John Donvan will speak about Autism: A Global Story on April 12.

The Arc of Anchorage and Alaska World Affairs Council would like to invite you to lunch with John Donvan and Dr. Thad Woodard to discuss Autism: A Global Story. The lunch program will be recorded and replayed on Dr. Woodard’s program, Line One: Your Health Connection on KSKA the following Monday. 

April 12, noon to 1:30
Hilton Anchorage Hotel

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Alaska World Affairs Council. 

John Donvan is a correspondent for ABC News’ “Nightline” based in Washington, D.C., and was an occasional substitute anchor for former anchor Ted Koppel. In a career that spans more than two decades for ABC News, Donvan has served as Chief White House Correspondent, Chief Moscow Correspondent, Amman Bureau Chief, Jerusalem Correspondent and Correspondent for the ABC News Magazine “Turning Point.”

More recently Donvan has received positive reviews for his work covering the war in Iraq as a unilateral reporter, for which the Chicago Sun Times named him one of the ten War Stars.

The first part of Donvan’s career was shaped as a foreign correspondent, beginning at the age of 25 for ABC Radio in 1980. In 1982 the network promoted him to television reporter. He was assigned to Jerusalem on the West Bank and the rest of the Arab world. From 1985 to 1988, he worked for CNN as a London-based correspondent, covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa. His live reporting on the U.S. bombing of Libya was likened to the work of Edward R. Murrow by the New York Daily News.

Donvan rejoined ABC in 1988. Based first in London and later Moscow, he covered nearly all of the major news events overseas through the 1980s and the 1990s, including the collapse of Communism (he was in Red Square the night the Soviet flag came down, and in Romania when Nicolae Ceausescu was arrested), the Iran-Iraq War, both Persian Gulf Wars, two Royal Weddings, the assassination of Anwar Sadat, the bombing of the marine barracks in Beirut and the end of the nuclear arms race).

Donvan returned to New York in 1993, where he contributed to ABC News’ magazine programs and “World News Tonight” and occasionally served as an anchor on “Good Morning America” and Weekend News broadcasts. In 1997 he was assigned to the network’s Washington bureau and the White House beat, covering the campaign finance scandal and the president’s travels abroad. He joined “Nightline” in 1998 and continues as one of that program’s small cadre of correspondents. He was an occasional substitute anchor for Ted Koppel, and hosted many interviews for “Nightline’s” production of “UpClose.”

Donvan has won two Emmy Awards, several Overseas Press Club Awards and two Cine Golden Eagles, and has been honored by the National Association of Black Journalists, the Committee of 100, and the Media Action Network for Asian-Americans.

A magna cum laude graduate from Dartmouth College and the Columbia School of Journalism, Donvan and his wife, Dr. Ranit Mishori, have one son, Ben, and a daughter, Noa.

Dr. Thad Woodard has a BS degree in chemistry from Bowling Green University and a medical degree from the University of Tennessee Medical Units in Memphis, Tennessee.

Following residency training in pediatrics, also at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Woodard worked for two years as a medical epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and was assigned to Alaska where he worked with the State of Alaska Division of Public Health. After completing this assignment, Dr. Woodard entered private practice as a pediatrician in 1980 and currently continues to work as a pediatrician in Anchorage with a special interest in allergy and asthma.

While working as a pediatrician, Dr. Woodard gained in interest in public broadcasting as a method of educating the public about medicine, medical care, and science. After a couple of appearances as a guest of JoAnn Chasman on Line One: Your Health Connection, Dr. Woodard became the host and producer in 2000 when Chasman moved to Chicago with her husband.  He remains interested in practicing pediatrics and promoting reliable health information to the public. Dr. Woodard has been married to his wife Linda for 34 years and has four daughters.

Anitlano (left) and one of the people he serves at the Recreation Center enjoy some time on the couch talking.

Antilano Gavino walked through the doors of The Arc of Anchorage Recreation Center not knowing what to expect, but with a desire to help people and stay active during retirement. He was part of a group of Anchorage seniors volunteering through the Senior Companion Program. That was thirteen years ago.

Antilano is a soft-spoken man who cares about people and enjoys helping them. Five days a week, he boards an AnchorRides bus bound for The Arc. From 9 am to 1 pm, Antilano works with people in the Recreation Center, providing whatever help they need to participate in center activities. He is known for his skill in making perfect hot cocoa and routinely brings enough crackers in his lunch to share with others.

The people he serves affectionately call him “grandpa,” a title he embraces.

Currently, there are four seniors volunteering at The Arc through the Senior Companion Program. The program is part of Senior Corp, a federal corporation connecting seniors 55 and older with people and organizations that need them. Currently about 500,000 Americans serve through Senior Corps sharing their experience, knowledge, and skills. The goal of the Senior Companion Program is to match seniors with adults in the community who have difficulty with day-to-day living. Senior companions receive a small hourly stipend for their service.

