March 11, 2024 • 13 mins
Scotty and Hannah talk to Tiffany McDowel and her sister Mallory about the Over The Edge Fundraiser.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Good morning, and welcome back toanother episode of Carolina Cares. I'm Hannah
Tyler, joined today by two amazingwomen. We have Tiffany McDowell, who
is board member of the Arc ofhigh Point, as well as Mallory Snellen
who is also on the board,but Mallory also is involved with some of
the amazing things the ARC has tooffer. Good morn in. Now,
(00:20):
we have a big event coming upat the ARC. We're going to get
into that. But first, Tiffany, what is the Arc of high Point?
So the Arc of high Point isa sub chapter of the Arc of
the United States. The ARC's visionis to create acceptance and understanding for adults
with intellectual and developmental disabilities so thatthey can participate in the community alongside their
(00:42):
typically able peers and enjoy the samerights, freedoms, and choices, ultimately
empowering people like my sister who hasDown syndrome to live a life that is
as independent as possible. Now,are you helping them with day to day
things getting jobs or is it moreof a come join us for fun and
just to be around people who supportyou would want you in the community thriving
(01:04):
all of the above so the arcis really all encompassing. So there there
is a job coaching capacity and thatis ever evolving as employment opportunities are ever
involved evolving for people with disabilities.But it's also you know, a social
opportunity for people to be around peoplewho have similar interests, similar capabilities and
(01:30):
kind of face the same hurdles together. So there are life skills involved,
goal setting, uh, understanding theirrights and responsibilities as citizens. So there
is a you know, a jobcoaching capacity if you would, but there's
also this learning how to live inthe community, uh from a perspective that
(01:53):
a lot of typically able people don'tnecessarily you know, stop and think about
how things need to be adapt didfor those who have intellectual developmental disabilities.
Now, Mallory, you are partof the arc. What's some of the
things you love doing with the Arcof high Point when new art and art
and pottery and Mallory, what doesthe Arc of high Point mean to you?
(02:14):
Why do you love it so much? And link friends? Oh,
it's a place to make friends.Now, Tiffany, I want to get
back to you about people with disabilitiesand how they're really breaking barriers. It's
crazy to see where we were towhere we are now. Can you just
speak to the community of High Pointand what you've seen the ARC be able
to help people with disabilities do.So it's really hard for me to talk
(02:35):
about this without getting emotional because Iam, you know, a full time
sibling caregiver Mallory, and I've lostour mom when Mallory was a senior in
high school. So I've really witnessedMallory's life from an adult perspective, where
you know, children who have disabilitieshave resources through school, but once you
(02:55):
enter, you know, the sortof transition into employment and post high school
life, a lot of those resourcesdisappear. You're sort of in a new
category, and there's a long listof unmet needs and people who are waiting
for assistance. So what I've seenlocally and Hoppoint is a lot more awareness
(03:20):
and largely in part because of theARCS participation and what the ARC does as
part of their mission, but employersembracing employing someone who might have a different
ability to local community events that arereally focusing on how can they be more
inclusive? How can they make surethat events are accessible and include people like
(03:46):
my sister. We also are openinga coffee shop not very far from here,
Oh awesome Joybar Coffee. And weare a competitive integrated employer and what
that means is we pay and hireand train people of all abilities, including
those who have disabilities, and paythem equal wages alongside their peers. So
(04:10):
no volunteering, no unpaid positions,because employment and the dignity of earning an
income is equally important to people whohave disabilities. Can we talk about the
coffee bar for a second. Veryexciting this is coming up for you guys.
We've had the opportunity to talk toother organizations very similar to yours in
the past, and it comes downto a lot of times is there's not
(04:33):
enough employment opportunities. A lot oftimes that's just making it accessible. So
can we talk a little bit abouthow you guys are taking that issue that's
happening in the community and opening thiscoffee bar. My perspective as a business
owner is unique in that I ama sibling caregiver. I'm not a parent.
I've I was really put in thisposition as an adult looking at my
(04:56):
sister as a peer, not assomeone that I need to take care of
per se. So the way thatI've approached opening my business is ensuring the
integrity of all of our employees andreally even training are typically abled employees to
see, you know, the vastabilities of people who might approach things differently.
(05:21):
So my sister can very much doa great job in the coffee shop,
it just might look different and herrole might be different. So for
me, I see employment as anopportunity to be empowered to live independently.
