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International Women’s Day Event Set for March 8, Houston

Be who you came to Be. Do what you came to Do.

 

March 8 will prove transformational for International Women’s Day as Houston has put together a stellar lineup of speakers, workshops, shopping and self-care indulgence for women to realize their purpose, power and passion for 2024.

Keynote speakers and Influencers will command the stage offering compelling stories of achievement, success, self-discovery, overcoming and triumph over tragedy. Renown Houston Top Lawyer, Sofia Adrogue, host of Latina Voices and Style Influencer, Theresa Roemer, entrepreneur and business coach are just two of the illustrious headliner speakers to take the stage to share their stories.

“We all have something to share with each other and something to learn from each other,” Theresa Roemer said. “This is going to be a fantastic opportunity to speak with women who would otherwise be outside one’s circle of influence. I encourage all women to set this time aside to grow and to become all they hope to be. If you have a dream, then you need to be here!”

All the women scheduled to speak have captivating stories to share letting attendees know that there is no challenge too great, no dream too lofty and no time like the present to achieve the life they’ve always dreamed of.

“This is an ‘all gold-no rubble’ day. This isn’t about motivational platitudes and hollow promises of who one is and what is possible for them,” said Donna Wick, co-host of the International Women’s Day conference. “This is a touch day! This event is going to be about ‘you know what you want to do, you know what’s in your heart and here are the tools, wisdom and inspiration so you can make that happen’ with dynamic keynote speeches, workshops and break-out sessions. This event is about becoming all that one has thought possible for themselves. You will leave touched, transformed and renewed in what you thought possible for yourself.”

Our Lady of the Lake University is the Premier Sponsor for the event and the venue where the event will take place.

“This is the perfect venue for the International Women’s Day conference,” said Angela Frederick, event co-host with Donna Wick. “Having graduated from OLLU, I know full well their commitment to empowering women. This is going to be a breakthrough day for women!  The stories are incredible and the women presenters are the best of the best.”

Additional keynote speakers are Felicia Lee-White, LaTosha Davis Moore, Misty W. Gilbert, Kimberley Nicole Sprintz, Rachel Jelks, Dr. Lorelle Strong Rich, as well as the co-hosts, Angela Frederick and Donna Wick. Each speaker has their own unique message and will offer a breakout session throughout the day so attendees can glean the wisdom they desire.

“All our presenters have amazing stories of pushing through to ‘be who they came to be and to do what they came to do’. We are excited about will happen during the day for all our attendees,” Wick said.

In addition to a day chockful of information and inspiration, there will be three grand prize give-a-ways, namely: $500 cash Seed Money for one lucky woman to fund her dreams, $150 Office Depot gift card to set up one’s office, and an iPAD to get started with the right equipment.

For more information, discount ticket prices, go to www.IWDHTX.com. Our Lady of the Lake University is located at 600 N. Sam Houston Parkway in Houston. The event will take place Friday, March 8, beginning at 8:30am and ending at 4:30pm. Free Parking.

 

DW OMNIMEDIA is a diversified Media, PR/Marketing, Promotion, Publishing & Merchandising Group to enlighten, uplift and renew the human spirit. www.DonnaWickOmnimedia.com

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Team Abilities to benefit vital community agency.

 

TEAM Abilities, a local agency that serves adults with special needs, is hosting a sock drive to benefit Star of Hope Mission in Houston.

"We know that 'together we can' when thinking about serving the needs of our community," Rachel Jelks said, Founder and Executive Director of TEAM Abilities in The Woodlands. "Our agency depends on the generosity of others as do most nonprofits in our community. Monthly TEAM Abilities finds a way to serve our community by giving to the Montgomery County Food Bank, the Conroe Salvation Army and more."

Star of Hope Mission is a Christ-centered community supporting Houston’s homeless men, women and children. They encourage positive life changes through programs in spiritual growth, education, employment, life management and substance abuse recovery. 

"We are asking for socks of all sizes for both youth and adults," Jelks said. 

TEAM Abilities serves adults with special needs through day habilitation programs and community living homes. The agency is located at 1029 Pruitt Road in the Spring/Woodlands area and is open from 9 am to 4:30 pm. 

