Upcoming Events & Important Dates
Upcoming Events
- Caregivers Writing Workshop
-Volunteer at Brat Fest
-Change It Up Tuesday at Delta Beer Lab
CSN Closed Dates
- Monday, May 27th
For more information about our upcoming events, visit us on social media or at VisitCSN.org/events
Celebrating Diversity & Autism Awareness Month
Each day is special and deserves to be celebrated. Throughout the year, we dedicate certain months and dates to causes and topics that deserve our awareness. In April we celebrate diversity as well as Autism Awareness.
Celebrate Diversity Month is a time to recognize and honor our differences, whether they are gender, race, ethnicity, ability level, etc., it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that we take the time to listen and understand those around us because they may have perspectives and opinions that we haven’t considered. This is a time for us to acknowledge and better understand our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and the strangers down the street - no matter how different we might be.
As we celebrate diversity this month, it is important to recognize all diversity, including those in our community with developmental disabilities. This month we also celebrate Autism Awareness which was founded in April of 1970. To honor Autism Awareness month, we recognize the impacts of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on individuals and their loved ones. We also use this time to celebrate individuals living with ASD and the unique perspectives they have to share with us all.
By embracing diversity we can better understand those around us - creating a more inviting, inclusive environment for everyone. It is especially important to embrace diversity in the workplace. Having a diverse workforce ensures that many perspectives are considered, allowing businesses to reach a wider audience.
Employing individuals with developmental disabilities can add great value to your team. If you or someone you know is currently hiring, consider becoming an employer with CSN. Contact us to learn more! Info@VisitCSN.org.
Enrichment:
Making Connections
Connecting with the community is one of our biggest goals at CSN. A major way that we achieve this goal is by inviting volunteers to come to our space and spend time and work on projects with us.
In February, we welcomed Yuanbo to CSN through our internship program. Yuanbo is a Philosophy major in his senior year at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. We have had so much fun getting to know him over the last couple of months, and now that he has gotten to know us, he has been planning some really great activities for us.
For instance, did you know that the Great Wall of China is 13,000 miles long, making it the longest wall in the world? Or that most of the wall that we see today was built during the Ming Dynasty? We learned all of this and more with Yuanbo. By sharing an educational video that he found and a worksheet that he created to go with it, we were able to have a fun and informative conversation about The Great Wall of China, and China in general.
Yuanbo has also shared some Chinese symbols with us - even helping us create our own beautiful symbol for spring to take home and enjoy. We were all able to get involved in this artistic project. First, we traced a template of the symbol for spring onto our own paper. Next, we cut out the symbol and chose some of our favorite watercolors that remind us of spring. Finally, we painted our symbol with our watercolors and set them aside to dry. They all turned out beautiful!
Thank you, Yuanbo, for sharing your time, knowledge, and interests with us. We look forward to each of your visits and can’t wait to see what else we can learn from you!
Are you or someone you know looking for a volunteer or internship opportunity? Contact us to learn more! Info@VisitCSN.org
Vocational:
New Employer Alert!
Here at CSN, we strive daily to work towards our mission to provide comprehensive day-time services to individuals with developmental disabilities. It wouldn’t be possible for us to accomplish these goals without the wonderful employers that we partner with here in Dane County to employ our clients.
Marshalls is an American department store that offers name brand goods for 20% - 50% less than other department stores. Their ever-changing selection allows shoppers to enjoy a new shopping experience with each visit.
In December of 2023, Marshalls and CSN began our partnership when they hired Rita, a CSN client, as their new Dressing Room Attendant. With Rita’s love for fashion and her outgoing personality, she quickly grew in this position. All of the staff are supportive and encouraging, making this a wonderful work environment for Rita. Next time you are looking for your favorite designer fashion at an affordable price, stop into Marshalls! Rita may be there to assist you as you pick out your new favorite, spring must haves.
Thank you to everyone at Marshalls for their support! We look forward to continuing this partnership for years to come.
Wellness:
Spring Has Sprung!
It is officially spring and as our temperatures begin to rise and the plants and animals come out of hibernation, we can take time to note the many changes happening around us. When we feel overwhelmed with these changes, it can be helpful to pause and take some deep breaths. We have 2 favorite springtime breathing exercises that help us think about what we are grateful for and the many good things to come with this new season. If you’re looking for a new breathing exercise, give one of these a try!
Bumblebee Breathing: Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Breathe in through your nose and then hum quietly as you slowly breath out. Repeat several times.
Spring Breathing: Breathe in through your nose, pretending you are breathing in the fresh scent of spring flowers. Breathe out through your mouth, pretending you are blowing a leaf away. Repeat several times.
Give these exercises a try indoors and outdoors to see if your experience changes in different environments.
Caregivers Writing Workshop
This free 8-week writing workshop will provide family and community caregivers with space and time to express their experiences through writing and experience the power of writing exercises as a tool for self exploration and self compassion.
WHEN
The following Monday's from 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
April 29 | June 3 |
May 6 | June 10 |
May 13 | June 17 |
May 20 | July 1 |
Spots are limited. Use this link forms.gle/s4gTpsBmAFicdFvY9 to sign up by April 24.