Whether that means you know, Malloryliving in her own place, arranging her
(05:45):
own schedule, like, my goalis to make sure, however independent she
wants to be, that's what weempower her to be because she is,
you know, a thirty four yearold woman and she should enjoy the same
rights, freedom and choices as anybodyelse. Oh that's amazing, Mallory.
Are you going to be working inthe coffee shop? Yeah? Do you
know what you're going to be doingyet? So, Mallory will be an
(06:06):
experience facilitator okay, and she willbe responsible for our curb side deliveries and
for making sure all of our customersget their drinks in a timely fashion and
enjoy their experience at Joybar. Nowgetting back to the arc, what are
some services you guys offer. Let'ssay someone in the communities listening and I
(06:27):
have a sister or a brother whocould really benefit from that group time.
What kind of activities I know Mallorymentioned art and pottery do you guys offer
at the ARC? Yeah, Soalong with the creative arts, there are
also workshops that help them better understandwhat their rights are as well as what
their responsibilities are being a citizen inthe community. They work on goal setting,
(06:49):
so it really is unique to theparticipant, if you would. So,
I know that they've had participants inthe past who one wanted to be
a nailt technician, and so theyhelped them research job openings, what skills
were required, what were some ofthe things that they could work on personally
(07:09):
before they went to apply for someof these roles. So it really is
customized based on what the participants' goalsare, because again, what they're looking
to do is to empower the individualto live their life as independently as they
wish. So it's not really acookie cutter, one size fits all.
It really is this one on onecustom experience based on what their personal goals
(07:32):
are. Oh, and everyone's needsare different. So that's amazing you're there.
Yeah. If there's a caregiver listeningright now who needs help with services
such as yourself for their loved one, how can they get a hold of
you? So ARCOHP dot org hasa piletha of information. Stephanie an Kovak
is the program director. She's amazing, she really is. For me.
(07:54):
She's almost like the catalysts to allof the resources that have been brought to
us. She knows where it go, who to call, what to do
if they're interested in participating at thetransition program is called wild and free.
If someone is interested in participating inthat, then they can get all of
that information at ARCOFHP dot org.Let's talk about the big event you have
(08:16):
coming up. There's people repelling downvery tall buildings. Did I get this
right? Yeah? Okay, tellme a little bit more about it.
So Over the Edge is the Arcof high Point's largest fundraising opportunity of the
year. Our goal is to fundraiseone hundred thousand dollars. All of the
fundraising proceeds will go to benefit theArc of high Point. So what over
(08:39):
the Edge is is we are recruitingrepellers to go literally over the edge to
very safely keyword safely, Yes,repel down a seven story building. It's
actually right down the street from here, the Embassy Suites of Greensboro. Okay,
And this will take place on Saturday, March sixteenth. We'll start our
day around eight am. So whateach repeller does is they have a fundraising
(09:03):
goal that they must meet in orderto go over the edge. We also
have corporate sponsorship opportunities as well asa virtual I saw that that seems like
something I could handle. That seemsa little more lucrative for the vast majority
of the population. Everybody is interestedin getting on a seven story building.
(09:24):
However, miss Mallory, I wasgoing to ask, Mallory, are you
going to be going over the edge? You are? Can you tell them
why? I know for Manfred's friendNicole. Oh wow, our best friend
Nicole at Wild and Free about threeyears ago. And Nicole has since moved
to Georgia, so she's no longera participant, but they are still best
(09:46):
eased. So last year was ourfirst event. I went over the edge,
had so much fun. Mallory didnot. She was on the ground
supporting. I liked that you needthe support too. I did. I
really looked down and saw Mallory andthought I can do this. So this
year she has chosen to also fundraiseand go over the edge with me.
So we'll be doing that together onSaturday morning on the sixties sister bonding.
(10:11):
All Right, Mallory, this isyour first time going over the edge?
Correct? Are you ready for it? Are you prepping for it? How
are you doing that? Lots ofmotivational Yeah, if someone wants to get
involved, maybe fundraise, maybe evenfundraise enough to go over the edge.
