Lindsay Hand

Extraordinary Ventures Doing Extraordinary Work

April 21, 2018 by Lindsay Hand

How one local organization provides employment opportunities for adults on the autism spectrum

EVNY employee earning laundry service skills and bracelets made by EVNY employees (Above)

For parents of children on the autism spectrum, figuring out what comes next after their children age out of school is difficult and stressful. Enter Extraordinary Ventures, a nonprofit organization that provides jobs and a comfortable working environment to adults on the autism spectrum. After visiting Extraordinary Ventures in North Carolina, Chappaqua resident Elise Orlando, whose son is on the autism spectrum, saw an incredible opportunity to bring a similar setting to Westchester as many students at Devereux, a school for children with autism in Millwood, were on the verge of graduating. Extraordinary Ventures offered to open a New York establishment, and now two years later Extraordinary Ventures New York (EVNY) has approximately thirty employees, a number of different businesses and a space in Mount Kisco.

The four board members along with the rest of the staff work tirelessly to support the employees, and have built this organization into something truly amazing. The employees work two to four hours a week, get paid, and even pay taxes, just as they would in any other job. Orlando, a board member, said, “We have worked hard over the years to ensure our children get cutting edge education to meet their needs. They are ready to contribute to society, but in their own way.”

Working Hard & Gaining Confidence

EVNY began with making, packaging and selling candles and bracelets, all of which are broken down into steps to follow. “We look at our population and figure out what skills they have and develop businesses around it,” explained Orlando. The candles and bracelets are often themed seasonally or around holidays, and they can also be customized for gifts or favors for showers, weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and more. The employees are very proud of the merchandise they make, and some of them additionally work as salesmen at the various places the products are showcased, including farmer’s markets, craft fairs, and holiday boutiques. According to EVNY Director Liz Oliveto, “our guys feel much more confident…seeing that they can do things.” This confidence leads to saying yes to trying new things and even volunteering to do tasks, in addition to extending to home life. Both Oliveto and Orlando described how thrilled parents are to hear their children talk so excitedly about work and even change their behavior at home by doing things like baking brownies.

EVNY is also about to launch a commercial laundry service, with an additional specialty service for items like sleeping bags and pet beds. “You can bring your laundry anywhere, but by allowing EVNY to handle it you provide employment for adults with autism and support a mission,” said Orlando. With businesses like this and the candles and bracelets, EVNY is providing these individuals with a variety of opportunities and an environment in which they can interact and learn new skills. “Far too often they are told ‘you can’t do that,’” explained Oliveto, who worked with many of the employees at Devereux. “And that’s the great thing about Extraordinary Ventures…here, they have choices.”

Looking Toward the Future

Moving forward, EVNY is also launching a Vocational Training Program. This 12-session course will teach students the skills necessary to prepare for a job, perform job tasks, and interact properly while at work. Students will learn things like writing a resume, dressing for and participating in an interview, and completing forms. A regular volunteer cohort is also in the cards as the organization continues to grow. Oliveto is hoping to get volunteers of all ages, from 13-year-olds and high schoolers to retirees and senior citizens, to come to EVNY and spend time with the employees. With new partnerships with local groups like the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Mount Kisco, many people will have the opportunity to work closely with EVNY and help them in their mission.

Orlando discussed how the incidence of autism spectrum disorder has increased since her son was diagnosed in 1994, and how education and employment opportunities need to keep up with that. There is no doubt that EVNY is starting to bridge that gap by providing this wonderful opportunity for these employees. In her words, “There’s nothing better than seeing the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment among our employees when they complete a job. And they always seem surprised when they get paid for it!”

The love and passion of Oliveto and her staff is incredible and will only help the organization continue to grow and be more successful in the years to come. With the amazing community interest and support, EVNY will no doubt keep growing its businesses and helping more adults on the autism spectrum. As Oliveto explains, “I genuinely like my employees…they’re fun to work with and fun to be around. I’m glad we made a place where they are happy, productive and comfortable.”

To learn more about Extraordinary Ventures New York, visit www.EVNY.org.

With the Pinwheel Project, an Armonk Resident Devotes Herself to Helping Others

December 1, 2017 by Lindsay Hand

Pinwheel Project founder Sandee Martensen with a nurse and her pinwheel cart
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PINWHEEL PROJECT

When Sandee Martensen started volunteering at Westchester Medical Center 15 years ago, she had no idea how drastically it would change her life. An Armonk resident for almost 27 years, Martensen started the nonprofit Pinwheel Project in 2002 to provide support and comfort to children and families in the hospital during a pediatric hospital stay. After a few years volunteering in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Westchester Medical, Martensen branched out and now volunteers at a children’s hospital in the Bronx and provides support at many children’s hospitals in the Greater New York Area. In Martensen’s words, the Pinwheel Project, now equipped with a staff and volunteers, is like “the fairy godmother in the hospital.”

