February 13, 2025 • 30 mins
At Not Forgotten Home & Community Services, we work with individuals to aid in the development of all ability levels. We provide a variety of services to promote a holistic life so that each individual can prosper. https://www.nfhcs.org/
About Studio Forget-Me-Not! Our mission is to consciously shape our perspective, and the perspective of others, by offering/expanding opportunities for artistic expression and development.
About Studio Forget-Me-Not! Our mission is to consciously shape our perspective, and the perspective of others, by offering/expanding opportunities for artistic expression and development.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
And welcome in. This is a public affairs program shedding
the light on the interest, issues and concerns of the
greater Pittsburgh areat. Good morning. My name is Johnny heart Well.
Today's topic is not Forgotten Homes and Services and Studio
Forget Me Not. A couple lovely ladies in studios Sonya,
Garrett Garnett, Williams CEO, Good morning, how are you.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good morning, Johnny, Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Good to see you again. How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
I'm wonderful. How are you.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
I'm doing I'm splendid. And Laura Stewart, good morning. How
are you today?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Good morning? I am doing well.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
All right.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
So I kind of discovered Studio Forget Me Not. I
was kind of in Carnegie a couple of years ago,
went into this little shop and it was just this
menagerie of like amazing things, and ran into Laura and
she kind of told me what the background of the
Studio Forget Me Not. And that was kind of just
the iceberg, you know, the tip of the iceberg. This
(00:57):
is an organization that is providing some amazing services in
the Greater Pittsburgh area, and I wanted to find more.
Had you ladies in about a year ago. Right, yes, arkay, well,
I'm glad you came back. I'm not scaring you away.
You came back. That's that's a that's a good side.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yes, the pleasure is ours.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Also, let's start with Not Forgotten Forgotten Homes and Services.
Tell us everything we need to know about the organization.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
You know what, Not Forgotten Home and Community Services is
an organization that was started ten years ago and since
then we have grown leaps and bounds. We've added services
to our resume and it's it's just wonderful because we're growing.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
So what who who do you? What services do you provide?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
We provide respite, we provide residential, We provide community outings
with just habilitation or companion we provide.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
These are for individuals with challenges.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
All for individuals with special needs. Correct.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
And then we have the wonderful art studio.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
And that's that's the storefront.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
That's the storefront, the gallery and the studio all in one.
All right.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
So when you said it started about ten years ago, yes,
it didn't start out as a studio. It just started
out various services for the community.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yes, we have we have grown to include this studio.
Laura can elaborate more.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
We expanded. Well, the studio started what seven years ago,
I think at this point seven years ago, opposite end
of the street from where we're at now. And I
don't know. Sonya and I got together because I painted
a mural for a while in one of our activity
centers and I told her what I wanted to do,
(02:59):
and I was working at another job at the time,
and she said, come here and do it. And it
is to start a studio for adults with intellectual disabilities
or physical disabilities as well. So now we have that
and we have about thirty participants.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
You know, my mother was an artist, my sister was
an artist. I dabble, but you know, I think art
is kind of a window into a soul, and when
you walk into the studio, suddenly those souls come alive
and they're I don't know how do I describe it.
(03:39):
They're different. But when you find out who created this artwork,
it's amazing, it's heartwarming. And so they learn some techniques
from you. You have a like a there's classrooms and
there's participation. So how many how many individuals participate in
(04:03):
studio forget me not?
Speaker 3 (04:05):
So we have classes every day of the week and
we have twelve people we allow in each class just
because we allow, but you know, that's just the capacity.
But we have about thirty participating artists right now, which
is wonderful and it's growing, grows almost weekly. We have
(04:29):
a new face popping in which is nice. And each
day we focus on a different project or a different
art media. So we have anything from painting to three
D sculpture, to ceramics to jewelry, and then we also
(04:49):
bring in participating artists and they share what they do
and so we have a lot that we cover.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
They may be they may have a disability, but you're
accentuating the ability exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Oh yeah, and you go in and it's magic. It is, truly,
because that's the thing they sometimes they're used to people
doing things for them. A lot of the folks that
come and not given the opportunity to hold a brush
(05:24):
and have paint, or not given the opportunity to take
a needle and thread and sew something, because it's perceived
that they can't.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
But art is one of those things that you cannot
get wrong. So that's the beauty of them being able
to do their art because there is no right or
wrong way to do anything. It's their expression and they
like that and they look forward to those checks every
month too. They did every quarter when they receive their checks.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Yeah, we tell only do you teach them they're creating.
They've created a piece of artwork. And then studio Forget
Me Not allows them to blaye their artwork and allows
the community to buy the items.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
Yes, and then they make money they do, yes, exactly.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
It's exciting.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
So it's not just the pleasure of creating art for
art's sake. They get paid, which is which is the
bonus for for an artist.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Right, it really is. And the smile that is so cute,
I mean it is, it's wonderful. And the smiles first
of all when you hand them the check, the smiles,
but the smiles of accomplishment. Sure, because you know, sometimes
these are things that they've never been able to do
or have the chance to do, and when they do it,
(06:40):
they're super excited.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
And Laura, I like to also share the story that
you always share about a participant who hated art. He
thought he did not want art at all. He now
comes every week and loves it. He looks forward to
art class.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
It wouldn't have a week without it.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
So what's the change? What was the change? What was
the transition?
