Kokua

See what's in store for May!

Check out our Spring newsletter!🌷🌺☀️⭐️

Hummingburd studio is hosting in-person sessions on Tuesdays starting April, 2nd!

Sessions times are: 10-11:30. 12:30-2 & 3-4:30
Registration is required to attend.

Join us! We'd' love to make art with you.

We are hiring!

Positions: Caregiver/DSP Evening & Weekend Shifts

From $20 an hour - Part-time, Full-time

Click to apply.

Caregiver/DSP Evening & Weekend Shifts - Lacey, WA - Indeed.com Kokua Services

Olympia High School is showing "Intelligent Lives" and you are invited!

February 22nd at 6pm

Lecture Hall next to the PAC

Park in back in the lot on Carlyon.

Intelligent Lives synopsis - "Young adults who have intellectual disabilities challenge perceptions of intelligence while navigating high school, college and the workforce.” There will be a short discussion afterwards.

Happy February!

Happy New Year!

We're so excited to become Anchor Partners with the Armory Creative Campus and have a studio in a space that will value art, community, accessibility and sustainability!

It feels wonderful to share this after four long years of trying to find a permanent home. We're so thankful for this opportunity and can't wait to make art with you there once the Armory is transformed.

https://mailchi.mp/olympiawa.gov/armory-housewarming-11192670?e=cccbe27e84

Thank you to our wonderful donors, artists, volunteers, tutors, and learners for all of the love and support. These programs wouldn't exist without you!

Also, thank you to The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound and the Dawkins Charitable Trust for providing non-profits such an impactful fundraising platform and bonus fund. Our community is better for it.

Check out what's happening in December!

We're having a New Year's party!

We're still looking for a permanent home, but are excited to be hosting art sessions at Friendship Hall starting Monday, January 8th! We can't wait to welcome you to this lovely space, made possible by our friends at The Liberation Collective and the YWCA.

Come make art with us by registering for an art session!

Together we raised $8,030! Thank you to everyone who supported us during Give Local by donating, sharing, volunteering and following our journey on social media. We also want to thank the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound for hosting this incredible online giving campaign.

LEAD and hummingbird studio wouldn't exist without the support of our community and we're humbled each day by all of your love, creativity, and openness. We're so excited to continue growing with all of you!

Thank you!

Today is the last day to Give Local. There are over 130 organizations participating and they're all doing so much to make our community a better place. Check out the landing page and explore ways to show some love!

Give Local 2023 Give Local 2023 is happening now! Explore over 130 nonprofit story pages and direct your meaningful gifts to the causes closest to your heart. Not sure where to give? You can also spread the love around and support all of this year’s participating nonprofits with a gift to the Bonus Fund. Together...

This week we talked about curiosity. What are you curious about? Thanks again Sienna for the theme idea. 💛

Here are just some of your answers:

Where does Grandma keep getting all of this candy?
What are our pets and all animals thinking?
How will I age?
Where there ever be peace?
What's for dinner?
Space
Sharks
Why am I so curious?
What will my grandchildren be like?





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“ The LEAD program has truly enriched my life. It’s been an experience that has changed me and has made me understand the value of community and friendship with an entirely new lens.”

-Former tutor

Watching our pairs develop friendships while learning from each other is one of the most rewarding parts of this unique program. Each person leaves the experience changed.

Your support will keep the LEAD program growing. Please consider donating to our Give Local campaign: bit.ly/hummingbird-lead

Our friends at South Sound Parent to Parent are participating in Give Local! South Sound Parent to Parent provides much needed support to families with children with disabilities. Your donation will help them grow their new Autism program, Bright Beginnings which gives essential assistance for children and their families while they wait for a formal autism diagnosis.

Please consider donating today:

https://spsgives.org/o/community-foundation-of-south-puget-sound/i/give-local-2023/s/south-sound-parent-to-parent-dzswkpzdj

One of the best things about the studio is watching people work together on a project. The result always reflects the love put into it. Creating art together also helps us bond in new and unexpected ways. We need welcoming places to connect with others!

Join us for a session, donate or spread the word!

bit.ly/hummingbird-lead

Today is the final Giving Wednesday of Give Local! Those who donate today will automatically be entered into a drawing to win $100 for a participating nonprofit of their choice.

The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound will broadcast the winners on social media by the end of the week. There are so many incredible organizations participating this year who need your help and Giving Wednesday is an opportunity to amplify your gift.

** Winners will receive a follow-up email and the Community Foundation requests that winners respond within two business days to ensure timely distribution.

Everyone has a different way of processing the world. Meeting and embracing people who learn differently contributes to a diverse , compassionate, and more interesting community.

LEAD (Literacy and Education for people with Disabilities) pairs individuals with disabilities with college students for tutoring, but it's so much more than that.
Participating in this program provides an opportunity to promote independence, empathy, and empowerment.

Donate today to keep LEAD free and open to the public.

bit.ly/hummingbird-lead

The look of joy!!! We love our artists and everything they bring to the studio each week. 😍

Look at this art wall! We try to create one wherever we go. It reminds us of every person who stops by and their unique way of expressing themselves. It also show us that every person is an artist and that we can really enjoy the creative process if given the supplies, community, and environment.

Your support keeps our programs growing and free to the public. Please consider donating today: bit.ly/hummingbird-lead

Give Local update: Together we've raised $4,400 for Kokua’s community programs.We are so close to our goal! Thank you for all of the love.

Kokua Services' LEAD and hummingbird studio wouldn't exist without the dedication of our volunteers, staff, artists, community partnerships, tutors, learners and supporters. Your ideas, creativity, and vulnerability continue to transform us and these programs. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!!!

The world is a much better place when we feel seen, valued, and included. This week we talked about what makes us feel included and how we can make each other feel like they belong.

Here are just some of your responses:

Awareness of our shared humanity
Meeting others where they are
Open ended questions
Collaboration
Positive regard
Greeting
Listening!
Food
Smiles
Eye contact
Treating others as your own
Acknowledging and celebrating our differences
Not trying to change anyone

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There are so many wonderful organizations participating in Give Local this year and we'd like to highlight a few close to our hearts over the next 8 days.

Thurston County Inclusion's mission is to provide opportunities for individuals of all abilities to create, build and strengthen relationships that will last a lifetime. They are almost to their Give Local goal! Let's show them some love and follow, donate if we can and share their fundraising link: shorturl.at/bepu6

Time for the November calendar! Check it out!

We're getting closer to our goal! Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared our fundraising link, follows us on social media, and continues to volunteer! 💛❤️💗

We love LEAD (Literacy and Education for people with Disabilities)! This program is a partnership between Kokua Services and the Center for Community Based Learning and Action (CCBLA) at the The Evergreen State College. In this program, college students are paired with adults with disabilities to study any topic they choose. Over time, these pairs bond and everyone leaves the experience with open hearts and minds. Many students who have been in this program have gone on to have careers in social work, disability justice, and therapy.

This will be LEAD's 14th year! We are so thankful for your donations, support, and participation because it allows this program to survive and grow.

Please consider donating via the link in our bio or spreading the word about LEAD.