Orcas Issues readers: Today is the last day to contribute to the indiegogo campaign to start this new island enterprise. Go to the donation site and consider helping out: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/concerto-a-life-spectrum-residential-project
— by Margie Doyle —
The Concerto Project: a residential program for developmentally vulnerable individuals and autistic young adults.
Marian O’Brien and Keith Whitaker are the proud parents of a highly-functioning autistic daughter. After raising her, they know well how intensive it can be to just deal with “ordinary” days and how easily overwhelming it can be to deal with the worries of “what comes next”.
And so, when they found a solution at Ramapo for Children in New York, where Kelsey Whitaker is enrolled in the Staff Assistant Experience program, they transformed their relief into inspiration—why not start a similar program here at home?
They are not new to the social, legal and business complexities of entrepreneurship, having owned the West Coast Print Center and Boku Books, designing, printing and distributing books and journals nationwide before moving to Orcas Island nearly 8 years ago, where Kelsey graduated from Orcas High School in 2012.
After planning and consultation with local strategic thinkers, they have embarked on the first “public” step towards the goal of establishing a program here similar to the Staff Assistant Experience.
They started a month-long IndieGoGo financing campaign for the first phase of establishing The Concerto Foundation. The goal of the Project is to build a residential community for developmentally vulnerable individuals and autistic young adults.
Marian and Keith see this as “a lively and inspiring place that would be a secure, permanent home providing employment opportunities for local residents, as well as to provide a home-like environment for other young adults on the autism spectrum” where they will be provided with the support to develop independent living skills and work towards successfully returning to their home communities, to be near their families and to achieve the happiest, most productive, rewarding, and independent lives possible.
“We have created a first level prospectus and gained the advice, support and goodwill of many gifted colleagues, who have encouraged us to pursue The Concerto Project,” says Marian.
With the IndieGoGo campaign proceeds, the couple plan to create the 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that will develop and support the Project. The funds will also allow for the completion of their research of several communities in other regions of the US that serve young adults in achieving sustainable independence through supported living, vocational training and continuing education. Some of these communities are: Bittersweet Farms in Ohio, Camphill Triform in New York, Camphill Soltane in Pennsylvania, and Glenora Farms in British Columbia.
Many hours of donated planning and development have gone into The Concerto Project already. Committed individuals have expressed interest in serving on the board of directors, performing program research and development, assisting in the acquisition of property, facilitating appropriate design and environmental considerations, and helping to achieve full project funding and the creation of a future endowment. The land and the buildings will be preserved by a perpetual trust to ensure the sustainability of the Project.
The Concerto Project will be supported by professionals who live as an extended family in three to six new, specially-designed homes where members will each have an integral role in the sustainability of their community. Organic farming, small scale manufacturing for commerce, and business and intellectual property development skills will be pursued with vocational training and supports. Therapeutic arts and activities will be supported by staff and local artists.
The next phases will include funding for:
• project and program development, including budgets and staff;
• acquisition of land for the program;
• design, permitting and construction;
• furnishing and inauguration.
The couple are cautious, yet deliberate about their goal; “It’s a fragile idea with a lot at stake,” says O’Brien. “We pursued this Project from the perspective of having built up over 70 years of social capital between us, before coming to Orcas. We hope to secure the funds through our national contacts and the social capital they have, bringing the funding back here to help the Project succeed.”
They want to create and organize a program that is sustainable and will serve our local Islands residents first and foremost, then make it available to others. Marian and Keith believe that, with help, they will be able to document a replicable project that can help others elsewhere in their local communities create appropriate projects of their own.
“We’ve met the parents in Kelsey’s program and others, whose families have been forever changed for the better by the fact that their kids have had a safe and supportive place to transition to adulthood. Those of us who are caring for someone vulnerable don’t have the time to think about the future most often, because so much has to go into today. It can be intense, and it is ongoing. Parents of vulnerable children live their life on the edge daily. But together we can take the hopes and energies of our families and put it towards something good.”
Parents across the country are doing this same thing. The magazine, Autism Spectrum News, created a special issue in the Summer of 2013 that had article after article about parents and advocates in various stages of creating safe and productive transition or permanent housing for their family members.
“The majority of the residents will be the young people who come from out in the world, who need the same kinds of supports that Kelsey has gotten in New York. That is how we will build sustainability into the program, by creating an educational, vocational and therapeutic environment that is interesting and productive and that is constantly evolving as each individual becomes a part of the Concerto community”, adds Marian.
She envisions building The Concerto Project “one person at a time”, utilizing a thoughtful admissions process and careful choice of staff.
O’Brien and Whitaker see a really special community that will grow, made up of “creative, fascinating people with good humor and very big hearts.”
They are asking people to help by sending their link to friends, families and colleagues who are familiar with the need for this kind of opportunity and who would love being a part of something positive and meaningful.
The IndieGoGo donation site: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/concerto-a-life-spectrum-residential-project
The Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Concerto-Project/275113819317670
The YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1ETToa5zNU&feature=youtu.be
The Concerto project website: https://www.concertoproject.org/faq.html
Ask to be put on the mailing list for Project updates. Visit their web site regularly at www.concertoproject.org
Email: info@concertoproject.org
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This is a wonderful idea, with two especially reliable and committed folks at its helm! Wishing you all the luck in the world!
I wholeheartedly support this idea, and I’ve put my money where my mouth is. Please help launch this project. The IndieGoGo donation site: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/concerto-a-life-spectrum-residential-project
Thank you Jan, Susan and Margie!
My role as Director of Concerto will be to guide and track the development of the Project, to continue to reach out to make connections while researching other models for inspiration and best practices, and most of all, to keep the focus of Concerto appropriate to location, scale and needs. My lifelong interest in human potential has found an elegant landing spot with this Project. The interplay of the diverse community members, who will create a sustainable environment based in respect, goodwill and lots of fine humor is where I want to be. I’m so happy to be able to share this new chapter with you. Thanks for coming along on the adventure!
The Concerto Project, envisioned by Marian O’Brien and Keith Whitaker, is such an incredible gift for developmentally vulnerable individuals, who are often over-looked and ignored by the rest of their community. It is also a gift to our larger community to have such a positive project bloom on our island, providing wonderful opportunities, and bringing out the best talents and gifts of all who get involved in launching this project into reality. Thank you, Margie Doyle and Orcas Issues, for sharing with us an exciting peek at this inspirational vision that the Concerto Project offers us!
The Concerto Project is a dream both visionary and grounded–grounded in experience, compassion, and hard work. It is no surprise that Keith and Marian have rolled up their sleeves and put on their thinking caps to tackle the great need for nurturing, safe, and vibrant living communities for young adults on the autism spectrum. Their big hearts, tenacity, and wisdom are are a gift to their community. Oakland’s loss is Orcas’ gain.
Thank you, Pam and Bonnie. The hard work of others inspires us daily here on Orcas. We’re really looking forward to sharing this adventure!