Upcoming Events & Important Dates
Events Chipotle Fundraiser For CSN
Tuesday, November 7th
4:00 - 8:00 PM
See flyer below for full details
Virtual Silent Auction
December 7th
See flyer below for more details
CSN Closed Dates - Thursday, November 23rd
- Friday, November, 24th
- Monday, December 25th
- Tuesday, December 26th
- Wednesday, December 27th
- Thursday, December 28th
- Friday, December 29th
- Monday, January 1st, 2024
For more information about our upcoming events, visit us on social media or at VisitCSN.org
A Message from Our New Executive Director: Caroline Bowers
Dear Friends and Supporters of Community Support Network,
I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new Executive Director of Community Support Network, Inc. It is an absolute privilege to step into this role and join the CSN family. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for the warm welcome and support I have received since my arrival just last month.
As most of you know, CSN has undergone a lot of changes in the last few years in an effort to continue our mission despite reduced funding resources and the challenges of the pandemic. As the new Executive Director, my primary focus will be on driving fundraising efforts and strategic planning to enhance the impact of CSN’s mission. I am committed to guiding CSN’s growth trajectory, allowing the organization to better serve and uplift individuals with developmental disabilities.
I look forward to collaborating with each of you—our supporters, volunteers, staff, and the individuals and families we serve. Together, we can continue to make a meaningful impact and bring about positive change in the lives of those we support.
Thank you for entrusting me with this important role, and I am excited to embark on this journey with all of you. I am always seeking opportunities for collaboration with our supporters and the philanthropic community so that CSN can continue to offer these needed services. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime with your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions!
With gratitude and determination,
Caroline Bowers
Executive Director
Community Support Network, Inc.
caroline.bowers@visitcsn.org
visitcsn.org/donate
Caroline has spent more than 15 years working in nonprofit leadership roles in Tennessee, Texas, and
Wisconsin. She is married with two children. She has two spunky kittens and way too many houseplants. When Caroline’s not focusing on work and family, you’ll often find her painting, enjoying trivia, watching scary movies, or catching live music events.
Welcome to the CSN family Caroline!
Vocational:
Employer Spotlight
Waisman
The Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin - Madison conducts research, provides training, provides services, and participates in outreach activities to advance our knowledge about human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases. The services that they offer include autism treatment programs, clinical care, community outreach, and the Waisman Early Childhood Program.
In 2010, the Waisman Center and CSN began our professional relationship. Over the years, the Waisman Center has employed several CSN clients to assist with sanitizing toys and work spaces as well as providing dishwashing services.
Currently, Megan is employed at the Waisman Early Childhood Program (WECP). WECP has been a program of the Waisman Center since 1979. This program offers early education and care to children ages one to six. They provide an environment that is focused on inclusivity and universal design for all children - specializing in supporting children with disabilities.
Megan began her journey with WECP long before she became an employee there. She attended WECP as a child and began working there in adulthood. She has a strong, lasting relationship with the program and some of the staff who were once her teachers. Megan is in a very special position to not only provide her services to the program that watched her grow, but also to act as a role model to each new child who joins the program.
We truly appreciate our relationship with WECP and the work that they do to ensure children of all ability levels are encouraged to learn and grow together. Thank you for all that you do!
Zuzu Cafe
Zuzu Cafe is located in the Greenbush-Vilas neighborhood in Madison and offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner; along with daily specials, baked goods made fresh on-site, fair trade coffee, and ice cream. Located across the street from the Henry Vilas Zoo, this is a great stop to refuel after visiting the animals.
Zuzu Cafe has more to offer than just great food. With a cozy inside and year around patio dining - including igloos for the colder months, you can’t go wrong! For entertainment, they offer a sandbox for the kids and occasional live music. Check out their facebook page to find out when their next live music performance will be.
Zuzu Cafe and CSN began working together in 2022. Zuzu Cafe employs a CSN client who provides dishwashing and cleaning services. Everyone at Zuzu Cafe is welcoming and the staff seem to work together like a well oiled machine.
This neighborhood cafe is a special place where people come to enjoy the food,atmosphere, and maybe even run into a neighbor or friend that they haven’t seen in a while. We appreciate our partnership with this great local business and look forward to continuing this relationship for years to come.
Are you or someone you know currently hiring?
Become an Employer with CSN
When you become an employer with CSN
EVERYBODY WINS
People win by gaining access to meaningful, income producing employment.
Employers win by gaining productive, qualified employees.
Communities win by gaining more contributing, tax paying citizens.
Our Services
We learn about your business needs
We help you fill positions
We provide ongoing job coaching
Learn More
VisitCSN.org
(608) 620-3010
Enrichment:
Expressive Writing
Last month, we started a new Expressive Writing group with Ellyn, one of our volunteers. During this group, we read a poem and paired it with a writing activity.
To prepare for this new group activity, we created our very own homemade journals. First we created colorful artwork using paint and cardstock. These became our front and back covers. Once dry, we cut the front cover and 10 pieces of printer paper to be 2 inches shorter in length than the back cover. We bound the books together with a few staples and colorful duct tape and then created a latch to hold it shut. To make the latch, we folded the 2 inches of excess back cover over the front cover and sealed it with velcro. We can’t wait to use these special journals to write our thoughts and ideas and to see where this group takes us. Thanks for joining us and putting together this fun activity, Ellyn!