Where
Six Willows Counseling Services
255 N. Sherman Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
Email Ellyn@SixWillows.com with any questions.
Meet Our Facilitators
In 2006, Ellyn Zografi started an 11-year career at Community Support Network (CSN) providing direct services to, and case management for adults with developmental disabilities. In 2013, Ellyn moved into a clinical role as Director of Collaborations, a mental health clinic, housed in CSN, after receiving her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT) at Edgewood College. Along with providing therapeutic services to CSN clients, she created spaces and programs for both family and professional caregivers to receive support and resources. In her total 18+ years working as both a social worker and psychotherapist, Ellyn has discovered writing to be a powerful tool. She has conducted writing workshops and provided writing prompts for not only clients, staff and family members at CSN, but also as part of a wilderness therapy program in Southern Utah as well as part of her clinical private practice, Six Willows Counseling Services, Inc. Ellyn is currently working towards a certification in Biblio/Poetry Therapy, an expressive arts therapy in which the main mission is to promote growth and healing through written language, symbol and story.
Donna Anderson has a Bachelor of Music degree, but loves anything to do with writing. At age 42, she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree with a major in English and taught writing classes at two St. Louis colleges, while continuing as an organist and choir director. During this time, she attended four Progoff Journaling Workshops which focused primarily on dialogue-writing. She gave up teaching writing classes when she suddenly became a caregiver for her in-laws who were in their 90’s and moved into the Anderson home for the final three years of their lives. Her mother-in law had severe dementia and her father-in-law suffered from numerous physical ailments. Every night Donna wrote in a journal, venting her frustrations, assessing the day, and solving problems, all of which helped her move onto the next day. She never regretted this caregiving period in her life, even though it was more challenging than any job she ever had.
JOIN US
We'd love to see you at one or both of these fun, upcoming events!
Brat Fest
Volunteers Needed
CSN will be a benefiting charity of the World's Largest Brat Fest
May 24 - 26, 2024
Sign up for one of the many opportunities at this amazing event while supporting CSN at the same time.
How to Sign Up
1. Review the volunteer opportunities
2. Sign up to volunteer
3. Please be sure to indicate that you are volunteering on behalf of Community Support Network when signing up.
Change it up Tuesday
with Delta Beer Lab
167 East Badger Road, Madison, WI 53713
Come on out and enjoy yourself for a fun evening in support of CSN.
TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2024
ALL DAY
100% of net taproom proceeds will be donated to CSN
Winter Recipes
Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers
Ingredients
1 Package Mini Sweet Bell Peppers
8 oz. Cream Cheese, Softened
1/3 C Bacon Bits
1 C Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1/3 C Mayonnaise
Directions
Cut in half and de-seed the mini sweet peppers.
Add cream cheese, bacon, cheddar cheese, & mayonnaise to a medium bowl and stir to combine.
Spoon the cream cheese mixture into the pepper halves.
Garnish with more bacon.
Place in refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.
Enjoy!
Bacon Pea Salad
Ingredients
1/4 C Real Bacon Bits
4 C Frozen Peas - Defrosted
1/2 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/3 C Diced Red Onions
1/3 C Mayonnaise
1/3 C Sour Cream
1 Tbsp Sugar
2 tsp Vinegar
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
Directions
Defrost frozen peas.
Dice red onion.
Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, vinegar, salt, & pepper in a bowl. Mix well.
Add peas, bacon, onion, & cheddar cheese to the bowl. Stir gently.
If able, refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.
Enjoy!
Air Fryer Pepperoni Pizza Egg Rolls
Ingredients
Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
Pepperoni
Egg Roll Wrappers
Olive Oil Spray
Salt
Marinara Sauce
Directions
Place 3 pieces of pepperoni & a piece of cheese near the bottom corner of an egg roll wrapper.
Roll the egg roll wrapper up halfway & carefully fold the sides towards the center over the cheese.
Dip your finger in water and trace the edge of the wrapper.
Roll the wrapper up the rest of the way.
Repeat with the remaining pepperoni, cheese, & wrappers.
Place pepperoni mozzarella sticks into the air fryer, spray with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt.
Air fry at 350 degrees for 3 minutes, flip, spray the other side with olive oil & sprinkle with salt.
Cook for another 3 minutes.
Serve with marinara sauce for dipping & enjoy!
THANK YOU DONORS
We want to give a big thank you to our corporate and foundation donors! Your support means the world to us at CSN. Because of you, we can keep helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live their best lives. Your generosity helps us provide important programs that promote independence, inclusion, and personal growth. We couldn't do it without you, and we're so grateful for your partnership.
How Can You Help?
Ways to Donate
Financial Donation - Financial donations are always appreciated! Checks can be mailed to CSN or donate directly on our website - VisitCSN.org
ShopRaise - Shop online using ShopRaise and your purchases from eligible retailers will help support CSN
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.
Join us for one of our upcoming events!
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.
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