I love a good story. I’m guessing you do too. It’s one thing I love about Hammer – their wealth of good stories. Hammer is all about people, and people make the best stories.

I’m a graphic designer and communications consultant, and I started working with Hammer a little over a year ago. In that time, I’ve helped Hammer put together a new brochure highlighting the organization and created materials for the annual meeting as well as for last year’s Reach for Ralph fundraiser. And, I’ve worked with the Communications team at Hammer to redesign their Discoveries magazine using photos and text to more clearly focus on the people of Hammer.

Along the way, I’ve had a front row seat for hearing a bunch of great Hammer stories. From the individuals who have called Hammer family all of their lives to stories about friendships between volunteers and the people Hammer serves. From the Direct Support Professionals who work hard to understand needs and do their jobs well to people like Director of Communication Tony Baisley who left the corporate world to promote work in which he believes. And of course, there are a wealth of stories of regular people who with some support from Hammer, live independently, find jobs, make friends, and enjoy the little things in life.

In my design business, I primarily work with nonprofits because I like supporting organizations doing work that closely align with my beliefs. I love my clients! My work is oftentimes behind the scenes. But, I have the opportunity to make a difference to organizations by helping them figure out how best to get their message out – how to tell their stories and use images for the best impact – and in the process, connect to the community, spark interest in volunteering, and encourage donations.

Some things I’ve noticed about Hammer:

The people I’ve met have all been warm and genuine.There is a strong dedication to each individual they serve and support is always given in a professional, classy manner. The organization seems to have a lot of energy and enthusiasm for supporting people in living their lives and treating them with dignity and respect.

In the materials I’ve help put together, I’ve seen true appreciation and care for all who work at Hammer. All employees are respected for the amazing work they do in jobs that can be very challenging.

I look forward to continuing to learn and grow in my work with Hammer – and to hearing more inspiring stories.

Jennifer Larson is a graphic designer and photographer based in Minneapolis. Her business is Jennifer Larson Communications Design. Link: https://www.jenniferlarson.net/

The post For Love of the Story appeared first on Hammer.

Everybody likes a good story, right? A “happily ever after” tale has a special appeal.

As a fifth grader, it was the biography of Helen Keller that peaked my interest in the lives of people with disabilities. At the time, I had no idea this particular story would influence the emergence of my own.

In college I had an internship at a group home where six people with disabilities resided. Since I was a theater major, my charge was to support these individuals in developing an “act” they could perform at an upcoming community talent contest. Creating something with the quality that would allow us to be included in the show was a bit daunting, but I needed the credit and they wanted the chance to perform. So, we forged ahead.

For ten weeks, these budding actors, with limited speech and unsteady gaits, rehearsed the same wordless skit … over and over and over again. I was weary of the repetition, but the enthusiasm of the “Prime Mime Players” kept me going. Adorned in costumes of white pancake make-up and black turtlenecks, we entered the show, performed our pantomime, and won second place. A joyful moment ensued, but success was fleeting.

Between the performance and the awards ceremony, our acting troupe removed their make-up. Without make-up on, the judges saw that these contestants had disabilities. The “Prime Mime Players” were sent on their way without a trophy because the judges assumed they were not actually members of the community. My anger at the injustice of this assumption provoked me to action.

The talent contest was sponsored by the city. Therefore, the “actors,” their direct support staff and I attended the next city council meeting. We explained what had happened, and the council members not only listened but helped fix the problem. They presented us with a trophy at a future meeting, and the local press was there to tell the “happily every after” story.

I later learned that what happened at that meeting was called advocacy. It is a fancy word that simply means telling a story to people who have the power to fix things. Since that night, advocating on behalf of children and adults with disabilities as well as their families has become a way of life for me. There are always stories to be told and things that need to be fixed.

The family story I currently tell to policymakers is about my niece, Eva, who lives with Cerebral Palsy. The decisions they make help our family eliminate obstacles that prevent Eva from having access to all things her non-disabled peers do. By itself, Eva’s story may only have a minor influence. But, when combined with all the stories other individuals and families tell about living with disability, an advocacy movement that policymakers cannot ignore is created.

Every individual with disabilities and his/her family supported by Hammer has a story to tell. Hammer has a growing number of advocacy volunteers, led by Terriann Matejcek, who are eager to support everyone in telling their story. “Happily ever after” outcomes occur for people with disabilities when we are prepared to share our stories. After all, even policymakers like a good story!

Bio Note: Beth Fondell has volunteered at Hammer for the past nine years. She presently serves on Hammer’s Public Affairs committee, following her tenure on the board of directors. Beth works as a training coordinator at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration, a center focused on disability policy and services. She can be reached at: fond0030@umn.edu.     

The post Happily Ever After appeared first on Hammer.