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March 8 is the designated day for International Women’s Day and Houston has put together a stellar lineup of speakers, workshops, shopping and self-care indulgence for women to realize their purpose, power and passion for 2024.

“This will be a rubber hits the road day, not a day of false platitudes and hollow promises of who one is and what is possible for them,” said Donna Wick, co-host of the International Women’s Day conference. “The event is going to be about ‘you know what you want to do, you know what’s in your heart and here are the tools, wisdom and inspiration so you can make that happen’ with dynamic keynote speeches, workshops and break-out sessions. This event is about becoming all that one has thought possible for themselves.”

Our Lady of the Lake University is the Premier Sponsor for the event and the venue where the event will take place.

“This is the perfect venue for the International Women’s Day conference,” said Angela Frederick, event co-host with Donna Wick. “Having graduated from OLLU, I know full well their commitment to empowering women. This is going to be a breakthrough day for women!”

In addition to a day chockful of information and inspiration, there will be a Beauty Bar featuring headshots, makeovers and massages. There will also be three grand prize give-a-ways, namely: $500 cash Seed Money for one lucky woman to fund her dreams, $150 Office Depot gift card to set up one’s office, and an iPAD to get started with the right equipment.

For more information, discount ticket prices and speaker lineup, go to www.IWDHTX.com. Our Lady of the Lake University is located at 600 N. Sam Houston Parkway in Houston. The event will take place Friday, March 8, beginning at 8:30am and ending at 4:30pm. Free Parking.

 

DW OMNIMEDIA is a diversified Media, PR/Marketing, Promotion, Publishing & Merchandising Group designed to Enlighten, Uplift and Renew the Human Spirit. www.DonnaWickOmnimedia.com

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Monday, December 5 & 12, Bullritos at Cypresswood is hosting Christmas movie night for children, free. On Monday, December 5, the eatery will feature The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and on Monday, December 12, the feature will be Peanuts Christmas. Each child will receive chips and queso with small drink.

“We are the new owners of this location and our vision is to become a local community hub offering great food, good fun and a family environment,” said Rachel Jelks, owner of the Spring Bullritos location. “We love this time of year and are looking forward to hosting two exciting movie nights for children! We hope to build a community of families at our Bullritos location!”

The movie events will be held Mondays, December 5 and 12, 4PM-5PM, at the Bullritos located at 20053 I-45 No in Spring next to the Office Depot. The event is FREE! For more information, please call Donna at 832-790-2879.

 

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Local owners want to be Spring’s community hub for Food, Fun and Family

Saturday, December 3, Bullritos at Cypresswood is offering children an opportunity to have Tacos with Santa! The event is FREE and will be held from 11:30-12:30 at the Bullritos located at 20053 I-45 No in Spring. Children will receive a crispy beef taco, small drink and cookie after whispering their wish lists to Santa Claus himself.

“We are the new owners of this location and our vision is to become a local community hub offering great food, good fun and a family environment,” said Rachel Jelks, owner of the Spring Bullritos location. “We have several events during the month of December for the family like Grinch movie night on Monday, December 5 and the Peanuts Christmas movie night on Monday, December 12.”

In addition to these Christmas offerings, Bullritos will also be hosting two Sunday Jazz Brunches. December 11 they will feature Mark Scurlock Jr for Jazz & Tamales Brunch. And on December 18 Bullritos will feature Scurlock, Jr again for Jazz & Gumbo. One can find all the goings-on for this location on their Facebook page, #BullritosInSpring.

“We are a tight-knit family and even have a mural painted inside the location of how my husband and I met right here in Spring. The mural is a great tribute to our family,” Jelks said. “We grew up right here in Spring and attended Spring High School where my sons now attend and play football. We hope the community will stop in at one of our events and say ‘hello’!”

The Tacos with Santa event will be held Saturday, December 3, 11:30AM-12:30PM at the Bullritos located at 20053 I-45 No in Spring next to the Office Depot. The event is FREE! For more information, please call Donna at 832-790-2879.