Studies have linked volunteering with longer life and creating a positive outlook. In a report titled “The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research,” researchers found people who volunteer regularly have lower mortality rates, increased cognitive ability, and lower rates of depression.

Antilano wears a pin on his red vest just above his name badge. It was recently presented to him by the Anchorage Senior Activity Center to celebrate thirteen years of community service. That pin represents the thousands of hours he has volunteered and hundreds of lives he has made brighter by his presence. According to Antilano, he gets the better end of the deal because before coming to The Arc he spent his days with nothing to do. Over thirteen years, Antilano has learned many new things and met many “grandkids” he didn’t know before becoming a Senior Companion.

Volunteers are an important part of The Arc. There is a saying that people share what they have in abundance, whether it is time, talent, or treasure. The Arc can use whatever you have in abundance to help Alaskans who experience intellectual or developmental disabilities achieve success.

Mark’s parents faced the stark reality that they would not be around forever.  Mark’s mom says, “Parenting doesn’t stop with any of your children but it really doesn’t stop when you have a child with a disability.” Dave and Margaret Falsey faced a common dilemma for parents with a child who experiences an intellectual or developmental disability: what will happen to our child once we are no longer able to care for them?

Watch the video to learn how Mark’s family, with the help of The Arc of Anchorage and Pick.Click.Give. donors, were able to find him a safe home.  Mark’s story is just one example of the positive impact Alaskans make in the lives of others when they share just a little of their PFD through Pick.Click.Give.

Gwen (right), Executive Director of The Arc, talks with the grandparent of a person served by The Arc of Anchorage.

Representatives from The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) announced that The Arc of Anchorage has received full accreditation by CQL. This announcement makes The Arc of Anchorage the first human services organization serving Alaskans    who experience disabilities to receive accreditation by CQL. The announcement was made to a packed meeting room after an intense week of site visits, interviews, and meetings with representatives from CQL.

The Council on Quality and Leadership began in 1969 with the movement towards increased community-based services and less institutionalization for people who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities. In the 70s, the federal government adopted CQL’s standards for community agencies and for residential care facilities. CQL accredits 450 organizations worldwide.

Gwen Lee, Executive Director of The Arc, said, “The Arc requested accreditation by CQL because of their high standards for accreditation. We want The Arc to be the best place for Alaskans who experience disabilities to receive services. CQL looks beyond basic assurances of safety and also evaluated The Arc on the quality of life of the people we serve.”

Representatives from CQL spent a week in Anchorage evaluating The Arc. Aside from making sure The Arc met the standard for basic safety and welfare, they interviewed people served by The Arc to determine the level to which the organization helps people achieve their goals. CQL refers to this as person-centered services and personal outcomes.

Steven, a person served by The Arc, summed up person-centered services by saying, “We don’t want to feel like we are being worked on; we want to feel we are being worked with.”

The work really begins with accreditation because The Arc will repeat the process in four years. Over the next four years, The Arc will work on three focus areas. Action plans include: increasing a person’s involvement in planning for and meeting their goals, a stable and qualified workforce, and increasing information and training for staff. The Arc selected these focus areas based on the visit from CQL.

“Our goal is to continually raise the bar for services we provide. Everyone at The Arc is excited by the announcement. We will pause for celebration, but not for long because the focus areas will require a lot of work by our staff.” Lee said.

Raymond is holding a silent auction for this table during the First Friday show at Sugarspoon.

The Arc of Anchorage and the artists of The Arc invite you to a First Friday art celebration. Join us for dessert and art from 7:00 to 9:00 pm on November 2 at Sugarspoon.  As a special treat, Raymond is holding a silent auction for the table in this photo. During the month of November, when you order the Orange Cream Mousse, Sugarspoon will donate the proceeds to Alaskans who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities. Thank you for supporting local artists and business.

• The Arc’s “whole person” approach to service delivery creates real results in Alaskans’ lives.
• With the support and encouragement of her team at The Arc, Sharun has turned her life around.

Sharun Harris (foreground) is proud of the changes in her life over the past couple years. Jennifer Dooc (background), her case manager, celebrates Sharun’s success. Sharun’s success includes working as part of The Arc’s newest partnership with Illusions Food Company.

Sharun feels good these days. Life wasn’t always good or easy for her. Sharun has dealt with challenges and made some poor choices. For Sharun “feeling good” means a safe place to lay her head, people who care about her, economic and personal security, good health, and a vision for the future. The Arc of Anchorage strives to make life good for Alaskans who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities—not extraordinary . . . just ordinary. Like the lives of you and your neighbors.

Sharun’s story began in Arkansas 35 years ago. The state took custody of her when she was eleven. After that, she lived in a series of formal and informal foster homes and several institutions. She came to Alaska to live with an aunt when she was in middle school. Sharun experiences both an intellectual disability and mental illness – and let’s face it, some people are unkind.