Is there still time? Absolutely?So. The cool thing is with the
virtual repelling alternative, if you would, the fundraising goal is lower, so
(10:35):
to go over the edge, we'veset the fundraising goal at one thousand dollars
per repeller. You would be amazedat how easy like you put that on
your Facebook. You tell your familyand friends about the Arc of hop Point,
what their mission is, who theysupport, and you would be blown
away by a number of people whoare like, hey, I can give
you twenty bucks. That's amazing.You know more people than you think and
(10:56):
they will donate. So to goover the edge physically, the fundraising goal
is one thousand dollars to do thevirtual repel. It's one hundred and fifty,
okay, So you can either justdonate that one hundred and fifty or
you can fundraise like the rest ofus. You'll get a fundraising page with
a link to post on your socialmedia accounts, and that's how your family
(11:18):
and friends can also donate. Wealso have the option the day of the
event, if you show up andwant to do the virtual repel, you
can donate that one to fifty inperson. So there is plenty of time,
and I know multiple people who fundraisedtheir one thousand dollars within twenty four
hours next year. It's easy,it's attainable, absolutely all right, Mallory.
(11:39):
If someone's listening to this and theywant to give to the Ark of
high Point, they want to help. Why should they help? Is the
Arc of high Point one of thethings that has empowered you to live a
happy and independent life. Who doit for people like you and Nicole?
If Yeah, the kindest people weall know, right, We are so
glad to have both of you withus. One quick question about the event.
(12:01):
If someone just wants to stop by, can they do that? Absolutely?
So the day of the event,we're going to have a ground party,
and when I say party, Imean party, so food trucks,
kna ice, there's going to bea DJ, there's going to be a
champagne and Kevlar live band will beplaying throughout the day. There are some
in person like activities for the children, like touch a truck. Oh cool
(12:24):
Autism Awareness truck. They're the SWATTeam High Point. Swat Team is going
to be out there with their tacticalgear. There's going to be police and
fire equipment. So if you havechildren who you know they're fascinated by those
kinds of things, there will beopportunities for them to touch and get in
and have lots of fun there.But for the adults, we'll also have
(12:46):
I believe Brown Truck Brewery is goingto be serving that day. One more
time date placetime of the event,Saturday, March sixteenth, will start our
day at eight am. Come outregardless of whether you're repelling, you're donating,
just come have a good time,eat some good food. If you
are interested in donating or repelling,or just learning more about the ARC.
All of the information is on thehomepage at the ARCOFHP dot org. Mallory
(13:11):
Tiffany, Thank you both for comingin. Thanks so much for having us
Good morning, and welcome back toanother episode of Carolina Cares. I'm Hannah
Tyler, joined today by two amazingwomen. We have Tiffany McDowell, who
is board member of the Arc ofhigh Point, as well as Mallory Snellen
who is also on the board,but Mallory also is involved with some of
the amazing things the ARC has tooffer. Good morn in. Now,
(00:20):
we have a big event coming upat the ARC. We're going to get
into that. But first, Tiffany, what is the Arc of high Point?
So the Arc of high Point isa sub chapter of the Arc of
the United States. The ARC's visionis to create acceptance and understanding for adults
with intellectual and developmental disabilities so thatthey can participate in the community alongside their
(00:42):
typically able peers and enjoy the samerights, freedoms, and choices, ultimately
empowering people like my sister who hasDown syndrome to live a life that is
as independent as possible. Now,are you helping them with day to day
things getting jobs or is it moreof a come join us for fun and
just to be around people who supportyou would want you in the community thriving
(01:04):
all of the above so the arcis really all encompassing. So there there
is a job coaching capacity and thatis ever evolving as employment opportunities are ever
involved evolving for people with disabilities.But it's also you know, a social
opportunity for people to be around peoplewho have similar interests, similar capabilities and
(01:30):
kind of face the same hurdles together. So there are life skills involved,
goal setting, uh, understanding theirrights and responsibilities as citizens. So there
is a you know, a jobcoaching capacity if you would, but there's
also this learning how to live inthe community, uh from a perspective that
(01:53):
a lot of typically able people don'tnecessarily you know, stop and think about
how things need to be adapt didfor those who have intellectual developmental disabilities.
Now, Mallory, you are partof the arc. What's some of the
things you love doing with the Arcof high Point when new art and art
and pottery and Mallory, what doesthe Arc of high Point mean to you?
