In February of 2022, we were in the relatively early stages of planning our largest event to date: I Dreamed a Dream: A Night of Broadway with the Trent Hill Center.

Many of you reading this played a part in making it a smashing success! THANK YOU! The nearly $120,000 raised from your sponsorships, donations, and ticket purchases for I Dreamed a Dream made it possible for us to open our newest program: Independent Living.

To put it mildly, things have moved quickly since November 11. We shared with you that we intended to launch this program in January of 2022, but the universe had other plans, and we moved our first resident in onDecember 5, 2021.

In early February 2022, this resident, Angelique, began her third month as a residential Independent Living Program participant. Since having started the program, Angelique has accomplished several personalized program objectives, including: learning and demonstrating the basics of home maintenance (such as using a plunger, testing a smoke detector, using a fire extinguisher), discerning between various types of car loans, understanding the steps required to establish a good credit score, successfully conducting a change of address, and starting as a full-time employee at Lowe’s. She continues to exhibit progress toward her Independent Living Program goals.

In late January 2022, Shymia became the second Independent Living Program participant. After graduating high school in the spring of 2021, she enrolled in a CNA course and has been employed by a residential nursing home facility in town. Shymia and Angelique are working together to navigate the challenges, freedoms, and opportunities afforded to them as roommates inTrent Hill Center's Independent Living Program.

We look forward to providing more updates on these and future Independent Living Program participants!