As we gear up for the 2024 presidential election, it’s a good time to reflect on how previous battles over healthcare, particularly Medicaid, have shaped the support systems that millions of people rely on today. It feels like déjà vu—just like in 2017, there are concerns that the programs we depend on could be drastically […]
Medicaid: How the 2024 Presidential Election Could Reshape Disability Services Read More »
Old Friends and New Memories It was one of those perfect summer evenings when the air was just perfect—warm with a gentle breeze reminiscent of a simpler time–a more innocent time. Mikelle, Liz, and I decided in May to get these tickets at Denver’s Levitt Pavilion for a beach-like concert featuring the legendary sounds of
Catching a Wave at Levitt Pavilion with the Ladies Read More »
Independence Day is a time for celebration, reflection, and coming together as a community. It represents the freedom and independence that we all cherish. I think Mikelle embodies the true spirit of community, resilience, and the American desire and opportunities to achieve your dreams. For many years, our family has celebrated Denver’s 3rd of July
Independence Day with Mikelle: A Celebration of Freedom and Resilience Read More »
The kitchen table in Mikelle’s cozy condo hosts countless conversations. It’s where the Shining Beautiful team gathers, supporting each other through the chaos and adventures of everyday life. Each day, the table—and sometimes the coffee table—is laden with coffee mugs, a fresh breakfast or a plate of freshly baked chocolate croissants, and the weight of
Conversations Over Coffee: Navigating a Chaotic World Read More »
It Starts By Listening to the Dream Mikelle Learned’s story is a testament to the transformative power of home ownership, particularly for individuals navigating life with disabilities. Despite facing challenges, Mikelle’s journey illuminates the possibilities that Section 8 assistance offers in achieving this dream. In 2004, Mikelle let her community and her family know she
Embracing the Beauty of Home Ownership Through Section 8 Read More »
It is late spring. The flowers are bursting through moist soil with daffodils and tulips, and the sweet smell of apple blossoms lingers. All across America, in high school classrooms everywhere, transition plans are in progress for teenagers with disabilities who have an IEP (Individual Education Plan). These transition plans are designed to prepare future
A Must Have Tool for Transition Planning Read More »
One Christmas in Color, two-holiday parties, three great presents, four fun team members, and five golden smiles made this holiday season bright. Strung together like a strand of lights on the Christmas tree, this season’s events were brilliant and beautiful. Our hearts are full of love for our friends and family. Perhaps our appreciation is
Today, November offers up a beautiful fall day. The temperature hovers at a lovely sixty-five degrees. Soft, faded pink hydrangeas bounce on a gentle breeze. I am sitting in the sun at a local coffee shop in the garden of falling leaves. This moment feels like the warm before the storm. Our first measurable snowfall
Vote Like Your Life Depends on It! Cause it does. Read More »
Simple Sometimes it is so simple—a win for a beleaguered and treasured football team and a Halloween party. In these moments, we step back into traditions to reclaim our future by being present in the moment. For Mikelle, her brother, and his family, Sunday’s Bronco football team win in London renewed their hopes for a
Simple, Basic, Fun Ways to Win Back our Happiness. Read More »
Everyone Needs a Little Time Away. Mikelle’s Vacation. Heck, it has been a long haul with Covid. We were getting cabin fever and decided to hightail it out of the city and into the mountains to a real cabin in the high country. Gone is the traffic, the hustle and heat of summer in the
Adventures in Grand Lake, CO Read More »