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Navigating Transition for Graduating Special Needs Students

Where to look for expert care, continued structure and affordable options

 

High school graduation is a time for celebration, but it is also a time of transition that affects the entire family. With a new routine, many individuals with IDD and their families find it difficult to adjust to the new lifestyle. Many will find that they will require new resources to assist with care, but where does the journey begin?

“For families with special needs children, high school graduation can be an eye-opener as they try to plan next steps for their children,” said Rachel Jelks, executive director and founder of Team Abilities. “Even though their child may be able to stay in the school system for a few years longer, exiting at 21 years of age, the transition is inevitable.”

There are a few things to know before parents begin to search out day habilitation services and perhaps even community living options.

First to consider is level of care/level of need. Not all agencies will take all levels of care. If one’s special needs child is higher functioning, the placement options are readily available; however, if children have toileting needs, are nonverbal, are wheelchair-bound, have special feeding needs or is in need of total dependent care, the options can be more obscure.

Secondly, the structure of the day program is important, especially for those leaving the high-school environment which can be very structured. Some agencies have an organized structure and classes to keep students with special needs engaged. Other agencies may have a more relaxed environment with a non-structured environment.

“We know that structure is very important in our special needs community,” said Jelks. “This is why our classes are structured in format, as well as using visual cues to let students know what is coming up next in their day. Team also features cooking classes, science experiments and art classes to continue to elevate the engagement with the student and we take numerous field trips during the month to the delight of our students.”

Third to take into account are the financial obligations. If one is on the HCS Waiver then options run more available for care. For private pay, the daily day habilitation fee can run $50 per day, but not all agencies are flexible where one’s child can attend just a few days a week.

“We turn no one away,” said Jelks. “It doesn’t matter the level of care, the level of need, behavior issues or if there is the need for total dependent care, we are going to provide excellent services for them and still engage them socially. The special needs community is only expanding and we are ready to serve our community well with expert care and loving-kindness.”

Team Abilities currently offer two Day Habilitation locations: 1029 Pruitt Road in Spring and 15775 Bammel Village Road off FM1960 in Houston. The FM1960 location offer Metro Lift for transportation convenience. They also offer 13 Community Living homes for those looking for a long-term solution for their loved ones.

Team Abilities serves low- to high-functioning adults with special needs thru Day Habilitation programs & Community Living care. For more information, call Donna at 832-790-2879 or go to www.MyTeamAbilities.com.

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Team Abilities serves low- to high-functioning adults with special needs through Day Habilitation and Community Living home care, Team just opened its 11th group home and a new 2500 sf Community Center. Team Members participate in local community events like Lemonade Day, Special Olympics and more. For information, go to MyTeamAbilities.com or call Donna Wick at 832-790-2879,

 

Parents of children with special needs are searching for summer programs, as well as long-term programs for children aging out of the public school system. Team Abilities has solutions and information parents will want to know about.

“We are bringing in experts to assist parents with current learning and long-term planning,” Rachel Jelks said, Executive Director of Team Abilities. “We know that parents are also looking for resources for a myriad of services which will also be discussed.”

The program will run 11:30am to 2pm and will offer a light lunch for attendees. The event is free and information packed.

In addition to Team Abilities’ staff members, presenters will be Gayle Fischer, M.Ed.Tech., who will present, Practical University, non-technology ways to prepare young people with learning differences for independence. Joining Fischer will be a MassMutual SpecialCare Planning team, Bryan Smith, ChSNC, and Tinja Anderson, who will present on 10 Basic Financial Steps for Special Needs Caregivers.

“We have assembled these outside experts, as well as our own expert staff to present to parents needing answers,” Jelks said. “We have a full afternoon planned with a tour of our Day Habilitation program and our new 2,500 sf Community Center.”

The event will be held Wednesday, June 23, 11:30-2pm and a light lunch will be served. Those interested are invited to call or text Donna Wick at 832-790-2879 for reservations and information. For information on Team Abilities, go to www.MyTeamAbilities.com,

 

Team Abilities serves low- to high-functioning adults with special needs through Day Habilitation programs and Community Living care homes.