(02:14):
Why do you love it so much? And link friends? Oh,
it's a place to make friends.Now, Tiffany, I want to get
back to you about people with disabilitiesand how they're really breaking barriers. It's
crazy to see where we were towhere we are now. Can you just
speak to the community of High Pointand what you've seen the ARC be able
to help people with disabilities do.So it's really hard for me to talk
(02:35):
about this without getting emotional because Iam, you know, a full time
sibling caregiver Mallory, and I've lostour mom when Mallory was a senior in
high school. So I've really witnessedMallory's life from an adult perspective, where
you know, children who have disabilitieshave resources through school, but once you
(02:55):
enter, you know, the sortof transition into employment and post high school
life, a lot of those resourcesdisappear. You're sort of in a new
category, and there's a long listof unmet needs and people who are waiting
for assistance. So what I've seenlocally and Hoppoint is a lot more awareness
(03:20):
and largely in part because of theARCS participation and what the ARC does as
part of their mission, but employersembracing employing someone who might have a different
ability to local community events that arereally focusing on how can they be more
inclusive? How can they make surethat events are accessible and include people like
(03:46):
my sister. We also are openinga coffee shop not very far from here,
Oh awesome Joybar Coffee. And weare a competitive integrated employer and what
that means is we pay and hireand train people of all abilities, including
those who have disabilities, and paythem equal wages alongside their peers. So
(04:10):
no volunteering, no unpaid positions,because employment and the dignity of earning an
income is equally important to people whohave disabilities. Can we talk about the
coffee bar for a second. Veryexciting this is coming up for you guys.
We've had the opportunity to talk toother organizations very similar to yours in
the past, and it comes downto a lot of times is there's not
(04:33):
enough employment opportunities. A lot oftimes that's just making it accessible. So
can we talk a little bit abouthow you guys are taking that issue that's
happening in the community and opening thiscoffee bar. My perspective as a business
owner is unique in that I ama sibling caregiver. I'm not a parent.
I've I was really put in thisposition as an adult looking at my
(04:56):
sister as a peer, not assomeone that I need to take care of
per se. So the way thatI've approached opening my business is ensuring the
integrity of all of our employees andreally even training are typically abled employees to
see, you know, the vastabilities of people who might approach things differently.
(05:21):
So my sister can very much doa great job in the coffee shop,
it just might look different and herrole might be different. So for
me, I see employment as anopportunity to be empowered to live independently.
Whether that means you know, Malloryliving in her own place, arranging her
(05:45):
own schedule, like, my goalis to make sure, however independent she
wants to be, that's what weempower her to be because she is,
you know, a thirty four yearold woman and she should enjoy the same
rights, freedom and choices as anybodyelse. Oh that's amazing, Mallory.
Are you going to be working inthe coffee shop? Yeah? Do you
know what you're going to be doingyet? So, Mallory will be an
(06:06):
experience facilitator okay, and she willbe responsible for our curb side deliveries and
for making sure all of our customersget their drinks in a timely fashion and
enjoy their experience at Joybar. Nowgetting back to the arc, what are
some services you guys offer. Let'ssay someone in the communities listening and I
(06:27):
have a sister or a brother whocould really benefit from that group time.
What kind of activities I know Mallorymentioned art and pottery do you guys offer
at the ARC? Yeah, Soalong with the creative arts, there are
also workshops that help them better understandwhat their rights are as well as what
their responsibilities are being a citizen inthe community. They work on goal setting,
(06:49):
so it really is unique to theparticipant, if you would. So,
I know that they've had participants inthe past who one wanted to be
a nailt technician, and so theyhelped them research job openings, what skills
were required, what were some ofthe things that they could work on personally
(07:09):
before they went to apply for someof these roles. So it really is
customized based on what the participants' goalsare, because again, what they're looking
to do is to empower the individualto live their life as independently as they
wish. So it's not really acookie cutter, one size fits all.
It really is this one on onecustom experience based on what their personal goals
(07:32):
are. Oh, and everyone's needsare different. So that's amazing you're there.
Yeah. If there's a caregiver listeningright now who needs help with services
such as yourself for their loved one, how can they get a hold of
you? So ARCOHP dot org hasa piletha of information. Stephanie an Kovak
is the program director. She's amazing, she really is. For me.
(07:54):
She's almost like the catalysts to allof the resources that have been brought to
us. She knows where it go, who to call, what to do
if they're interested in participating at thetransition program is called wild and free.
If someone is interested in participating inthat, then they can get all of
that information at ARCOFHP dot org.Let's talk about the big event you have
(08:16):
coming up. There's people repelling downvery tall buildings. Did I get this
right? Yeah? Okay, tellme a little bit more about it.
