MOMENTUM

The Newsletter written by residents who are Moving Forward

September 2017

PG. 1

“Success Spotlight”

Moving Forward’s residents have many vocational success stories. Each of our residents work hard to learn

job skills, volunteer, gain work experience, become job ready, and gain competitive employment. This month,

‘Momentum’ is shining a spotlight on one of our very hard working and successful residents:

Bob is the ‘Momentum’ employee of the month.

Here is Bob’s success story in his own words:

A year ago, I was working at Goodwill. I found that there was not

much opportunity for advancement. I felt that it was best to explore

my options for another type of job. I began a 2 week “work assess-

ment” at Napa Personnel Systems (NPS). I worked as an adminis-

trative assistant and had many work duties. I did filing, collating,

answering the phone, proofreading, creating documents, copying,

and putting together training binders. I really enjoyed this work as-

sessment. I liked the varied work and my well trained coworkers. I

really enjoyed working in an office and decided that I would like to

get more training.

Moving Forward’s Community Resource Specialist, Barbara Montal-

do, helped me sign up for adult education classes in Napa. When

you first take adult education classes, they give you a test to deter-

mine what you are good at, I tested very well in Math and Account-

ing looked like a good fit for me. The classes were difficult at first,

but I hung in there. The finals were especially tough. I studied hard

right before each exam and that help me do well on the tests. This

trick helped me keep the course information in my brain.

At this time, I also started a longer term “work adjustment” at NPS.

I had the same job duties and got more experience working in an

office environment. When I passed my exams, I received certifi-

cates of completion for typing, bookkeeping, and accounting.

I am now happy to be starting an accounting internship at NPS! I

have also begun applying to offices to work as an administrative

assistant. Even if I get hired quickly at an office, I plan to further my

training by taking a course QuickBooks.

Through this, both NPS and Moving Forward’s Community Resource

Specialist have helped me get where I am today. I was able to learn

office skills by having a “work assessment” and “work adjustment”

at NPS. Barbara, Moving Forward’s Specialist, taught me job skills,

helped me figure out what I would be good at, and helped me take the right classes to reach my goal of working in an

office as an administrative assistant or an accountant. I am grateful for their help.

BOB

Bob’s many course completion certificates

“A Resident’s Perspective” By: Ellen S.

We all come from different journeys, wherever they may lead us. Strangers at first, in different periods

of our own lives, not knowing where it lead us to Moving Forward Towards Independence.

We became residents to gain an independent life for ourselves. Here, we have made many friends and

relationships, not realizing we became a family to support each other in difficult times. Yes, it may be

scary along the way, growing from that young child to independent adult.

Just know that all of us are working, in our own separate ways, to accomplish the same goal: to reach

that independent life for ourselves. We also have help.

We all have Case Managers, support staff, and each other to help prepare us for our future selves.

This is a resident’s perspective of Moving Forward Towards Independence.

PG. 2

“Community Living Summer Food Drive”

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I need to be”

- Douglas Adams

In July of 2017, Moving Forward

Towards Independence residents

and staff joined the Napa Food

Project where we continuously

collect non-perishable food, and

then donate the food to the Napa

Food Bank. On Saturday August

12th, Moving Forward resi-

dents went out into our neighbor-

hood to pick-up the green bags

that participants used to collect

their food in. In this first round of

donations we were able to collect

16 bags of food! We are now in

the second round of donations,

and will donate again in October.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this last round of food donations, and another thank-you to the

residents who helped to collect and bring all of the food to the Napa Food Bank! It is so great to give back to

our community! Good job, Sara, Morgan, John, Ellen, Paige, and Priya (not pictured)!

“Hosting” By: Sara W..

On Wednesday, August 22, I hosted a Community Living Bingo event.

Before people came over, I made sure my apartment was clean.

Guests can get upset if they go to a messy house. I ordered pizza for

my guests. People really like to eat pizza, and it was easy to serve

because we bought it. We also served salad and water. The salad

was for guests that wanted to eat healthier. I handed my guests bot-

tles of water to make sure they had something to drink. It was a hot

day. It is nice to serve food and drinks to your friends. They will like

the party more if you do.

I was nice to all of my guests. When people came to my house, I in-

vited them in and I welcomed them to my place. When it was time for

people to leave, I said goodbye to them and thanked them for com-

ing. It is important to be nice to your guests because if you are not they may not want to come

back to your house or your next event.

For this party at my house, we played BINGO. A lot of people had fun and won prizes. I won a

notebook and some pencils. The party went pretty well. A lot of people came and they had a

good time!

I like hosting because I like it when people come over to my place. I enjoy the Community Living

Events at Moving Forward because they are really fun!

PG. 3

“Crafter of the Month”

Jenn P. “This year I entered all of my crafts into the Napa County Fair. I made

a lot of purses and bracelets. I made the most items I have ever made

and I am proud to have won 24 ribbons at the fair! “ - Jenn

One of Jenn’s first

place winning purses

with a beautiful color

scheme.

A wall at the Napa

County Fair filled with

many of Jenn’s ribbon

winning purses.

Congratulations!!!

The newsletter, MOMENTUM, is written and created by the residents of Moving Forward Towards Independence.

Newsletter Editor and Writing support: Ryan W.

More information about Moving Forward Towards Independence can be found on our website:

moving-forward.org PG. 4

Rank Top 3

Activities

Description

1 Volcano Hike We went on a hike that lead us to the

bottom floor of a volcano. I got to see

steam coming up from an active volcano!

2 Dinner at

Lava Lava

We went out to dinner and we saw a

beautiful sunset and had some amazing

food!

3 “Fluming” We went on a canoe trip with two guides.

We learned how to paddle and work to-

gether. We floated on the water of an

old aqueduct. We rode in our inflatable

rafts through tunnels!

Other Fun Activities

—- Gender Reveal

Celebration

We had a party to celebrate the news

that my brother and his wife are having a

second child and it will be a girl! We

found out when they popped a balloon

and pink confetti came out!

—- Canoe race We watched the start of a canoe race.

Local Hawaiians were racing. It was in-

teresting to see the racers get ready for

the race, head to the starting line, and

begin racing.

—- Snorkeling We practiced snorkeling at a beach. The

best part was learning how to snorkel. I

did not see much sea life unfortunately.

—- Hilton Hotel My dad and I walked into the Hilton Hotel

and we saw a tram moving people

around the giant hotel. It was crazy to

see a tram inside of the hotel!

—- Birthday My family and I went to a sushi restau-

rant to celebrate my birthday. I really

enjoyed spending my birthday with my

family!

“Travel Photo Blog: Hawaii” By: Ross L.

In August, I was grateful to go on a family trip to Hawaii. We went to the big Island, and we got to do a

lot of fun activities. Below are some of my favorite experiences from my time in Hawaii.

I am thankful I got to be around my family for a such a fun vacation. I never walked on a volcano before.

I never have been “fluming” before. I never saw a tram in the middle of a hotel. It has been a long time

since I went on a trip with all of my siblings and I had a great time with family!

Active Volcano

Great view while “fluming”

Hiking!