Speaker 3 (07:01):
I think it was that opportunity to do it and
have materials in front of them that maybe they aren't
normally given because it's too messy or too whatever, or
they can't. Sometimes again it's perceived that, oh, they can't
do that, they can't do that. Well, no, maybe they can't.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
So all right, let's go back to the beginning. You
said the not forgetting homes and community services started about
ten years ago, the studio about seven, yes, years ago,
so you know, in addition to the studio, what other
services do you provide?
Speaker 2 (07:34):
We now have a new program. It's the REACH program.
It's a day program. The acronym for really Exceptional Abilities
and Caring Hearts. It's INCARNAGIE two. We have the beautiful
building that used to be the old Salvation Army. Then
it was an IT company, and now we have the
(07:56):
privilege of being in that fourteen thousand square foot building
and in that building. The day program that was created
was exceptionally different from any other day program me. Being
in this field for so long, I've been in other
agencies and I see what they do and we just
(08:18):
leaps and bounds go overboard with the activities and things
that we're offering in that program. We also have a
mock apartment in that program that will teach independence for
our individuals, you know, their daily living skills. We have
a living room, dining, kitchen room. We have a bedroom,
(08:41):
an office, and a laundry room. So in each of
those rooms they can practice daily living skills to become
more independent. We have an open area, we have a
gym where health and wellness is what we're really aiming
for this year too. So it's just a wonderful opportunity
to see it finally come to Fruition.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
So who started the organization.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Myself and my husband.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Okay, yeah, so what prompted you to start the organization?
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Well, I tell everybody this story. I worked for UPMC
and I was in a program, a surgical tech program
that I just found no interest in. It was just,
you know, so hard for me. So then I tried.
I always wanted to be a nurse, so I tried
(09:33):
nurses aid. They had me stalking towels and I'm just like, okay, lord,
I know you have more for me than just the
stock towls.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
It's pretty hard to You're contributing, but you're not really
contributing to the community as a whole. We need we
need towel folders. We definitely knew right, but intellectually stimulating
it isn't right right.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
And so with that, there was an an employment at
lying on the table and I I picked it up
and Achieva had this big ad for direct support staff
and so I applied, got the job and found my
life's calling. I've been doing That was over thirty years ago,
(10:15):
you know. So I've been doing this almost thirty five
years now.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
When you start as a fetus.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Thirty five yearsss have me speechless.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Thank you, thank you. Behind this face is a lot
of stuff, you know. I mean, I've gone through a
lot since starting the program. I was diagnosed with breast
cancer and so during the pandemic, well it was you know,
God has a sense of humor because while everybody was
(10:51):
in their house, it was wonderful because I was going
through my chemo and able to stay home. I would
have my meetings on the the computer with no picture
of course, because I was so sick. But you know what,
I'm on that other side now and it's wonderful. But
what were we talking about? John?
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Well, all right, so you started with upmc as a
as a nurse's aide. You decided that chieva. You thought, okay,
I'm going to go into a different direction. You're going
to and so that was like thirty years ago. So
how did you end up starting this particular organization.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Well, as we were working with various organizations and decided,
my husband and I when we decided we wanted to
do it, I said to him, we can do this.
You know, just being in these different agencies and seeing
what was what was not being done, I knew I
had to do something because it has to be more
(11:47):
than just showing up to the job. You have to
love what you do, and it makes showing up so
much more easy. If you don't, you're going to be
you know, it's just not for everybody, but those that
are in it kudos because especially if you're not in
it just for the money, there's really no money to
be made in it's field. Unfortunate.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
So when you started your organization and has it changed
quite a bit, what was the original idea for the
organization and how has it evolved?
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Well, you know, what the original idea was just Home
and Community Services. That was the have and Companion Services,
and my husband said, Sonya, we need to add residential,
and I fought him tooth and now on that I'm like,
we don't need RESK and I'm so glad that I
finally rescinded you my opinion. And we actually started the
(12:41):
residential because during the pandemic, when you couldn't go out,
there was no source of income coming in. What we
did we hired the parents to go ahead and work
with their loved ones and they're still getting those services
that they need. But it's just we We've grown, We've
(13:01):
we've added residential, We've we've added the day program, we've
added the art program, and we're not finished. You know,
this is just the beginning. I want to also add
an autistic program, so that that's our next go round.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
What now, what is your husband's name?
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Jonathan Williams.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Jonathan Williams. And you explained your organization. All I heard
is that your husband was right.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
I'm like, he was right, that ary it could happen.
It can happen.
Speaker 5 (13:39):
Every once in a while we get a little nugget
we are right once Jonathan, You're my hero, all right, Laura,
so briefly kind of described how you you and Sonya
kind of hooked up.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
But how is your role with the organization changed, How
did it start and how is it evolved for your participation?
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Well from my participation when we started the studio together.