So Over the Edge is the Arcof high Point's largest fundraising opportunity of the
year. Our goal is to fundraiseone hundred thousand dollars. All of the
fundraising proceeds will go to benefit theArc of high Point. So what over
(08:39):
the Edge is is we are recruitingrepellers to go literally over the edge to
very safely keyword safely, Yes,repel down a seven story building. It's
actually right down the street from here, the Embassy Suites of Greensboro. Okay,
And this will take place on Saturday, March sixteenth. We'll start our
day around eight am. So whateach repeller does is they have a fundraising
(09:03):
goal that they must meet in orderto go over the edge. We also
have corporate sponsorship opportunities as well asa virtual I saw that that seems like
something I could handle. That seemsa little more lucrative for the vast majority
of the population. Everybody is interestedin getting on a seven story building.
(09:24):
However, miss Mallory, I wasgoing to ask, Mallory, are you
going to be going over the edge? You are? Can you tell them
why? I know for Manfred's friendNicole. Oh wow, our best friend
Nicole at Wild and Free about threeyears ago. And Nicole has since moved
to Georgia, so she's no longera participant, but they are still best
(09:46):
eased. So last year was ourfirst event. I went over the edge,
had so much fun. Mallory didnot. She was on the ground
supporting. I liked that you needthe support too. I did. I
really looked down and saw Mallory andthought I can do this. So this
year she has chosen to also fundraiseand go over the edge with me.
So we'll be doing that together onSaturday morning on the sixties sister bonding.
(10:11):
All Right, Mallory, this isyour first time going over the edge?
Correct? Are you ready for it? Are you prepping for it? How
are you doing that? Lots ofmotivational Yeah, if someone wants to get
involved, maybe fundraise, maybe evenfundraise enough to go over the edge.
Is there still time? Absolutely?So. The cool thing is with the
virtual repelling alternative, if you would, the fundraising goal is lower, so
(10:35):
to go over the edge, we'veset the fundraising goal at one thousand dollars
per repeller. You would be amazedat how easy like you put that on
your Facebook. You tell your familyand friends about the Arc of hop Point,
what their mission is, who theysupport, and you would be blown
away by a number of people whoare like, hey, I can give
you twenty bucks. That's amazing.You know more people than you think and
(10:56):
they will donate. So to goover the edge physically, the fundraising goal
is one thousand dollars to do thevirtual repel. It's one hundred and fifty,
okay, So you can either justdonate that one hundred and fifty or
you can fundraise like the rest ofus. You'll get a fundraising page with
a link to post on your socialmedia accounts, and that's how your family
(11:18):
and friends can also donate. Wealso have the option the day of the
event, if you show up andwant to do the virtual repel, you
can donate that one to fifty inperson. So there is plenty of time,
and I know multiple people who fundraisedtheir one thousand dollars within twenty four
hours next year. It's easy,it's attainable, absolutely all right, Mallory.
(11:39):
If someone's listening to this and theywant to give to the Ark of
high Point, they want to help. Why should they help? Is the
Arc of high Point one of thethings that has empowered you to live a
happy and independent life. Who doit for people like you and Nicole?
If Yeah, the kindest people weall know, right, We are so
glad to have both of you withus. One quick question about the event.
(12:01):
If someone just wants to stop by, can they do that? Absolutely?
So the day of the event,we're going to have a ground party,
and when I say party, Imean party, so food trucks,
kna ice, there's going to bea DJ, there's going to be a
champagne and Kevlar live band will beplaying throughout the day. There are some
in person like activities for the children, like touch a truck. Oh cool
(12:24):
Autism Awareness truck. They're the SWATTeam High Point. Swat Team is going
to be out there with their tacticalgear. There's going to be police and
fire equipment. So if you havechildren who you know they're fascinated by those
kinds of things, there will beopportunities for them to touch and get in
and have lots of fun there.But for the adults, we'll also have
(12:46):
I believe Brown Truck Brewery is goingto be serving that day. One more
time date placetime of the event,Saturday, March sixteenth, will start our
day at eight am. Come outregardless of whether you're repelling, you're donating,
just come have a good time,eat some good food. If you
are interested in donating or repelling,or just learning more about the ARC.
All of the information is on thehomepage at the ARCOFHP dot org. Mallory
(13:11):
Tiffany, Thank you both for comingin. Thanks so much for having us
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