Interested in joining our awesome team of volunteers? Contact us at Info@VisitCSN.org
Wellness:
Keep on Moving
As the days get shorter and the weather cools down, it can be difficult to get motivated and find ways to stay active. If you find yourself feeling lazy on the couch, watching tv to end your day, consider getting up and moving through some simple exercises as you watch your favorite show. Here’s an example of a simple exercise routine to do while you watch tv:
Exercise Routine
1. 10 Jumping Jacks
2. 10 Squats
3. Jog in Place - 30 seconds
4. 10 Push Ups
Repeat 3 times
Modified Routine
1. 10 Modified Jumping Jacks - Step one foot out to the side and raise both arms overhead, repeat on other side. Do 10 times.
2. 10 Sit to Stand Squats - start seated in a chair and stand up. Sit back down and repeat 10 times.
3. High Knees in Place - 30 seconds
4. 10 Wall or Knee Push Ups
Repeat 3 times
Fall Recipes
Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad
Ingredients
1 C Packed Fresh Basil Leaves
¼ C Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
½ tsp Salt
1 tsp Minced Garlic
3 C Cherry Tomatoes, Halved
1 - 8 oz Container Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Pearls
Directions
Place basil, oil, vinegar, salt, and garlic in a food processor or blender and process until combined.
Combine tomatoes and mozzarella in a large bowl.
Pour dressing over tomato/mozzarella mixture and toss to coat.
Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes.
Garnish with chopped basil leaves before serving if desired.
Enjoy!
Greek Salad Pinwheels
Ingredients
8 oz Feta Cheese
½ C Plain Greek Yogurt
2 tsp Red Wine Vinegar
2 tsp Minced Garlic
â…› tsp Black Pepper
¼ tsp Dried Oregano
¾ C Finely Diced Cucumber
½ C Diced Kalamata Olives
¼ Red Onion, Finely Diced
1 Tbsp Parsley
3 Roma Tomatoes, Seeded & Diced
4 - 12 in Spinach Tortillas
Directions
In a food processor combine feta cheese, greek yogurt, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, black pepper, and oregano and blend until mixed and creamy.
In a medium sized bowl combine cucumber, olives, onion, parsley, & tomatoes.
Warm tortillas slightly in the microwave, just enough to make them pliable (about 15 - 20 seconds).
Lay one tortilla on a flat surface and spread ¼ of the feta mixture evenly on the tortilla, leaving about ⅓ inch around the edges, then scoop ¼ of the cucumber mixture onto the feta mixture and spread evenly.
Roll tortilla into a log shape and wrap tightly with plastic wrap, repeat with remaining ingredients and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Remove from the refrigerator, unwrap, and slice into even pieces.
Enjoy!
Slow Cooker Peach Cobbler
Ingredients
4 C Frozen Sliced Peaches (Thawed & Drained)
¾ C Brown Sugar
2 tsp Cinnamon
1 (15 oz) Box Yellow Cake Mix
½ C Butter
Directions
In a bowl, mix together peaches, cinnamon, & brown sugar until all peaches are coated.
Put peaches into the slow cooker.
Sprinkle yellow cake mix over the peaches, use the entire box and cover all of the peaches (make sure you are using the dry cake mix - do not follow the instructions on the box).
Slice the butter into small pieces and lay them over the cake mix, the entire dry cake mix should be covered in sliced butter.
Cook on high for 4 hours or until cake turns golden brown.
Serve warm and enjoy!
How Can You Help?
New way to donate with ShopRaise!
As some of you may know, Amazon shut down its AmazonSmile donation program in February of 2023. However, we are excited to have found a new way our community can support CSN through their online purchases, ShopRaise! The program is free, you do not pay any more for the items you buy, and you get access to all the best coupons and deals.
Please help us support and promote our program by doing these 4 simple things:
Click this link or go to shopraise.com/support/209998 to get the ShopRaise app.
Add the ShopRaise extension to your internet browser to easily have your purchases at eligible retailers support CSN.
Share with your friends and family using the tools in the mobile app.
Shop online to support and help us reach our fundraising goals.
With your help, we can make a difference in the lives of the community we serve!
Other Ways to Donate
Financial Donation - Financial donations are always appreciated! Checks can be mailed to CSN or donate directly on our website - VisitCSN.org
Volunteer - Share a hobby or talent with us. We would love to learn something new from you!
Supplies - Contact us if you have supplies to donate and we’ll let you know what we are in need of.
Recyclables - Drop off your used markers, pens, glue sticks, mechanical pencils, highlighters, and watercolor containers to CSN. We’ll collect them and recycle them.
Hire Us!
Hire CSN clients to work at your company. Email Info@VisitCSN.org for more information.
Host an Art Gallery Event
Learn about our clients and their lives through art. Host our art gallery at your business for a month and experience their stories and talents. Email Info@VisitCSN.org for more information.
Join Us for our Upcoming Events
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