Since the beginning of the school year, the Bear POWER office has been buzzing! We have been very busy preparing for students to move to campus in January. We have also been spending a lot of time advocating for students with IDD on campus, and in the community. We are excited to have been invited to several conferences and transitional seminars to speak about our program, and what it can offer future students. Catch us at these community inclusion events this fall!
Promoting an Inclusive Community
Friday, Sept 28th – Christian County Transition Summit – https://www.facebook.com/events/197792937489085/
Location: OTC Richwood Valley Campus (in Ozark off HW 14)
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Break Out Sessions: 10:50-11:20am & 11:30-12pm
Saturday, Oct 20th – Live, Learn, Work Play Conference – https://www.facebook.com/events/259228238041079/
Location: Hillcrest High School (3319 N Grant)
Time: 8:00 am – 1:30 pm
Break Out Sessions: 11-11:35am
Wednesday, October 3rd– Midwest Inclusive Postsecondary Alliance (MIPSA); Inclusive Paid Employment
– https://www.inclusion-mipsa.org/
Location: University of Missouri-Columbia
Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Tuesday, October 23rd– Joplin Regional Transitions Network; Spotlight to Your Future
– http://eventful.com/joplin/events/spot-light-your-future-transition-expo-/E0-001-114596836-6
Location: Joplin Memorial Education Building (810 W. 8th Street Joplin, MO 64801)
Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Wednesday, October 24th – Missouri Job Center EmployAbility Summit
– https://www.springfieldmo.gov/2986/EmployAbility
Location: The Diamond Room (2340 W. Grand, Springfield, MO)
Time: 7:30 am – 10:00
Student Planning
A major aspect of preparing for students to come to campus has been planning ahead. We have been working on a Bear POWER Student and Parent Handbook, on move-in day details, and on SOAR and welcome weekend scheduling/programming. We are so excited to tie everything up, and welcome our students to campus this January!
Since the Summer Leadership Retreat our students have enrolled in classes, participated (and won!) at Special Olympics, started their first jobs, and have gotten involved with campus groups. One student is even attending a weekend retreat for a campus ministry group this weekend! It is overwhelmingly joyous to watch our incoming students flourish in preparation for beginning their Missouri State journey this spring.
Check out our upcoming student planning and recruitment events:
Saturday, November 3rd – MSU Bear POWER Open House for Prospective Students
– https://www.missouristate.edu/bearpower/openhouse.htm
Location: Hill Hall Rm. 0002, Missouri State University Campus
Time: 9:30 am – 11:45 am
Wednesday, October 17th – MSU Bear POWER Advisory Board Meeting
Bear POWER staff will be meeting with Bear POWER Advisory Board members to finalize Student and Parent Handbooks, and details pertaining to Safety and Wellness Groups, which will be a weekly residential life component for students during their first 8 weeks on campus.
Time: 3:00 pm
Bear Blazers
Our Bear Blazer Student Leadership Committee has also been busy planning fall events, and meeting regularly with students. We have several events coming up on campus, and would love to see our community supporters in attendance. We also have over 150 student volunteers interested in becoming Bear Blazers!
Friday, September 28th – Bowling Night
Location: Level 1 Game Center, MSU Plaster Student Union
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Friday October 19th and Saturday, October 20th – MSU Homecoming Weekend
-Friday: Homecoming Kickoffat The Davis Harrington Welcome Center from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
-Saturday: College of Education Tailgate at BearFest Village (meet up at the College of Education tent)! from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Homecoming Football Game vs. Western Illinois State at Plaster Stadium, MSU campus at 2:00 pm
Friday, November 16th – Movie Night
Location: Blair-Shannon House Grand Lounge
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Bear Blazer Fall Training Dates:
Location: Hill Hall, Rm. 0002
-Tuesday, November 27th, 3:30 pm –5:30 pm
-Friday November 30th, 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Thank You For Your Support
Finally, we are so grateful to have the support of our community; especially with our t-shirt campaign, which far exceeded our fundraising goal, and with all the items from our Amazon wish list that keep rolling in. As a self-sustaining, non-profit organization we don’t receive funding from the university, so every donation helps! We have been very blessed this fall, and are planning some really exciting community outreach events focused on inclusion for this spring (keep your eyes peeled for our biggest community event yet; a collaboration with the Alamo Drafthouse)!
Please feel free to contact us for more information, and to join us at any time!
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