How It All Began

During a volunteer shift at Westchester Medical, Martensen offered to get a cup of tea for a mother sitting with her sick son. The mother was extremely grateful, and Martensen realized that this was exactly what she wanted to do, and how much it meant to parents of ill children. She soon found herself bringing tea and coffee to other families, eventually bringing a volunteer cart from room to room in the hospital with drinks and snacks she brought. She happened to see pinwheels at a supermarket, thought they would be fun to put on the cart, and the rest is history.

Martensen immediately fell in love with the work, noticing how necessary these small gestures of kindness and small bits of love were to these families. Working with sick children is not easy, especially when there is a terminal illness involved, but Martensen truly found her calling. “God gave me the grace somehow to be able to deal with it,” she says, “and to let these parents know that their child mattered, that they would not be forgotten, and that somebody cared about them and their family.” The organization focuses on quality of life for these children; Martensen realized that no matter how serious the illness, children need to simply keep smiling. “I’m a big believer in if you keep the spirit up, you have a much better shot at recovery,” she explains. “I can’t cure them, I can only try to make whatever time they have as wonderful as it can possibly [be].”

Bringing “A Little Sunshine”

The Pinwheel Project cart has become “Willy Wonka on wheels” and “transcends all languages, all cultures.” Martensen sees this as a different kind of medicine, and really takes advantage of the opportunity to get to know the kids and their families and do all she can to provide love, support, and comfort to them, no matter how long their hospital stay. For longer stays, the kids are often trapped in a plain white room for extended periods of time; to make this a little less dreary, Martensen started another program within the Pinwheel Project called My Comfort Zone. This program gives kids a budget and allows them to pick out room décor on Amazon, from sheets and blankets to toys and themed decorations, and then has the objects sent straight to the hospital – allowing the program to work anywhere, not just locally.

The Pinwheel Project also provides meal vouchers for services like GrubHub so children who don’t like hospital food but need the calories can eat in addition to birthday supplies and small requests like special necklaces or hats. “When there’s a perceived need, we’re right there to fill it,” explains Martensen. Martensen knows that people want to help and has created a mechanism whereby individuals can make donations and sponsor a child. Hospitals are scary places, and Martensen notes that “we have to put the humanity back into it.” And that’s exactly what she’s doing. Moving into the future, Martensen hopes to expand programming to an extent, while still maintaining a personal level of support.

Martensen pours so much love and passion into what she does, and it does not go unappreciated. She meets these families at what is often the worst, most traumatic time in their lives, and their response to what she does for them has been remarkable. “I get so much love back from them,” she says. “I get so much kindness and so much gratitude.” She has dozens of incredible stories about the joy she has been able to bring to children during such dark times in their lives, from sending a 19-year-old skydiving to decorating a room in a Hawaiian theme. She simply loves what she does, and loves knowing how much it helps people. “It’s 15 years now and I’m still excited every time I walk in,” she explains. “For me, this is where I’m supposed to be. I know that.”

For more information about this nonprofit, visit www.thepinwheelproject.org. Volunteers with special skills such as jewelry making or puppetry are especially needed.

Helping New Castle Voters Make Well-Informed Decisions

October 22, 2017 by Lindsay Hand

The New Castle League of Women Voters works hard to educate locals on the issues.

These days it is nearly impossible to discuss anything related to politics and not be biased, opinionated, and usually also argumentative. However, organizations such as the League of Women Voters are working to do the exact opposite. The League educates voters in a comprehensive, non-partisan way, allowing voters to get a full and all-inclusive understanding of the major issues so that they can make well informed voting decisions.

Looking Back: League History

The League does not back particular candidates or parties but instead presents the issues and the facts. It might sound crazy, but it’s true! In its almost 100-year existence, the League has maintained its nonpartisanship. “It is important for us to remain unbiased, to be trusted to allow both sides of a story and all candidates to present themselves,” says New Castle Voter Service Director Mary Kirsch, who was a member of the New York City League in the 1970s and has been involved since 2011.

The League of Women Voters, founded in 1920, stemmed from the women’s suffrage movement. The League was originally set to assist these new voters in taking on the new responsibility of voting. The League continues to do this, encouraging women to actively participate in making crucial decisions pertaining to their lives and their counties and states, as well as the nation as a whole. (Fun fact: Some decades ago, the National League voted to include men as members!) The New Castle League, founded in 1950, continues the tradition put forth by the original League and today has 120 members.

Meeting the Contenders: Candidates’ Nights

The New Castle League, currently headed by co-Presidents Sheila Bernson and Jennifer Mebes Flagg, is very active, and works hard to make sure all local voters are informed about what the issues are and where the candidates stand. The most notable way this is done is through ‘Candidates’ Nights,’ which have long been a staple of League activities throughout the country. “We have heard from residents how much they appreciate our Candidates’ Nights,” Flagg says, “and how it was the deciding factor in their selection of a particular candidate.”

Typically held at the Chappaqua Library for the New Castle League, these events allow candidates for certain positions and institutions (for example, the Board of Education and Library Board) to appear in public and answer questions so that voters can get a clearer idea of where the candidates stand on the issues in an open, fair, and respectful environment. The League is currently planning for a Candidates Night on October 25th for the Town Board positions. Representatives from Team New Castle and Stronger New Castle will be the featured.

