From the Desk of the Director



From the Desk of the Executive Director Change “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” Victor Frankl Karis Community is about change and growth. At Karis, the relationships that are formed become the foundation for challenge and the discovery that one cannot remain the same but must reach further in order to grow. Growth leads to a greater respect for oneself and others, the ability to take greater responsibility for one’s life, and the commitment to embrace the goodness that lies within each person. The transition to independent living is eased with the realization that everyone has the ability to impact their personal environment. At Karis we remind one another constantly that we cannot change our history or other people, but we can change ourselves. “We must do the thing we think we cannot do. ”Eleanor Roosevelt Karis Community is now facing change and a new challenge. In 1986 Karis Community became a Mile High United Way agency, a partnership that granted us a yearly allocation of United Way funding. However, on Tuesday, March 30, we found out that this partnership had come to an end. We are very grateful for the generosity of Mile High United Way for 24 years. It was a great relationship. Our challenge now is to make up the income that was lost and find new ways to fund our Empowerment Program. In November 2009 when we submitted our application to MHUW we knew there was a possibility that we would not be funded, and we began to think about new sources of funding. At that time, Community Health Charities, a federated workplace giving program like United Way, invited Karis to be an agency under their umbrella. We are grateful for this new relationship, but we realize we will not be able to make up the difference through CHC alone. I have been reflecting on what Karis Community is about….change. The necessity of changing the way we seek financial support, while daunting, has also provided new opportunities for us to challenge ourselves to grow and build new relationships to strengthen and increase our individual support. We embrace this change with the courage of Eleanor Roosevelt – we must and will accomplish the task. I am reminded daily to be grateful for each person who gives to Karis Community. On behalf of the community members, staff and board of directors, I thank you for your generous financial support. The articles in the Spring newsletter provide a glimpse into life and change at Karis and show the impact your generosity makes. May these articles be a blessing to you as you are to all of us at Karis! Grace & Peace, E.J. Barklage Executive Director “"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." - St. Francis of Assisi