People First of Missouri header - shows a map of the United States with Missouri in bright color

In This Issue:

Message from the President of People First of Missouri

People First at Large Chapter

People First of Missouri Strategic Plan

Missouri Disability Rights Legislative Day 2021

Legislative Education

People First of Missouri Chapter's Updates

Picture of Jeffrey Johnson, President of People First of Missouri

Message From the President

This year has been a different one for all of us. I want you to know that People First of Missouri stands by you. Going into my 2nd year of being President. I look back and wonder if we have accomplished everything I had hope for. The Coronavirus 19 pandemic has challenged us all, yet we have learned new things such as using technology.

As I move into my 2nd year as being President, I look forward to what we will be doing:

1. People First of Missouri Online Conference, June 11 & 12, 2021.

2. Reviewing and updating our Positions Statement and creating a plan for 2021.

3. Helping People First members use technology.

4. Starting a People First 'At Large' Online Chapter.

5. Growing the membership and local member interactions.

6. Working with the Heartland Self Advocate Network to develop SOAR Conference. This Conference will take place online, September 17, 18, & 19, 2021.

7. Creating a Manual for People First of Missouri Steering Committee Members and Officers.
I look forward to working with you to make these things happen.
Again, I want you all to know that not only am I with you, but the whole People First of Missouri organization is standing with you.

People First at Large Chapter

People First at Large is a new online statewide chapter. This will allow more advocates to participate in People First when they do not have access to a local chapter.

People First at Large will have elected officers and member-driven goals. In addition, this chapter will support members to start their own local chapters.

If you or someone you know is interest in becoming a member of People First at Large, please e-mail David Forbes at davidaforbes17@gmail.com or you can register for one of the informational meetings below:

Picture of People First of Missouri's Position statements

People First Strategic Plan

Hi, my name is David Forbes. I'm a self-advocate consultant, member of the Springfield PF chapter. I have used Charting LifeCourse tools with my local chapter to develop a plan for the coming year. Recently People First of Missouri Officers asked me if I could use Charting LifeCourse tools in the same way for a state-level plan and to update People First of Missouri's position statements.

I will be using several tools as a base: The Trajectory, The Integrated Supports Star, and The Goal Attainment worksheet. With those tools, there will be multiple meetings with the statewide membership via zoom. These meetings will gather input from membership to help update and streamline the existing position statements, compile what goals members want to achieve, and develop a plan on how to work towards those goals.

Please have a look at the LifeCourse framework, you can find all the tools I will be using at Liefcoursetools.com.

If you have any questions please contact me at davidaforbes17@gmail.com

Missouri Disability Rights Legislative Day 2021

This year Missouri Disability Rights Legislative Day will be an online event due to the COVID-19. This event will be Tuesday, March 23, 2021.

The event will open at 10:30 a.m. rally will start at 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Visits with legislators 12-4 p.m.

More information will be available soon. To stay up-to-date with event information, visit the event page on Facebook.

Legislative Education

People First of Missouri will be hosting Sarah Schwegel, the Public Policy and Advocacy Specialist from Paraquad for Legislative training. Join us for one of the listed times:

People First of Missouri Chapter's Updates

Boone County
People First of Boone County is working on outreach activities to bring in new members:

Updated our brochure.
Our chapter is offering People First polo shirts to people who join.
We invited staff and residents from local supported living programs to a meeting. We were able to share with them information about our chapter. (One person joined our chapter, during the meeting!)

We are looking forward to participating in Disability Rights Legislative Day on March 23rd.

Randolph County

Randolph County People First has been meeting in person. We had our Christmas party in December.

We have done several service projects in the last couple of months:

•Thanksgiving, we purchased a Thanksgiving dinner for a family.

•In December we bought gifts for the local Toys for Tots toy drive.

•In February, we gave our second Inclusion Award.

St. Charles

We enjoyed an October parking lot party with members.

St. Joseph

It has been a tough year as COVID-19 has impacted so many people. Our group is learning how to meet virtually. We had to change how we do fundraisers. We did a popcorn fundraiser and have been collecting Best Choice Labels. As a result of our fundraising, we purchased a tablet for our members to check out for People First and other advocacy meetings.
Our Vice President has volunteered to attend local ADA Meetings with the city of St. Joseph, MO.

St. Louis

In the fall we met on the phone, and we are meeting on Zoom now! Our members are working on advocacy projects, fundraisers, and planning a rally in June. We look forward to being able to meet in person again soon.

Taney/Stone County

COVID hit our community hard. However, our two steering committee members have been participating in the statewide meeting via Zoom. We have been trying to stay in touch with one another on our Facebook page. We plan to begin holding monthly meetings at an outdoor location starting this month. We are hopeful that our chapter can become more active again in the near future!

Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove®
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

5030 Cherry Street Room 120
Kansas City, MO | 64110 US

This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.