Another busy month for virtual events! Our Alaska event was a terrific collaboration between five groups with the Mental Health Trust Authority and Vocational Rehabilitation leading the charge. Vertical Harvest’s Crocker Stickney, a relatively recent hire, was a featured panelist. Our west coast event was with USC’s Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab. We love doing events that engage the next generation of entrepreneurs. We did two east coast events — one with the Swearer Center at Brown University in Rhode Island and the other with the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. Carrie Burkin, Family Experience Coordinator at Strong and parent of a teen with a disability, shared this with us:
I am sometimes skeptical when I hear about documentaries that include people with disabilities. I get concerned that either abilities will be downplayed or played up as inspiration. I found this film to be an honest portrayal of the struggles and successes of a startup business that is dedicated to being an authentic inclusive workplace. I walked away from the film having a greater understanding of running a business, a new collection of knowledge about hydroponics, a renewed belief that community support is vital, and a restored faith that it may take a village but true inclusive employment can be done.