And I have to say this first of all, because
Sonya won't she's modest, she won't say this, but everything
that she does, including this new program, is beautiful. So
I want to go back to that because it is
(14:22):
like all the houses, the programs, everything is filled with art,
Everything is filled with color. So it's not just giving
folks a place, but it's giving folks an inspiring place
to be. Thank you, Laura, So you're welcome. But I
started well, I met Sonya when I worked at Blind
and Vision Rehabilitation Services and she was coming in through
(14:45):
a temp agency and I started painting furniture for her
house that she just bought with Jonathan, and she liked
how I painted furniture. I used all kinds of colors
that she likes. And then that one piece led to another,
their piece to another piece, and then it led to
a vocation. Absolutely, But I have my background isn't both
(15:12):
art education and marketing and graphic design. So, you know,
to be able to work a job where I can
utilize my skills, especially when it comes to art, because
not always is it easy to find a job where
you can utilize art for whatever reason is wonderful.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
But to use art, which is a passion of yours, yeah,
for a great cause which you also were interested in,
that's a that's a real commodity.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
It's it's a wonderful commodity because I love the people.
That's the thing. If I walk into that studio for
any reason in a bad mood, I'm immediately twitched to
another frame of mind.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
So when you first started, was it just an initial
class where you're starting drawing or painting or something like that,
And how has that grown?
Speaker 3 (16:05):
It started as a one day a week venture because
I was kind of doing a dual role at the time,
working out in the community with some of the folks
at Not Forgotten and teaching art one day a week,
and it was all types of art. And then we
eventually added teachers and added days to the program, and
(16:27):
then I cut back with certain areas and stepped up
with other areas. But that was kind of you know,
how it all began was just one day a week,
but there was programming for it, and then it was
evenings at the time, and now it's turned into days.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
All right, Well, I have additional questions. But for somebody
who is who maybe have a loved one who would
be interested in maybe introducing, you know, the classes, what's
the process? How do they get involved?
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Well, they can contact us through our websites. We have
two websites. We have one it's NFHCS dot org.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Say that again slower.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
N f h CS dot org stands for Not Forgotten
Home and Community Services and then their studio forget Me
not dot org.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Okay, you know you named your organization not Forgotten. Tell
us the background. Why would you call your organization that?
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Well, you know what I was thinking one day and
I was the one that named it, just going through
names and not Forgotten. Just thought with me because a
lot of these individuals are forgotten. You have a lot
of big organizations that provide the service, but the care,
(17:53):
the quality of life is not there. So I wanted
to let everybody know at not Forgot, you are not forgotten.
We want to meet you where you are and work
to get you where you would like.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
To be there was a certain stigma thirty years ago,
forty years ago, and that has improved, it hasn't. It
hasn't gone away completely. And so when you when you
name your organization not Forgotten, do you think people are
a little more sensitive to individuals with special needs now
(18:26):
than maybe when you first started?
Speaker 2 (18:29):
You know what it's It's funny because I think they're
a little more sensitive to a point. Unless you're directly
affected by this life of having a loved one with
special needs. A lot of people don't know, don't wish
to know. It's just it's a lost population. So what
(18:51):
I'm seeing now is they've they've created you know, rules
and guidelines where no more institutions, but it's still an
institutional mindset. You're still you know, when you have an
individual where they can't live next door to each other,
they're best friends and one they don't want to be roommates,
(19:11):
but they want to be neighbors. To say that you
can't share walls, that to me, that's a rights violation
because you and if we wanted to move next door
to our neighbor, we can do that. If we wanted to,
you know, live in a community, we can do that.
You know, I still see sometimes landlords who don't want
(19:34):
to rent to this population. I think there's a stigma
that everybody is destructive. Everybody you know sits and drools
and will you know, mess up their property. But it's
funny because to answer your question, it has shifted were
more people are they know about special needs, But I
(19:55):
would like to see them do a better job of
really getting to know. Now.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
I understand that, you know, from a budgetary standpoint, our
government only has so much funds. But when you talk
about a community that is more frequently being left out,
when you talk about the waiting list for group homes,
it is astounding. It's shocking, it is. And and the
(20:21):
fact that you're trying to help ease that burden when
you're when you have a facility, it allows them to
kind of rehearse living on their own. I think that's
a brilliant idea. And I and then the fact that
you know you're giving them an artistic outlet and a
chance to make their own money. Absolutely, yeah, I think
(20:43):
it's a I think it's a great organization.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Thank you. We do too. We we definitely feel that
Not Forgotten is a different place to work where a
family feel. Laura and I met years ago just working
together at Blind Envisions, and we created a friendship. You know,
this is like my sister, So we're nice. We like
to employ people who want to do and make a
(21:09):
difference in this in this field, you know, bring visionaries on,
share your ideas. We would like to learn and grow.
And she shared her art idea and I told her
from day one, do what you need to do to
make it happen.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
And you're going to be introducing some new programs. Can
you tell us a little about that.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Well, we're going after the autism waiver. We're still waiting
for approval, but I would like to you know, I
had some a group of spellers who are artistic, but
instead of communicating, they communicate with a board us and
they came and a mother said to me, what can
we do to get this? She was down at our
(21:51):
open house to get this in the north and you
know we've been sitting down at the table. We opened
our space with this, you know, while the day program
was up and coming. And that's that's the next thing
I would like to do is to really focus on
the autism side.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Are you familiar with the charity band together.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
We use band together. Do you there are DJs?
