2024 Spring Newsletter
Dear Friends,
As our beautiful campus bursts into bloom this time of year, we at Las Trampas are celebrating the blossoming potential within each of the individuals that we support. Spring is a season of growth and hope, and we are filled with optimism as we reflect upon the past few months.
ADVOCACY
There is an urgent matter to be advocated for! Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed to delay a $1 billion investment in critical supports and services for Californians with developmental disabilities from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025. Las Trampas strongly opposes the Governor’s proposal to delay this investment.
At Las Trampas, we create and support self-advocates. We started the year with advocating at the East Bay Legislative Coalition (EBLC) Legislative meeting on Zoom. Since then, staff have been supporting self-advocates with follow-up visits to legislators’ offices and the state capitol.
For more information on the proposed delay and how to advocate, click here.
EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Congratulations Carmen, one of our day program instructors, who was awarded Las Trampas’ 2023 Employee of the Year! Carmen has been with Las Trampas for 22 years. She is kind, caring, and empathetic towards the day program participants that she supports. She always comes to work with a positive attitude, and her work ethic is impeccable. Participants state that Carmen “knows what she is doing and she knows us very well.” Thank you, Carmen! We appreciate your many years of dedication to Las Trampas and your embodiment of Las Trampas’ mission to support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead full lives!
ALL THINGS FOOD!
Our vegetable garden on campus has been flourishing! Participants in our day program have planted rhubarb, bok choy, carrots, herbs, sweet peas, and lettuce, and look forward to planting summer vegetables soon. Once they have grown, these vegetables are used in our teaching kitchen.
Participants in our Life Skills and Health and Wellness classes utilize our teaching kitchen by making healthy meals and snacks. They learn about budgeting, shopping, preparing food items safely, cooking, and cleanup.
OFF-CAMPUS ADVENTURES
Our participants love going on adventures out into the community, and we have gone on plenty! Outings have included visits to the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley, the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, the Sloat Garden Center in Pleasant Hill, the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield, as well as trips to the gym, library, and grocery store.
Some participants in our Life Skills class have also chosen to get their clipper cards. These participants have the opportunity to participate in small outings to learn how to use public transportation, such as the BART and busses. Our staff support these individuals with planning, safety, and managing their clipper card.
LEGACY GIVING
May is Leave a Legacy Month, a national public awareness campaign encouraging people to leave a planned gift to a charity that is meaningful to them.
As I think about my legacy, I think about what the future holds for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Nationally, the number of adults with IDD aged 60 and older is projected to double from 641,860 in 2000 to 1.2 million people by 2030. On top of that, Autism diagnosis rates are skyrocketing. It is clear to me that to fully support the IDD community into the future, we will need to expand our services and our funding.
The future is guaranteed to no one without active participation by people who care. Data supports that the best way to ensure Las Trampas’ future is through a Legacy Giving program. Legacy Giving refers to donations that you plan to give after your passing, and it is commonly referred to as “planned giving” because donors plan these gifts years before they are distributed. These gifts have the potential to supply Las Trampas with meaningful funds for years to come, and to honor your legacy.
I know that death is an uncomfortable subject, but it comes to us all, and I take comfort in knowing that I am prepared. I have an estate plan, and I have personally left a percentage of my estate to Las Trampas. I take pride in knowing that my legacy will live on through Las Trampas, and I hope you will consider joining me.
To share your legacy giving intent or to learn more, please email Katherine at kkoller@lastrampas.org.
2024 O2 SABBATICAL AWARDEE
I am thrilled to announce that I have been selected to receive an O2 Initiative Sabbatical Award! This award honors dedicated nonprofit executive directors in San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties with a three-month break for essential rest and renewal. While this award allows executive directors to recharge, it also empowers organizations to build their leadership capacity. I am very excited to be a 2024 awardee!
Thank you for being a part of our journey! We are so grateful for your continued support in empowering our friends and neighbors with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead full lives. Keep an eye out for more ways to get involved!
Daniel Hogue
Executive Director
Click here to view our full winter newsletter!