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43049732_2178863679068964_1651845345459568640_n (1 TEAM Members, Thomas and Isabelle, were crowned Prom King and Queen at a previous TEAM Abilities prom event. TEAM Abilities serves adults with special needs through Day Habilitation programs and Group Home care and is hosting their 2021 prom “Hollywood Glam” on Friday, June 11, 7-10pm.

TEAM Abilities, which serves adults with special needs through Day Habilitation programs and Community Living care homes, will be hosting HOLLYWOOD GLAM, a prom event on Friday, June 11, 7-10pm.

“After the last year of uncertainty and stress, we are happy to host our annual prom once again,” Rachel Jelks said, Executive Director for TEAM Abilities. “This will be a time everyone can glam up and celebrate together. We always have a fun and rewarding time, but this year I feel will be the most rewarding time of all.”

TEAM Abilities, an acronym for Together Everyone Achieves More, serves low- to high-functioning adults with special needs. 

“Though prom has always been a TEAM event, we are excited to invite those with special needs to attend,” Jelks said. “We want as many as possible to join us for this most special evening.”

The HOLLYWOOD GLAM prom event will take place at the TEAM Abilities Community Center located at 1043 Pruitt Road in Spring, 7pm to 10pm. Dinner will be served along with great music, dancing, games, photo booths and prizes. Guests can attend for $20. To RSVP please call Donna Wick at 832-790-2879, TEXT is best. For more information on TEAM Abilities, go to www.MyTeamAbilities.com, 

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Volunteer, Cindy Cline, assists with hair and makeup for prom-bound special needs ladies. If you would like to volunteer Friday, June 11, between the hours of 9am - 4pm, please contact Donna Wick at 832-790-2879,

TEAM Abilities prepares to host its 4th annual prom event, Hollywood Glam, after a year of COVID quarantine. The event will take place at their location in Spring and any community special needs individuals are invited to join. Tickets are $20 and advance reservations are required.

“We are opening our new 2500 square foot Community Center and can now invite all those in our community to join in on the fun,” Rachel Jelks said, Executive Director of TEAM Abilities. “Individuals with special needs and their families are welcomed.”

 As the agency prepares for the prom event, they are also seeking “Brush & Blush” volunteers to assist in glamming special needs adult women for their prom event. Volunteers are needed to assist with hair & makeup Friday, June 11, between the hours of 9am-4pm, One does not have to be an expert to assist and even if one can only donate an hour, these Team Members could use the help!

“With the exception of last year, the Team Members have enjoyed their prom experience,” Jelks said. “This is one of their highlights of the year and like any female attending a special event like prom, they want to get their glam on and to feel beautiful! We hope that those that can volunteer to assist will do so as these ladies are very special!”

TEAM Abilities serves low- to high-functioning adults with special needs through day habilitation programs and community living home care. Prom will be held Friday, June 11, 7-10pm at the Team Abilities Community Center located on Pruitt Road, The Brush & Blush crew will meet at TEAM Abilities at the 1029 Pruitt Road location in Spring.

To be part of the Brush & Blush crew or to RSVP for the prom event, please call or text Donna Wick at 832-790-2879. For more information on TEAM Abilities, go to www.MyTeamAbilities.com.

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TEAM Abilities is looking for a Brush & Blush volunteer crew to assist in glamming special needs adult women for their prom event. Volunteers are needed to assist with hair,  makeup and nails Friday, June 11, between the hours of 9am-4pm, One does not need to be an expert to assist and even if one can only donate an hour, these Team Members could use the help!

“With the exception of last year, our Team Members have always enjoyed their prom experience,” Rachel Jelks said, Executive Director for TEAM Abilities. “This is one of their highlights of the year and like any female attending a special event like prom, they want to get their glam on and to feel beautiful! We hope that those that can volunteer to assist will do so as these ladies are very special!”

TEAM Abilities serves low- to high-functioning adults with special needs through day habilitation programs and community living home care. Prom will be held Friday, June 11, 7-10pm at the Team Abilities Community Center located on Pruitt Road, The Brush & Blush crew will meet at TEAM Abilities at the 1029 Pruitt Road location in Spring.

To be part of the Brush & Blush crew, please call or text Donna Wick at 832-790-2879