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Yes, yes, because you guys are kind of you're in
the same name. It's just you know their music and
that's an expression of art and you have art on
the page and the and the things like that. That
is great that you use their DJs.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
Yeah, well I think you mentioned them last year and
then we looked into them.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
Oh really, yeah, thank you. Well, I'm with Jonathan everyone,
So all right again for people who are just tuning in,
tell us everything we need to.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Know about not forgotten homes and community services? What is
what do you want people to know about your gization?
Speaker 2 (23:02):
You know what being I would like them to know.
We're a new organization compared to the bigger organizations out there,
but we come with fresh eyes. We come with compassion
and empathy. We come with love for the individual. We
want them to share the same lifestyle and livelihood that
(23:23):
we have in their rural you know, we don't want
them to feel that they can't do anything. We want
them to know that they can do everything that we
can do. It's just on a different level when we
have to go about it differently, so not forgotten. It's
just a wonderful agency. If I may say so myself.
(23:46):
We do things differently, and that's what I would like
people to really do things differently.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
But what do you do specifically? What services do you provide?
Speaker 2 (23:55):
We provide, as I said before, the residential respite, habilitation,
the art program, the Reach program, which is a day program.
We are looking into an autism program, and we're also
(24:16):
going to go after behavioral and we're also going to
go after job coaching and we'll do that through Laura's
program that she's starting next month.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
Oh okay, tell us about that.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
So that program is called next Level. So we've seen
where some of our artists are not just growing. They
would live at the studio if they could, and they're
doing their own and that is the truth. They're doing
their own work at home all the time and bringing
(24:52):
it into the studio. So for those folks that are
showing more independence as far as an artist, where we
as teaching artists know all the teachers there are artists.
We know that we're always doing our own work at
home too. That's a passion, and so we're giving those
(25:13):
folks that do it all the time and show that
exceptional independence in it. The opportunity to come to a
next level program which is going to be on Thursdays
and Fridays at the studio and it's all day immersive
art so that they can grow their skill level even further.
(25:33):
So that's the next level program. And that's literally the
next level that I don't know.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
How you have enough hours of the day to provide
all these services for.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
We have wonderful staff. We have a team.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
But how tell us tell us about your team? How
many how many Lauras do you have?
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Oh, how many are with you in the day program?
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Well, you only have one Laura.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
But the art program, our program, we have three other
tea right now and including me and like I said,
thirty participants, roughly thirty and that's it. But each teacher
has an area of focus, so we have one teacher.
(26:16):
We don't just hire our teachers arbitrarily just because maybe
they're interested in art or they do are. We hire
them because they have passion for the folks we work with,
and they also have an exceptional ability to bring to
the table.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
So not only to provide classes for these individual special needs,
but you have an opportunity to showcase them in a
studio in a storefront. So tell us about the store.
So give it that. When somebody enters the door, what
do they see?
Speaker 3 (26:46):
Yeah, well, when they enter the store, they're graded and
a lot of times by one of our artists that participate,
and they're they're told, you know who we are, that
we're a nonprofit and this is what we do, and
they're encouraged to look around. Everything they see is very colorful,
(27:06):
very lively. We're changing it all the time. They can
come into the store. The front area is more small
giftable items, and the second room is more of a
gallery space where there's more large framed art. And then
we have the classroom.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
And we only have a couple minutes left, So let's
drill in on some of the things that you want
people to know about your organization. If they can help,
or if they would like to volunteer, or if they
would like to maybe get employed, or if they have
a loved one that they think would be interested in
some of the programs. What's the process.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
Well, we are always open to taking donations, We are
always open to volunteers. We are always open to new staff,
you know, those empathetic staff that love our individuals.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Now, if I wouldn't want to volunteer. Do I have
to have a level of artistic talent? No good, because
I can do that.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
Yes you can. Well, and we have like the store too,
that people can volunteer in to operate the store during
retail hours where the teachers are teaching. That's that's a
really big thing. That would be incredibly helpful. So if
anyone in the community wants to come and volunteer in
our store, that would be very nice.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Sign me up.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Okay, yeah, the only thing we have to get our
clearances and then you can come in and do.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
That might be shaky for me, Okay, all right, we're
out of time, but this is such a great organization.
So the website if for the for Not Forgotten Homes
and Community Service, what is your.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Website www dot n f HCS dot.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
All right, sonya. And for the studio Forget Me Not,
what is your website?
Speaker 3 (29:05):
The studio website is Studio Forget Me Not dot org.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
And where's the storefront exactly?
Speaker 3 (29:11):
The storefront is three two nine East Main Street, Carnegie.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
You know, Carnegie has really grown into a q Q
community and not only should you stop by the studio,
but check out Carnegie because it's really every growing community.
So Sonya, Laura, thank you so much for your time
and good luck. Thank you and hopefully we'll see you soon.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Okay, thank you, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
As always, if you have any comments, concerns, or an
idea for our future program, please email us from this
radio station's website. I'm Johnny Heartwell, thank you so much
for listening.
Speaker 6 (29:53):
Hey, life doesn't stop when cancer starts. Some don't make
it to treatment simply because they don't have a ride.
You can change that. Volunteer to drive with the American
Cancer Society Road to Recovery Program. Visit cancer dot org
slash drive to learn more.
And welcome in. This is a public affairs program shedding
the light on the interest, issues and concerns of the
greater Pittsburgh areat. Good morning. My name is Johnny heart Well.