Now planned by Kirsch, the Candidates’ Nights are presented as a forum in a format similar to a debate, with questions coming from both moderators from the Westchester League as well as audience members interested in learning more about where the candidates stand. With recordings and livestreams, Candidates’ Nights have become widely accessible for all local voters, including many younger residents. “Many young residents of New Castle want to be involved and informed about the pressing issues facing our community and country,” explains Kirsch. “The League is a very good, reliable and trustworthy source of information and conversation.”

The moderated forums follow the same basic structure, following guidelines that have been in place for years, each time: candidates have up to two minutes for an opening statement, then the moderator poses a question from the League, and finally the floor is opened for attendees to ask questions. These events are a well-organized and a civil way for both the New Castle League to help inform local voters of the issues and for the candidates themselves to have a chance to speak with their constituents, face-to-face. “There is nothing like seeing people in person, interacting with their peers and opponents. I feel more comfortable choosing someone based on that kind of presentation,” adds Kirsch. “What can you tell from glossy brochures?”

The New Castle League has established itself as an important part of our community. From events like Candidates’ Nights and educational forums to luncheons and philanthropy work, the New Castle League is present throughout the community and works hard to bring people together and educate local voters before they go make decisions that have real, tangible effects on themselves and others.

The League sets an excellent example for nonpartisan politics and informing voters of the basic issues, without the other noise that often comes along with anything in the political sphere. With the New Castle League of Women Voters providing so many local opportunities, New Castle residents can head into the voting booths feeling confident they understand the issues and know they are voting for a candidate who espouses similar political beliefs.

A Thank-you to Hillary Clinton for Fighting for Our Future & Giving Us Hope

December 1, 2016 by Lindsay Hand

Viewpoint from our Author Reflects on Many a Millennial’s Hope for America

The past year has been long, exhausting, dispiriting, and difficult. Women and minorities have repeatedly felt victimized and attacked in ways that most of us thought–at least hoped were disappearing from our society. But in the midst of endless insults and hatred, there was hope, togetherness, and an intense desire for continued progress as a nation. Those lights in the darkness were thanks to a campaign run on the platform of being “Stronger Together.” Thanks to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, there was and is hope in a seemingly hopeless time.

I have been “with her” for a long time, and that will not change now. But it is not just because she is a woman; I am still with her because she fights for the good in our country and believes in the potential of each and every one of us–even those who do not trust her or voted against her–to be positive agents of change and progress and contribute productively to society. I know Hillary is not perfect; no politician or person is, no matter their actions, beliefs, party loyalties, or rhetoric. It is impossible to satisfy everyone, and it is also impossible to never make mistakes. But it cannot be denied that Hillary Clinton has spent decades of her life dedicated to bettering society and in constant devotion to public service.

Indeed, Hillary has always fought for young people and for the future. She has focused on social issues, something so many millennials are distinctly passionate about. As seen from a map circulating the internet following Election Day, young people aged 18-25 overwhelmingly voted “blue” because they believe in the same things Hillary and the Democratic Party do.
From being an instrumental part of the Children’s Defense Fund to protecting 9/11 First Responders to her groundbreaking statement “human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights,” Hillary has played an important part in bringing crucial, necessary, and timely issues into the national spotlight.

Hillary has advocated for early education, sensible gun control, affordable healthcare and college, fair and equal wages, combating climate change, justice, unity, and progress, amongst countless other things. She believes in the rights of women and minorities and in equality. In hope. In the inherent goodness of all of us. Despite how the election unfolded, I still believe in these things, as does much of my generation.

Hillary believes in us. She always has. Now is the time to take the intelligence, class, and dignity she has shown and use it to drive our fight for what’s right and for the good that does exist in our country. As my 17-year-old sister, Gillian, posted on Facebook: “We must look to the future and come together, strong and united. We must fight for what we believe in. We must embrace one another with acceptance, camaraderie, and love.” We must follow the example Hillary has set and continue to push for what we believe in. She has fought tirelessly for us and for the things we care about, and now it is our turn to take action.

Hillary with Lindsay (right) and Gillan Hand

It is now up to us, the generation of the future, to continue the fights Secretary Clinton has fought for so long. Thank you, Hillary, for continuing the fight and inspiring so many, myself included. Thank you for constantly working for the future and for pushing our nation towards progress and equality. Thank you for being a role model for millions of young girls and women who, because of you, believe they can do great things, even run for President. Thank you for starting us on a path to fighting for what we believe in. Thank you for your wisdom, grace, sincerity and strength in the face of endless adversity. Thank you for making history. Truly, thank you for everything.

“I still believe as deeply as I ever have that if we stand together and work together with respect for our differences, strength in our convictions and love for this nation, our best days are still ahead of us.” – Hillary Clinton

Two-time Inside Chappaqua Guest Editor Lindsay Hand is a junior Communication major at Cornell University.