CONGRATULATIONS ON A MAJOR MILESTONE
PAI has been helping people with developmental disabilities connect with the community since 1990, 35 years this year!
“ Our partnerships with local companies touch many people at PAI. The community employment is really focused on the kind of work, and to some degree the place a person wants to work. We consider what a person is interested in doing, their skills, and their experience, then set them up for success in a particular kind of work,” said Mike Miner, President, PAI.
Among the companies providing PAI clients with meaningful jobs in the community: Opitz Outlets, U. S. Bank and the White Bear Lake School District. The nonprofit also partners with companies such as Design House, Trane and Wilbert Plastics to provide the people needed to complete tasks that can be done in-house.
In addition, PAI assists people with expanding their life skills by providing
Rehearsing for the big performance at Lakeshore Players Theatre
them with experiential opportunities that can range on a daily basis from going to the zoo to exploring their preferences for how they want to dress and then taking them shopping. Other experiences include animal therapy, music therapy and opportunities to engage with others in the community.
“ We have partnerships with Lakeshore Players, White Bear Center for the Arts, Cow Tipping Press and other organizations to create experiences for people to express themselves in
Partnering with the Vadnais Heights business community to empower adults with disabilities through employment services and life enrichment programs.
Hire clients at Merrick for: Retail Support- Light Assembly- Kitting- Packaging Food Service- Paper Shredding- Plastic Recycling- Mailings- Clerical Services- Copy Paper Sales
To learn about the workforce services we can offer at your location or ours, contact Pat Hanson at path @ merrickinc. org or by phone at 651-789-6222.
www. merrickinc. org
Reading from published work at Cajeta Coffee
writing, and through performance and art, and then share their work in community and other venues,” said Miner.
Already scheduled for 2025, a public performance in May of a play written and performed by PAI clients in partnership with Lakeshore Players. In late 2024, PAI clients did a public readings of stories and reflections they had written and published with the help of staff at Cow Tipping Press. The culminating public reading happened at a jam-packed Cajeta Coffee in White Bear Lake.
“ It was an amazing experience of self discovery and self reflection. You heard fun and funny, surprise and sometimes sadness in the stories. The reading was a really beautiful thing,” he said.
Miner added that he is feeling very good about what’ s ahead for the organization in 2025.“ It’ s a very exciting time at PAI as we expand programming in the community, expand employment, life enrichment and other learning opportunities,” he said.“ We see people every day making strides and finding new ways to live their life in bigger and better ways.”
Members of the public will have the opportunity to support the work being done by PAI this September at“ Made in the Shade,” a walk, run and roll fundraiser supporting multiple disabilities service organizations, including PAI. The event will be held at Lake Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis and feature live music, food and fun.
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