Today's topic is not Forgotten Homes and Services and Studio
Forget Me Not. A couple lovely ladies in studios Sonya,
Garrett Garnett, Williams CEO, Good morning, how are you.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Good morning, Johnny, Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Good to see you again. How are you.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
I'm wonderful. How are you.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
I'm doing I'm splendid. And Laura Stewart, good morning. How
are you today?
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Good morning? I am doing well.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
All right.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
So I kind of discovered Studio Forget Me Not. I
was kind of in Carnegie a couple of years ago,
went into this little shop and it was just this
menagerie of like amazing things, and ran into Laura and
she kind of told me what the background of the
Studio Forget Me Not. And that was kind of just
the iceberg, you know, the tip of the iceberg. This
(00:57):
is an organization that is providing some amazing services in
the Greater Pittsburgh area, and I wanted to find more.
Had you ladies in about a year ago. Right, yes, arkay, well,
I'm glad you came back. I'm not scaring you away.
You came back. That's that's a that's a good side.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yes, the pleasure is ours.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Also, let's start with Not Forgotten Forgotten Homes and Services.
Tell us everything we need to know about the organization.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
You know what, Not Forgotten Home and Community Services is
an organization that was started ten years ago and since
then we have grown leaps and bounds. We've added services
to our resume and it's it's just wonderful because we're growing.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
So what who who do you? What services do you provide?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
We provide respite, we provide residential, We provide community outings
with just habilitation or companion we provide.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
These are for individuals with challenges.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
All for individuals with special needs. Correct.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
And then we have the wonderful art studio.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
And that's that's the storefront.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
That's the storefront, the gallery and the studio all in one.
All right.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
So when you said it started about ten years ago, yes,
it didn't start out as a studio. It just started
out various services for the community.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yes, we have we have grown to include this studio.
Laura can elaborate more.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
We expanded. Well, the studio started what seven years ago,
I think at this point seven years ago, opposite end
of the street from where we're at now. And I
don't know. Sonya and I got together because I painted
a mural for a while in one of our activity
centers and I told her what I wanted to do,
(02:59):
and I was working at another job at the time,
and she said, come here and do it. And it
is to start a studio for adults with intellectual disabilities
or physical disabilities as well. So now we have that
and we have about thirty participants.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
You know, my mother was an artist, my sister was
an artist. I dabble, but you know, I think art
is kind of a window into a soul, and when
you walk into the studio, suddenly those souls come alive
and they're I don't know how do I describe it.
(03:39):
They're different. But when you find out who created this artwork,
it's amazing, it's heartwarming. And so they learn some techniques
from you. You have a like a there's classrooms and
there's participation. So how many how many individuals participate in
(04:03):
studio forget me not?
Speaker 3 (04:05):
So we have classes every day of the week and
we have twelve people we allow in each class just
because we allow, but you know, that's just the capacity.
But we have about thirty participating artists right now, which
is wonderful and it's growing, grows almost weekly. We have
(04:29):
a new face popping in which is nice. And each
day we focus on a different project or a different
art media. So we have anything from painting to three
D sculpture, to ceramics to jewelry, and then we also
(04:49):
bring in participating artists and they share what they do
and so we have a lot that we cover.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
They may be they may have a disability, but you're
accentuating the ability exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
Oh yeah, and you go in and it's magic. It is, truly,
because that's the thing they sometimes they're used to people
doing things for them. A lot of the folks that
come and not given the opportunity to hold a brush
(05:24):
and have paint, or not given the opportunity to take
a needle and thread and sew something, because it's perceived
that they can't.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
But art is one of those things that you cannot
get wrong. So that's the beauty of them being able
to do their art because there is no right or
wrong way to do anything. It's their expression and they
like that and they look forward to those checks every
month too. They did every quarter when they receive their checks.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Yeah, we tell only do you teach them they're creating.
They've created a piece of artwork. And then studio Forget
Me Not allows them to blaye their artwork and allows
the community to buy the items.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
Yes, and then they make money they do, yes, exactly.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
It's exciting.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
So it's not just the pleasure of creating art for
art's sake. They get paid, which is which is the
bonus for for an artist.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Right, it really is. And the smile that is so cute,
I mean it is, it's wonderful. And the smiles first
of all when you hand them the check, the smiles,
but the smiles of accomplishment. Sure, because you know, sometimes
these are things that they've never been able to do
or have the chance to do, and when they do it,
(06:40):
they're super excited.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
And Laura, I like to also share the story that
you always share about a participant who hated art. He
thought he did not want art at all. He now
comes every week and loves it. He looks forward to
art class.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
It wouldn't have a week without it.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
So what's the change? What was the change? What was
the transition?
Speaker 3 (07:01):
I think it was that opportunity to do it and
have materials in front of them that maybe they aren't
normally given because it's too messy or too whatever, or
they can't. Sometimes again it's perceived that, oh, they can't
do that, they can't do that. Well, no, maybe they can't.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
So all right, let's go back to the beginning. You
said the not forgetting homes and community services started about
ten years ago, the studio about seven, yes, years ago,
so you know, in addition to the studio, what other
services do you provide?
Speaker 2 (07:34):
We now have a new program. It's the REACH program.