She has been taken advantage of by others and felt the sting of harsh words. She has experienced abuse, struggled with addiction, and the legal system. Just when it seemed things could not get worse, Sharun developed heart problems and had difficulty walking even short distances.

The Arc of Anchorage long ago recognized serving the whole person was vital to a person’s success. Two key components of this approach are Behavioral Health Services (BHS) and Community Living Services (CLS). BHS serves children and adults with a mental illness who also experience an intellectual or developmental disability. CLS provides support to encourage and develop independence that will allow adults to live on their own or with staff and avoid institutionalization.

Two years ago, things began to change for Sharun. Sharun decided she wanted a better life and asked The Arc for help in reaching that goal. Instead of receiving services from several agencies, she would now have consolidated services at The Arc. With the help of a brand new team at The Arc, Sharun started the hard work of turning her decision into reality. She set goals and stuck with them: secure housing, ongoing counseling, job training, and a job in the community.

Sharun’s team worked to help her reduce stress and increase security. With a better sense of self-worth and newly-mastered life skills, Sharun’s determination and hard work moved her toward the life she wanted. Sharun has much to be proud of. Her team is thrilled with her success.

Case manager Jennifer Dooc believes The Arc’s “people first” philosophy made the difference for Sharun. “Sharun has blossomed with the support of her team,” says Dooc. “She reciprocates the respect, values, and trust team members extended to her from the beginning.”

Sharun now works at a job she enjoys. She is substance-free. Her health is greatly improved. Sharun knows she doesn’t have to accept mistreatment from others. And she is saving money for a trip to the Lower 48 to visit family and Las Vegas. Sit back and feel good. Because your support allows The Arc to help people like Sharun achieve good in their lives

. . . and sometimes just feeling good feels amazing.

Next time you need ready made cookie dough, look for Busy Baker.

Busy Baker Cookie Dough, is a new tasty locally produced and sustainable product hitting store shelves in Anchorage. Two organizations have developed a unique partnership benefiting Alaskans who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities. Under this partnership The Arc of Anchorage provides employees to package and prepare the dough for shipping and Illusions Food Company will provide a dedicated space at their commercial baking facility. The employees receive a competitive wage and a percentage of the profits are donated to The Arc of Anchorage to help provide services to other Alaskans who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Illusions Foods Company is owned by Dave Walker and his wife, Trace. Dave and Trace Walker intimately understand the challenges facing a person who experiences a disability in the workforce. As a child, Dave was very close with a family member who experienced Down’s syndrome and Trace experiences Multiple Sclerosis. The Walkers wanted to give back to the community by developing a sustainable product that would employ and pay Alaskans who experience disabilities a competitive wage.

The Arc of Anchorage’s Supported Employment Program has a long history in Anchorage of training Alaskans who experience disabilities to enter the workforce. The program began by assembling rotary phones in a work shop. Gwen Lee, Executive Director of The Arc said, “The people we serve are very capable of learning skills and maintaining meaningful employment in the community. Just like any other employee, they need training to help them with the basics of getting and keeping a job. Work is an expectation. The biggest challenge is finding a job that pays competitive wages.”

Currently, there are 29 Alaskans in training at The Arc. When those people complete the program they will head out into the community to find employment. The Arc also provides job coaches once the person is employed to help the person maintain the job.

The head of baking at Illusions designed the recipes for the casual home baker. Currently, Busy Baker Cookie Dough comes in two varieties, Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter and is available at Chevron Stores and soon at Fred Meyer. Over the next year, The Arc and Illusions will work to make it widely available throughout South Central Alaska.

We’re not really sure, but The Arc of Anchorage invites you to join a mad cast of characters for the Artful Tea. The Artful Tea will be an afternoon of whimsy, tea sandwiches, and of course, tea. If you find a teapot that catches your eye, don’t worry, it is possible to leave with it and not worry about the King of Hearts.

 If you have not guessed yet, the theme for the Artful Tea is Alice in Wonderland. Come dressed as your favorite character (or not) and join a cast of characters assembled by The Arc’s rabbit hole researchers.

The Artful Tea is a fundraiser benefitting The Arc’s Recreation Center. The recreation center provides life skills education, art, and recreation for hundreds of Alaskans who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities. Many of these Alaskans are facing reductions in access to the recreation center because of cuts to state and federal funding. For some of these Alaskans, it means less opportunity to live an ordinary life. You can help  . . . and the first step is purchasing a ticket to the Artful Tea and joining us for a couple hours of fun and refreshments.

The Artful Tea will be noon to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday July 21at The Field of Dreams at The Arc of Anchorage. Tickets are $50 per person — call 277-6677 to buy your ticket and reserve your place today. Tickets are also available at Blaine’s Art. All the teapots will be auctioned during the event.