What decision made you start a day support business?
I had a good friend that was in the business on the home side and she was looking for a day support center. We were out looking for a day support arena for girls who aged out at age 22. There was not a thought of what happens after they aged out of school … I sat in the parking lot and cried and said I got to do something about this and I got to make a difference. In making a difference, I decided to do a curriculum base, class to class. That’s what I saw the other centers did not have.
What activities do you offer individuals who come to your facilities daily?
We have several different rooms: art room, radio station, music room … This facility also has a barbershop and beauty salon where the disabled students can get haircuts or the ladies can get their hair fixed. Volunteers come on weekends or days they are off from their regular barber and salon duties and give their time. BB&T Bank has volunteered to do a patio around the future fountain. Dakoro Edwards is volunteering to complete a mural in one of the new rooms that’s being renovated … The Smart Place provides transportation daily.
What is your role as CEO?
Creating an exciting yet productive environment, where every person that walks into The Smart Place feels like a valued individual, whether it’s the staff, our participants or a visitor. I always say that I don’t know what happens when we are not together, so my job is to give you the very best experience I can when we are together.
What is your vision and mission?
Our mission is to support people with mental and physical challenges in a respectful, safe and productive environment that enables them to reach their highest level of individual independence, while collaborating with families and other service organizations to expand each individual’s opportunities to engage in community activities that would otherwise be out of their reach.
How do you approach business challenges?
I have found that a very straight forward and open approach is necessary when dealing with our staffing challenges within the business. The human service arena is notorious for high turnover; the typical caregiver is underestimated and usually told what to do within their day to day routine, with no regard to their ideas or solutions that they have to offer. At The Smart Place, I try to create an environment that my staff feels that their efforts make a difference to the people we serve, and that their talents and input is valued … During our last training in-service, I sat in the audience with them and listened as they talked about their ideas of leadership and management and I truly believe it made a difference in everybody’s perception of their own self-worth. As a team, we can accomplish anything.
This is a nonprofit organization that relies on members of the community to volunteer and donate. For more information, email [email protected] or call 770-469-4418. Website: www.thesmartplace.org.