It's a day program. The acronym for really Exceptional Abilities
and Caring Hearts. It's INCARNAGIE two. We have the beautiful
building that used to be the old Salvation Army. Then
it was an IT company, and now we have the
(07:56):
privilege of being in that fourteen thousand square foot building
and in that building. The day program that was created
was exceptionally different from any other day program me. Being
in this field for so long, I've been in other
agencies and I see what they do and we just
(08:18):
leaps and bounds go overboard with the activities and things
that we're offering in that program. We also have a
mock apartment in that program that will teach independence for
our individuals, you know, their daily living skills. We have
a living room, dining, kitchen room. We have a bedroom,
(08:41):
an office, and a laundry room. So in each of
those rooms they can practice daily living skills to become
more independent. We have an open area, we have a
gym where health and wellness is what we're really aiming
for this year too. So it's just a wonderful opportunity
to see it finally come to Fruition.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
So who started the organization.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Myself and my husband.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Okay, yeah, so what prompted you to start the organization?
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Well, I tell everybody this story. I worked for UPMC
and I was in a program, a surgical tech program
that I just found no interest in. It was just,
you know, so hard for me. So then I tried.
I always wanted to be a nurse, so I tried
(09:33):
nurses aid. They had me stalking towels and I'm just like, okay, lord,
I know you have more for me than just the
stock towls.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
It's pretty hard to You're contributing, but you're not really
contributing to the community as a whole. We need we
need towel folders. We definitely knew right, but intellectually stimulating
it isn't right right.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
And so with that, there was an an employment at
lying on the table and I I picked it up
and Achieva had this big ad for direct support staff
and so I applied, got the job and found my
life's calling. I've been doing That was over thirty years ago,
(10:15):
you know. So I've been doing this almost thirty five
years now.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
When you start as a fetus.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
Thirty five yearsss have me speechless.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Thank you, thank you. Behind this face is a lot
of stuff, you know. I mean, I've gone through a
lot since starting the program. I was diagnosed with breast
cancer and so during the pandemic, well it was you know,
God has a sense of humor because while everybody was
(10:51):
in their house, it was wonderful because I was going
through my chemo and able to stay home. I would
have my meetings on the the computer with no picture
of course, because I was so sick. But you know what,
I'm on that other side now and it's wonderful. But
what were we talking about? John?
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Well, all right, so you started with upmc as a
as a nurse's aide. You decided that chieva. You thought, okay,
I'm going to go into a different direction. You're going
to and so that was like thirty years ago. So
how did you end up starting this particular organization.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Well, as we were working with various organizations and decided,
my husband and I when we decided we wanted to
do it, I said to him, we can do this.
You know, just being in these different agencies and seeing
what was what was not being done, I knew I
had to do something because it has to be more
(11:47):
than just showing up to the job. You have to
love what you do, and it makes showing up so
much more easy. If you don't, you're going to be
you know, it's just not for everybody, but those that
are in it kudos because especially if you're not in
it just for the money, there's really no money to
be made in it's field. Unfortunate.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
So when you started your organization and has it changed
quite a bit, what was the original idea for the
organization and how has it evolved?
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Well, you know, what the original idea was just Home
and Community Services. That was the have and Companion Services,
and my husband said, Sonya, we need to add residential,
and I fought him tooth and now on that I'm like,
we don't need RESK and I'm so glad that I
finally rescinded you my opinion. And we actually started the
(12:41):
residential because during the pandemic, when you couldn't go out,
there was no source of income coming in. What we
did we hired the parents to go ahead and work
with their loved ones and they're still getting those services
that they need. But it's just we We've grown, We've
(13:01):
we've added residential, We've we've added the day program, we've
added the art program, and we're not finished. You know,
this is just the beginning. I want to also add
an autistic program, so that that's our next go round.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
What now, what is your husband's name?
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Jonathan Williams.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Jonathan Williams. And you explained your organization. All I heard
is that your husband was right.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
I'm like, he was right, that ary it could happen.
It can happen.
Speaker 5 (13:39):
Every once in a while we get a little nugget
we are right once Jonathan, You're my hero, all right, Laura,
so briefly kind of described how you you and Sonya
kind of hooked up.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
But how is your role with the organization changed, How
did it start and how is it evolved for your participation?
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Well from my participation when we started the studio together.
And I have to say this first of all, because
Sonya won't she's modest, she won't say this, but everything
that she does, including this new program, is beautiful. So
I want to go back to that because it is
(14:22):
like all the houses, the programs, everything is filled with art,
Everything is filled with color. So it's not just giving
folks a place, but it's giving folks an inspiring place
to be. Thank you, Laura, So you're welcome. But I
started well, I met Sonya when I worked at Blind
and Vision Rehabilitation Services and she was coming in through
(14:45):
a temp agency and I started painting furniture for her
house that she just bought with Jonathan, and she liked
how I painted furniture. I used all kinds of colors
that she likes. And then that one piece led to another,
their piece to another piece, and then it led to
a vocation. Absolutely, But I have my background isn't both
(15:12):
art education and marketing and graphic design. So, you know,
to be able to work a job where I can
utilize my skills, especially when it comes to art, because
not always is it easy to find a job where
you can utilize art for whatever reason is wonderful.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
But to use art, which is a passion of yours, yeah,
for a great cause which you also were interested in,
that's a that's a real commodity.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
It's it's a wonderful commodity because I love the people.
