success in finding integrated community employment, and his self-confidence. 

Colloquial sayings surface out of acceptance and frequent usage, and invariably some become acronyms before our little texting fingers can adjust.  I would have to say, that years ago, if I overlooked something or forgot to follow-up with someone, they would have replied "no problem" or "no big deal".

“Captivating” is the best word to describe the smile and personality of Collette Beedle, one of the consumers at Crossroads of Western Iowa in Missouri Valley. 

When first approached to sit in the model accessible mini-van back in November 2014, Collette was asked for her personal opinion regarding this state-of-the-art vehicle, complete with wheelchair lift and access to the front dash area.  She was quite impressed and commented how happy she was to not have to sit in the back of the van by herself.