Lifeworks Community,
I am thrilled to welcome to you to the first edition of our monthly eNewsletter, LifePursuits! Each month, we will share the latest happenings at Lifeworks, along with stories from our community.
2023 is our first full year of our new strategic plan, and our staff and partners have responded positively. As such, we have received grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Human Services in support of two of our strategic pillars. This financial support from DHS, will fund initiatives to bring our core services to more Minnesotans and to increase our effectiveness as we strive to provide culturally specific services.
In early May, we received heartbreaking news that Jim Wolford, co-founder of Atomic Data, had suddenly passed away. Jim was a dedicated supporter of Lifeworks for many years – employing people with disabilities, advocating for more inclusive workplaces and communities, and encouraging his network to support our mission. Our deepest sympathies are with Jim’s family and his team at Atomic Data. We will ensure Jim’s legacy of community and compassion live on through our commitment to advancing disability inclusion.
I invite you to join us at our upcoming event: Listen. EDUCATE. Navigate.™ A Conversation on Disability Inclusion on June 7. We have an amazing panel of disability advocates, including Dr. Verna Price, who will share actionable ways for us to advance disability inclusion in our own communities.
As we refine our monthly LifePursuits eNewsletter, I encourage you to share your feedback with us. Let us know what’s working, what you’d like to hear more about, and how we can better partner with you. Please send your feedback to contact@lifeworks.org.
Warmly,
Gertrude Matemba-Mutasa
Lifeworks President and CEO