That's the thing. If I walk into that studio for
any reason in a bad mood, I'm immediately twitched to
another frame of mind.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
So when you first started, was it just an initial
class where you're starting drawing or painting or something like that,
And how has that grown?
Speaker 3 (16:05):
It started as a one day a week venture because
I was kind of doing a dual role at the time,
working out in the community with some of the folks
at Not Forgotten and teaching art one day a week,
and it was all types of art. And then we
eventually added teachers and added days to the program, and
(16:27):
then I cut back with certain areas and stepped up
with other areas. But that was kind of you know,
how it all began was just one day a week,
but there was programming for it, and then it was
evenings at the time, and now it's turned into days.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
All right, Well, I have additional questions. But for somebody
who is who maybe have a loved one who would
be interested in maybe introducing, you know, the classes, what's
the process? How do they get involved?
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Well, they can contact us through our websites. We have
two websites. We have one it's NFHCS dot org.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Say that again slower.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
N f h CS dot org stands for Not Forgotten
Home and Community Services and then their studio forget Me
not dot org.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Okay, you know you named your organization not Forgotten. Tell
us the background. Why would you call your organization that?
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Well, you know what I was thinking one day and
I was the one that named it, just going through
names and not Forgotten. Just thought with me because a
lot of these individuals are forgotten. You have a lot
of big organizations that provide the service, but the care,
(17:53):
the quality of life is not there. So I wanted
to let everybody know at not Forgot, you are not forgotten.
We want to meet you where you are and work
to get you where you would like.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
To be there was a certain stigma thirty years ago,
forty years ago, and that has improved, it hasn't. It
hasn't gone away completely. And so when you when you
name your organization not Forgotten, do you think people are
a little more sensitive to individuals with special needs now
(18:26):
than maybe when you first started?
Speaker 2 (18:29):
You know what it's It's funny because I think they're
a little more sensitive to a point. Unless you're directly
affected by this life of having a loved one with
special needs. A lot of people don't know, don't wish
to know. It's just it's a lost population. So what
(18:51):
I'm seeing now is they've they've created you know, rules
and guidelines where no more institutions, but it's still an
institutional mindset. You're still you know, when you have an
individual where they can't live next door to each other,
they're best friends and one they don't want to be roommates,
(19:11):
but they want to be neighbors. To say that you
can't share walls, that to me, that's a rights violation
because you and if we wanted to move next door
to our neighbor, we can do that. If we wanted to,
you know, live in a community, we can do that.
You know, I still see sometimes landlords who don't want
(19:34):
to rent to this population. I think there's a stigma
that everybody is destructive. Everybody you know sits and drools
and will you know, mess up their property. But it's
funny because to answer your question, it has shifted were
more people are they know about special needs, But I
(19:55):
would like to see them do a better job of
really getting to know. Now.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
I understand that, you know, from a budgetary standpoint, our
government only has so much funds. But when you talk
about a community that is more frequently being left out,
when you talk about the waiting list for group homes,
it is astounding. It's shocking, it is. And and the
(20:21):
fact that you're trying to help ease that burden when
you're when you have a facility, it allows them to
kind of rehearse living on their own. I think that's
a brilliant idea. And I and then the fact that
you know you're giving them an artistic outlet and a
chance to make their own money. Absolutely, yeah, I think
(20:43):
it's a I think it's a great organization.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Thank you. We do too. We we definitely feel that
Not Forgotten is a different place to work where a
family feel. Laura and I met years ago just working
together at Blind Envisions, and we created a friendship. You know,
this is like my sister, So we're nice. We like
to employ people who want to do and make a
(21:09):
difference in this in this field, you know, bring visionaries on,
share your ideas. We would like to learn and grow.
And she shared her art idea and I told her
from day one, do what you need to do to
make it happen.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
And you're going to be introducing some new programs. Can
you tell us a little about that.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Well, we're going after the autism waiver. We're still waiting
for approval, but I would like to you know, I
had some a group of spellers who are artistic, but
instead of communicating, they communicate with a board us and
they came and a mother said to me, what can
we do to get this? She was down at our
(21:51):
open house to get this in the north and you
know we've been sitting down at the table. We opened
our space with this, you know, while the day program
was up and coming. And that's that's the next thing
I would like to do is to really focus on
the autism side.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Are you familiar with the charity band together.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
We use band together. Do you there are DJs?
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Yes, yes, because you guys are kind of you're in
the same name. It's just you know their music and
that's an expression of art and you have art on
the page and the and the things like that. That
is great that you use their DJs.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
Yeah, well I think you mentioned them last year and
then we looked into them.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
Oh really, yeah, thank you. Well, I'm with Jonathan everyone,
So all right again for people who are just tuning in,
tell us everything we need to.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Know about not forgotten homes and community services? What is
what do you want people to know about your gization?
Speaker 2 (23:02):
You know what being I would like them to know.
We're a new organization compared to the bigger organizations out there,
but we come with fresh eyes. We come with compassion
and empathy. We come with love for the individual. We
want them to share the same lifestyle and livelihood that
(23:23):
we have in their rural you know, we don't want
them to feel that they can't do anything. We want
them to know that they can do everything that we
can do. It's just on a different level when we
have to go about it differently, so not forgotten. It's
just a wonderful agency. If I may say so myself.
