Community Connections
This Is How We Do It
Our role is to spark possibilities and provide the support needed to make it real.
Why It Matters
People with disabilities are too often left out of everyday community life.
Community Connections exists to change that, one relationship, one family, and one project at a time. When people are supported in sharing their gifts, building friendships, and contributing in meaningful ways, communities become stronger for everyone.
What grows is simple and powerful: more people with disabilities becoming known, valued, and connected.
What Are Pop-Up Stories?
Pop-Up Stories are a chance to hear how a community project was created. These gatherings highlight how everyday interests, gifts, and simple ideas can become opportunities for connection and belonging. Through real stories from real people, Pop-Up Stories invite people to imagine what becomes possible when we turn toward one another, share what we love, and create spaces where everyone can be known, welcomed, and included.
What Inclusion Seekers are saying
“Since doing this community building project with my family, my son is now the one connecting me to the community.”
“For me, it’s like something has changed. We were told no Troy’s [son with disability] entire life. We were told no by a lot of disability services. We kind of withdrew and became isolated. But I think, maybe that was the wrong way to approach things anyway. Maybe we should have always been thinking about, ‘This is where we live, in Clifton. How should we be including Troy in Clifton?’ Looking to the neighborhood for support instead of looking to disability services for support. I think we’ve been happier here in this last year than ever and it’s because we included our neighbors…”
“We came to Starfire and started learning different strategies – taking people to lunch, taking other runners, birders, artists, taking even neighbors, just taking people to lunch and pick their brains, I just call it getting out of my own head. ”
“We will work the rest of our days to continue to learn and walk a path of belonging, community building, and Love. We are so grateful for Starfire’s planting seeds in our path as we navigate this journey that we have learned requires forgiveness, bravery, and a beautiful imagination for what could be. ”
