Nine months after I started at LISTEN, Krissy Kotrba said, “We are growing in the right direction.” That growth did not slow down and our mission for respect for every person who chooses our services and every person who chooses to work for us has kept us in the right direction.

In August 2022, we moved into a state-of-the-art facility, a new home for LISTEN. This modern building is a reflection of our commitment to providing the best environment for our staff and everyone we support. The move to our new building would not have been possible without the devotion of our charitable gaming staff and program, and for that, we are truly grateful.

In the last year, we got comfortable in our new building, spreading our wings and supporting more people. We expanded our reach in terms of the number of individuals we support and increased the size of our dedicated team. This growth is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our staff, who have gone above and beyond to ensure that we can meet the needs of the communities we serve. This last year, we were able to reach and positively impact more lives than ever before. We are supporting more individuals, families, and community members through our various programs, and we are committed to continuing this growth in the coming years.

We filled up our space so fast that we had to fold our wings back in, but with the completion of the 2nd floor build out last month, we could once again spread our wings for more growth and opportunities at LISTEN.

Our impact on the lives of the people we support continues to be at the heart of our mission. This year, we have seen countless success stories, from improved quality of life to achieving personal goals. We remain committed to empowering and enabling every person to thrive, and these achievements are a source of immense pride in our organization and all the lives of everyone touched by them.

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to every member of the LISTEN team, every person in Program Services, Drop In, Charitable Gaming, Finance, Operations, Administration, and our Board of Directors. Your dedication, compassion, and tireless efforts are the cornerstones of our organization. You have all contributed significantly to our growth and have ensured that LISTEN remains a beacon of hope for families, guardians, people with disabilities, and dedicated staff not feeling appreciated in this industry. Our incredible growth and success would not have been possible without the unwavering dedication of you all. Your passion, hard work, and commitment to our mission have been the driving force behind our accomplishments.

As we move forward, we remain committed to expanding our services and improving the lives of even more individuals. We are exploring new programs, partnerships, and technologies to further enhance our impact and create a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone who chooses our services and everyone who chooses to work for us.

I remained dedicated to serving people with disabilities, their families, loved ones, guardians, and the staff who support them and am so thankful for the group of people beside me to fulfill this mission. Maybe when you think of me, you think I’m an optimist, but what I really am is full of radical hope for a better workplace, community, and world. My most important message is always that every person matters, every person we support and every person we employ, and each person is valued no matter what they are going through or where they are in life. If I can offer just a little bit of support for someone I see struggling or having a hard time, I will always try and I will challenge the leadership at LISTEN to try and all of you to try.

LISTEN’s growth and transformation in the past year are a testament to the hard work, enthusiasm, and resilience of our team. As our journey continues, we are so excited about the opportunities that the future holds. Together, we will continue to share love, understanding, and excellent support, raising the bar on services for people with disabilities and the treatment of the staff who support them.