Dear friends and fellow parents in the disability community,
I am so excited to share something with you that has been “percolating” in my head for years, and more recently has reached something akin to “the wheels of progress are turning.”
For a long time, I have thought and worried about what Max would do after he “aged-out” of CTP when he turns 21. My dream was to create a coffee shop that would be run by Max and his friends as a way to parlay the vocational skills they learned throughout middle and high school into meaningful employment, a chance to continue to see friends, to live and work in their community, and generally “be seen.” I had seen several iterations of the same idea in other U.S. cities (and at least one other in Portland) but wanted something like that right in the community that Max calls home.
I am happy to let you know that my dream (and the dream of other like-minded passionate people!) is going to become a reality! Recently I have connected with a small group of professionals (all former LOSD employees) who share this dream and vision for “our kids.” We are actively pursuing opening a coffee shop – but that’s just the beginning. Inclusion is our guiding star in the development of this organization, and we plan on growing multiple employment avenues that will allow more people in the disability community to participate and enrich the organization. If you would like to see a real-life version of our ultimate goal, please visit:
https://www.mychals.org/our-programs/social-enterprises/
Mychal’s Learning Place is an organization that provides the level of comprehensive support and opportunities as well as the inclusive environment that we want to build in Lake Oswego.
Introducing YES! LO. YES! stands for Young Employment Success. Our co-founder, Sabrina, suggested YES as an acronym because, “No one can say no to YES!” We are currently completing all of the things that are required to start an organization like this (non-profit status, website, branding, etc.) and soon we will be “live” and ready to start Phase 2 – which is opening a coffee shop!
THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN!
We invite you and your family to join us at a special event that holds promise - not only for recreation, but also for real change in our community. On Saturday, April 26th (yes – this Saturday), the City of Lake Oswego will celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new Lake Oswego Recreation and Aquatic Center (LORAC) — a state-of-the-art facility designed for inclusion, wellness, and community connection. Our hope is that we can be given the opportunity to acquire a space in the new LORAC to open a Grab-and- Go food and coffee stand as a first step for our young adults to be employed and serve a greater purpose. This would be followed by the bigger goal of opening a brick-and-mortar coffee shop. A few weeks ago, Sabrina and I had a very positive, fruitful meeting with Lake Oswego Mayor, Joe Buck, and hope to build on that with tangible support from the city in the form of space at the LORAC.
Saturday’s ribbon cutting is more than just a grand opening. It’s a moment to be seen and heard.
As parents of children/young adults with disabilities, your presence is vital. Together, we can show Mayor Buck, City Manager Martha Bennett, and City Controller Shawn Cross the importance of investing in YES! as well as show them the number of city residents that would benefit from an organization like this. We need to put faces to this project, so it does not continue to be abstract in their minds.
By attending the ribbon cutting, we send a powerful, unified message: that people with disabilities are an essential and vibrant part of our community, and that this new center should be a place for everyone — not just to swim or play, but to work, grow, and thrive.
📍 Event Details
What: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – Lake Oswego Recreation and Aquatic Center
When: Saturday, April 26th
Where: 17525 Stafford Rd, Lake Oswego, OR
Time: 10:00 a.m. – ribbon cutting begins at 10 a.m. meet us in the parking lot at 9:45 a.m. (look for the yellow balloons!)
Let’s show city leadership the heart and strength of this community — and why continued support for YES! is not only needed, but essential.
Bring your children. Bring your friends. Bring your voice.
Please pass along this letter and the accompanying flyer to anyone who may be interested in joining us!
We will have many opportunities in which you can involved. If you are interested in being notified in the future, please go to our website and fill out our contact form. We will keep you posted!
Thank you in advance for your support!! Hope to see you Saturday!
Sabrina Trembley, Becky Owens, Dalton Albios, Jane Griffiths, & Debra Lazzaretti
