News at a Glance
Minnesota Boy Takes 2nd in National Poster
Contest
Nine year old Courtney Gibson from Little Canada, MN won second
place in the nation-wide Isabelle's Kids poster contest, which took
place earlier this summer. (See Gibson's poster below.) The contest
called for posters that portray Life Without Limits for People
with Disabilities . "The winning posters' upbeat perspectives
and positive imagery promote this idea exceptionally," said Emily
Dolenz, manager of the poster contest. "Each of the posters we received
is a source of inspiration."
Poster entries came from all
the across the country, with children from fourteen states participating.
Foluke Tualki, a 10-year-old from Columbia , MD , won first place.
Carolyn and Christianne Johnston, sisters from Northport, NY, tied
for third.
Isabelle's Kids is a new national
initiative of United Cerebral Palsy that strives to empower children
and youth with disabilities to live without limits. Visit Isabelle's
Kids Web site to see the other winning posters. ![]()
[Source:
UCP]
Initiative will Study Wellness and Employment
of People with Serious Mental Illness
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has awarded Medica
a multi-year contract to serve enrollees in Stay Well, Stay Working
(SWSW): Minnesota 's Demonstration to Maintain Independence and Employment.
The project will study the effects of providing comprehensive health
care and employment supports to employed people with serious mental
illness in order to determine how these supports influence the progression
of potentially disabling conditions.
SWSW will serve approximately
1,500 employed individuals with serious mental illness in Hennepin,
Ramsey, St. Louis, Pine, Lake and Carlton counties. Eligible participants
of the project will receive a health care package modeled after the
state's Medical Assistance program. In addition, service participants
will have access to a range of supports to address their needs in
the workplace. ![]()
SWSW is funded by the federal
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
[Source: MN DHS]
Imdieke Honored for Efforts to Benefit Voters
SAINT PAUL - Margot Imdieke Cross of the Minnesota State Council
on Disabilities was recently honored with a National Association
of Secretaries of State (NASS) "Medallion Award" for her work in
voter education and election official training. The award recognizes
individuals or organizations for outstanding service and dedication
to furthering the mission of the National Association of Secretaries
of State within the states. In presenting the award last month, Secretary
of State Mary Kiffmeyer noted that Imdieke's "advice and efforts
have been very valuable to our office and have helped our state provide
the very best service possible to voters." A very limited number
of the awards are presented. ![]()
[Source: Office of MN Secretary of State]
Young Artists with Disabilities Featured at the Smithsonian
WASHINGTON , D.C. - VSA arts and
Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced the fifteen finalists
of the 2006 exhibit, "Destination
Anywhere." This exhibit is the fifth collaboration of the two organizations
highlighting the works of young artists with disabilities. This year's
call for art asked artists to take viewers to unexpected conceptual
locations through their work.
The exhibit, "Destination
Anywhere," will
open on September 28, 2006, at the S. Dillon Ripley Center of the
Smithsonian Institution and remain throughout the month of November.
The fifteen awardees of will receive a total of $60,000. Winners
include Grand Prize awardee Emily Alexander from Chicago, Illinois,
First awardee Jordan Rhoat from Tyrone, Pennsylvania and Second
awardee Caleb Charland from Brewer, Maine.
[Source: VSA arts]
Free Museum Tickets at the Library
For a limited time,
at all MELSA libraries (those in the metropolitan Twin Cities area),
patrons are able to check out passes to visit local museums-at
no charge.
Participating museums include: American Swedish Institute, The Bakken
Museum, Bell Museum of Natural History, Como Park Zoo and Conservatory,
Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life, Historic Murphy's Landing,
Mill City Museum, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minnesota History
Center, MM Landscape Arboretum, Minnesota Museum of American Art,
Minnesota Zoo, The Museum of Russian Art, Science Museum of Minnesota,
Twin Cities Historic Sites -Alexander Ramsey House -Historic Fort
Snelling -James J. Hill House -Oliver H. Kelley Farm -Sibley House,
Walker Art Center and Weisman Art Museum. There are a limited number
of passes each day per library. The passes cannot be obtained through
interlibrary loan. ![]()
FFI: www.melsa.org/MuseumAdventurePass or
contact your local library.
