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Dear Friends:

Thanksgiving gives us all a chance to focus on gratitude and appreciation, and hopefully time to connect with family, friends, and community. At Starbridge, we are thankful for our connection to you.

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Starbridge Board member Carrie Fuller-Spencer was selected as one of the Rochester Business Journal’s 2016 Forty Under 40 honorees. The awards highlight professionals under the age of 40 "who have achieved professional success and have also made significant civic contributions to our community".

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This summer, Marilyn Stata achieved a personal goal: living in her own apartment. She enjoys the quiet of her home, its proximity to parks and nature, and the company of her beloved cat, Sophie.

Marilyn’s journey to independence started fifteen years ago when she moved from her family home into supervised apartments operated by LDA Life and Learning Services (now part of Starbridge). Marilyn found she had a knack for cooking, and her housemates enjoyed tasting what she made.

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April Dixon, Family Education Specialist at Starbridge, graduated from the United Way of Greater Rochester’s African American Leadership Development Program on November 3, 2016. This year’s class of 39 joins a network of 800 graduates in the Rochester area. The rigorous program prepares individuals to lead and serve the greater Rochester community. Curriculum topics include communication, decision making, and serving on a board.

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Hello Friends:

I hope this message finds you well, and that you are enjoying the beautiful New York autumn.

We conducted a survey earlier this year because we wanted to hear from you: how we are doing and what else you would like to see us doing. We thank you for your participation and feedback.

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Their son, Jason, was 19 years old when David DeGraff and Sharon Pluta-DeGraff first encountered LDA Life and Learning Services. As Sharon recalls, "I didn’t know where to turn for guidance and assistance with an adult child with developmental disabilities and such complex needs."

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Board Member Anne Babcock-Stiner

How did you first hear about our organization?

I had known about The Advocacy Center through two of my coworkers. Once my son was born with Down syndrome, in 2010, I became more involved with the organization. I graduated from Partners in Policymaking® in 2012 and joined the Board in 2013.

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Jayshawna Israel, a senior at World of Inquiry School in Rochester, has volunteered for Together Including Every Student (TIES) for two years. TIES, a program of Starbridge, provides support to students with developmental disabilities to participate in extracurricular and recreational activities.

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Donnell Evans is a busy man with clear goals for his future. "I would like to go back to school and finish my degree in Communications and Media Studies at MCC. In five years, my goal is to have a job. I haven’t found a girlfriend yet, but I’m working on that now," Donnell says with a smile. In ten years, Donnell would like to be married, start a family, and hopefully have a good career.

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When Maria Vazquez first came to The Advocacy Center, now Starbridge, she needed help for her son, Jose. As she recalls, "He wasn’t learning. I needed help for him due to his medical needs, and he needed supports for learning." Jose has Type 1 Diabetes, seizure disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Maria began working with Maritza Cubi, Bilingual Family Education Specialist. They discussed all of Maria’s options, starting with asking staff at Jose’s school to communicate with Maria in her native language.