Partnerships

Increasing our Impact by Working Together

The LEAD Program

In January 2011, Kokua and The Evergreen State College’s Center for Community Based Learning and Action launched a pilot program called LEAD (Literacy and Education for Adults with Disabilities). The LEAD program matches volunteer student tutors with Kokua learners to help them achieve educational goals. LEAD emphasizes the individual needs of each learner, thus while the tutors promote literacy, they teach skills specific to the desires and abilities of each learner. The experience also has significant benefits for the tutors. The experience provides TESC tutors with new insights, helping them to clarify their career aspirations. The end of this academic year culminated with a graduation ceremony for five learner/tutor pairs. Our vision for the program is twofold. We hope to open it up to individuals outside the Kokua community. We also hope to establish new partnerships with other local colleges and universities in order to create a vibrant community of leaning and friendship.

Working with South Sound Parent-to-Parent

What could be more logical than that a nonprofit organization supporting children and families with special needs working cooperatively with a nonprofit organization supporting adults with developmental disabilities? Almost makes you wonder why we didn’t think of it sooner!

Both organizations are coping with the challenges of severe state funding cutbacks. Both organizations feel a deep responsibility for the welfare of local citizens with disabilities. The Board members for both organizations took the step of initiating this partnership with the bold intention of expanding local impact in a time of shrinking resources.

The first result of this partnership was the launch of a series of free informational workshops for families of individuals with disabilities. The second result was the decision to participate in joint fundraising activities- easing the burden on staff members and creating a fun signature event, Sensational Saturday. By crossing the artificial lines created by state funding streams, both organizations have gained strength and a renewed sense of mission.

Partnership with local churches, businesses and civic organizations

Individuals served by Kokua have benefitted in varying ways from the generosity of local organizations. Thurston County has a high volunteer participation rate and the positive impact is evident in the valuable work that is done. Kokua is very lucky to be based in such a caring community.

• Teams of local volunteers working through the United Way Day of Caring have weeded, planted, painted, pressure washed and scrubbed the homes of Kokua clients.
• The amazing people from GRUB have built and planted garden boxes, giving individuals their first taste of home gardening.
• A group volunteers from the River Ridge Covenant Church performed the dangerous, but necessary task of gutter cleaning for some Kokua clients.
• A very energetic group of volunteers from the Jubilee Community Service Club completed some long awaited painting projects and spruced up front yards.
• We are very appreciative of our long-standing relationship with St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Lacey. They generously lend us the use of their kitchen for our Cooking Class and other events. This year their Hand Bell Choir is volunteering their time for Sensational Saturday.
• Gary Briggs of Ultimate Fitness in Lacey has donated space for our Fitness Class, which is hugely popular. Fitness guru, Sonja Randall, leads the class and makes exercise a positively joyful experience!