(23:46):
We do things differently, and that's what I would like
people to really do things differently.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
But what do you do specifically? What services do you provide?
Speaker 2 (23:55):
We provide, as I said before, the residential respite, habilitation,
the art program, the Reach program, which is a day program.
We are looking into an autism program, and we're also
(24:16):
going to go after behavioral and we're also going to
go after job coaching and we'll do that through Laura's
program that she's starting next month.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
Oh okay, tell us about that.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
So that program is called next Level. So we've seen
where some of our artists are not just growing. They
would live at the studio if they could, and they're
doing their own and that is the truth. They're doing
their own work at home all the time and bringing
(24:52):
it into the studio. So for those folks that are
showing more independence as far as an artist, where we
as teaching artists know all the teachers there are artists.
We know that we're always doing our own work at
home too. That's a passion, and so we're giving those
(25:13):
folks that do it all the time and show that
exceptional independence in it. The opportunity to come to a
next level program which is going to be on Thursdays
and Fridays at the studio and it's all day immersive
art so that they can grow their skill level even further.
(25:33):
So that's the next level program. And that's literally the
next level that I don't know.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
How you have enough hours of the day to provide
all these services for.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
We have wonderful staff. We have a team.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
But how tell us tell us about your team? How
many how many Lauras do you have?
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Oh, how many are with you in the day program?
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Well, you only have one Laura.
Speaker 3 (25:54):
But the art program, our program, we have three other
tea right now and including me and like I said,
thirty participants, roughly thirty and that's it. But each teacher
has an area of focus, so we have one teacher.
(26:16):
We don't just hire our teachers arbitrarily just because maybe
they're interested in art or they do are. We hire
them because they have passion for the folks we work with,
and they also have an exceptional ability to bring to
the table.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
So not only to provide classes for these individual special needs,
but you have an opportunity to showcase them in a
studio in a storefront. So tell us about the store.
So give it that. When somebody enters the door, what
do they see?
Speaker 3 (26:46):
Yeah, well, when they enter the store, they're graded and
a lot of times by one of our artists that participate,
and they're they're told, you know who we are, that
we're a nonprofit and this is what we do, and
they're encouraged to look around. Everything they see is very colorful,
(27:06):
very lively. We're changing it all the time. They can
come into the store. The front area is more small
giftable items, and the second room is more of a
gallery space where there's more large framed art. And then
we have the classroom.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
And we only have a couple minutes left, So let's
drill in on some of the things that you want
people to know about your organization. If they can help,
or if they would like to volunteer, or if they
would like to maybe get employed, or if they have
a loved one that they think would be interested in
some of the programs. What's the process.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
Well, we are always open to taking donations, We are
always open to volunteers. We are always open to new staff,
you know, those empathetic staff that love our individuals.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
Now, if I wouldn't want to volunteer. Do I have
to have a level of artistic talent? No good, because
I can do that.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
Yes you can. Well, and we have like the store too,
that people can volunteer in to operate the store during
retail hours where the teachers are teaching. That's that's a
really big thing. That would be incredibly helpful. So if
anyone in the community wants to come and volunteer in
our store, that would be very nice.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Sign me up.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Okay, yeah, the only thing we have to get our
clearances and then you can come in and do.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
That might be shaky for me, Okay, all right, we're
out of time, but this is such a great organization.
So the website if for the for Not Forgotten Homes
and Community Service, what is your.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Website www dot n f HCS dot.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
All right, sonya. And for the studio Forget Me Not,
what is your website?
Speaker 3 (29:05):
The studio website is Studio Forget Me Not dot org.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
And where's the storefront exactly?
Speaker 3 (29:11):
The storefront is three two nine East Main Street, Carnegie.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
You know, Carnegie has really grown into a q Q
community and not only should you stop by the studio,
but check out Carnegie because it's really every growing community.
So Sonya, Laura, thank you so much for your time
and good luck. Thank you and hopefully we'll see you soon.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Okay, thank you, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
As always, if you have any comments, concerns, or an
idea for our future program, please email us from this
radio station's website. I'm Johnny Heartwell, thank you so much
for listening.
Speaker 6 (29:53):
Hey, life doesn't stop when cancer starts. Some don't make
it to treatment simply because they don't have a ride.
You can change that. Volunteer to drive with the American
Cancer Society Road to Recovery Program. Visit cancer dot org
slash drive to learn more.
Popular Podcasts
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Decisions, Decisions
Welcome to "Decisions, Decisions," the podcast where boundaries are pushed, and conversations get candid! Join your favorite hosts, Mandii B and WeezyWTF, as they dive deep into the world of non-traditional relationships and explore the often-taboo topics surrounding dating, sex, and love. Every Monday, Mandii and Weezy invite you to unlearn the outdated narratives dictated by traditional patriarchal norms. With a blend of humor, vulnerability, and authenticity, they share their personal journeys navigating their 30s, tackling the complexities of modern relationships, and engaging in thought-provoking discussions that challenge societal expectations. From groundbreaking interviews with diverse guests to relatable stories that resonate with your experiences, "Decisions, Decisions" is your go-to source for open dialogue about what it truly means to love and connect in today's world. Get ready to reshape your understanding of relationships and embrace the freedom of authentic connections—tune in and join the conversation!