The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc), a nonprofit committed to transforming lives for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and Michele Tharp, Board Chair, are pleased to welcome Nico Sanders to The Arc’s Board of Directors.

Currently, the Executive Director of Community Housing Associates, a non-profit dedicated to housing those who are homeless and mentally ill in Baltimore City, Nico has over 23 years of experience in business, mental health, and consulting. Community Housing Associates continues to grow under Nico’s leadership and now serves over 150 tenants and their families through permanent supportive housing.

“We are eager to welcome a community leader like Nico to our Board,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO of The Arc. “His forward-thinking approach to supporting underserved communities is aligned with our most fundamental beliefs as an organization.”

Previously, Nico served as the Chief Compliance Officer at an outpatient mental health clinic (OMHC) in Maryland and has experience working with various non-governmental, non-profit organizations with business development, communications, and legislative affairs. He has experience serving on multiple boards of directors and is not afraid to challenge conventional thinking when looking for solutions.

“I am excited to join The Arc’s Board,” said Nico. “The Arc is committed to investing deeply and meaningfully in people and communities throughout the Chesapeake region to create fundamental change and equity. As someone who is always ready to serve an underserved population, I am eager to partner with The Arc’s leadership.”

In addition to being an executive leader, Nico volunteers his time as an advisor with Year Up, a national organization closing the opportunity divide in cities, and serves as a Baltimore City Mayoral Fellow. Nico earned a Bachelor’s degree from Virginia Union University, a Master’s degree from the University of Phoenix and is currently pursuing a Master’s in public administration from the University of Baltimore. He lives in Owings Mills with his wife and daughter.

Every year at Celebration Impact, The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) recognizes people in the community who have made a significant difference on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The employees, organizational leaders, and people supported who were recognized at Celebration Impact last night embody The Arc’s core values with their heart-driven, action-oriented leadership. Celebration Impact is a meaningful space to thank those who have truly and consistently gone above and beyond.

“At The Arc, we define impact as life-altering, sustainable change,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO of The Arc, during his opening remarks. “I am proud to say that this is something I get to witness here every day.”

There were six awards granted to nine recipients this year, and three of those recipients were employees of The Arc. The Leadership in Direct Service Award went to Javonna Thomas, a direct support professional who has made a significant impact in supporting the people in her Day Services group to be independent and make their own decisions. Two Arc employees, Karen Cratty, and Jessica Sauers, received this year’s Leadership in Administration & Management Award. Karen steadied The Arc’s corporate finance team through a great deal of growth and change this year, and Jessica took on all Children, Youth & Their Families programs in addition to running The Arc’s Community Supports programs as the inaugural Director of 2Gen Initiatives.

The winners of the Outstanding Personal Achievement awards, granted to people The Arc supports for their contributions to the community, were Kojo Yirenkyi and Terry Cramer. They have been engaged, active members in their communities, modeling independence for all.

Three other awards were granted last night: Delegates Mark Chang and Ben Barnes both received Lorraine Sheehan Advocacy Awards for their work on behalf of The Arc and the greater disability community, the Easton Rotary Club won the Leadership in Social Responsibility Award for their generous support of The Arc’s Expanding What’s Possible capital campaign for Port Street Commons, and long-time leader, advocate, and disability rights champion Carol Beatty was awarded the Impact through Leadership Award, one of The Arc’s highest honors.

Because of these leaders’ hard work, commitment, and embodiment of The Arc’s mission and values, the impacts of their contributions will be felt for years to come.

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) went public with their Expanding What’s Possible capital campaign at today’s Groundbreaking Ceremony for Port Street Commons.

Projected to open in the fall of 2024, it will be a first-of-its-kind community space in the redeveloped Port Street district in the heart of Easton. This innovative building will house both The Arc at Port Street, the new, permanent Eastern Shore Headquarters for The Arc, as well as The Residences at Port Street, developed in partnership with Chesapeake Neighbors, to include an attached wing with nine affordable apartments.

The Groundbreaking Ceremony took place at the future site of Port Street Commons and was attended by over 100 supporters, donors, and community leaders eager to celebrate this historic milestone for The Arc and for the town of Easton.

“What makes Port Street Commons a visionary sign of progress for our community is that it’s not just a Community Hub or Behavioral Health Suite. It’s not just affordable housing units. It’s all these things and more. Port Street Commons expands what’s possible,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO of The Arc, at the event.

All speakers at the day’s events highlighted the many ways the construction of Port Street Commons supports many of Easton’s and the mid-shore’s top priorities, including creating jobs, providing more opportunities for person-centered services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and increasing access to affordable housing options.

Other speakers at the event included Megan Cook, Easton’s Mayor; Carol Beatty, Maryland Department of Disabilities Secretary; Jake Day, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary; Brooke Lierman, State Comptroller; and Dawn Moore, First Lady of Maryland.

“It has been exciting to celebrate today with the many community supporters, donors, and public champions of this project,” said Gregory Snyder, Chief of Staff.

This 24,000-square-foot new construction will cost The Arc almost $8.5 million to build, much of it done by Maryland and Eastern Shore-based local contractors and businesses. The Arc’s capital campaign for Port Street Commons called Expanding What’s Possible, began in December 2021 and has already raised over $4.7 million from federal and state partners, local community groups, and individual donors.

“A project like this is not possible without financial support, and we are grateful for everyone who continues to invest in The Arc’s mission and vision through this campaign,” said Gregory.

Port Street Commons is projected to open in the Fall of 2024. For more information about the future of The Arc and The Residences at Port Street, click here.

Below are news articles about this momentous day in The Arc’s history:

The Talbot Spy / Lauren Miller – WBOC / Tom Maccall – The Star Democrat

 

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc), a nonprofit committed to transforming lives for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and Michele Tharp, Board Chair, are pleased to welcome Steve Smollon to The Arc’s Board of Directors.

Currently the ­­­­­­­President and co-founder of ClimateCare, a commercial, multi-family, and residential HVAC installation and service contractor, Steve is a professional with over twenty years of experience starting and leading businesses. ClimateCare has a presence throughout Maryland, Washington D.C., and the tri-state area, which means Steve is no stranger to growth, strategic risk, and the strengths and challenges that come with having a geographically diverse workforce.

“We are excited to welcome Steve to our Board,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO of The Arc. “His entrepreneurial, strategic mindset is valuable at an organization like The Arc where we are always moving toward what’s next and taking the strategic risks necessary to grow at scale throughout the central Chesapeake region.”

Steve worked for his family business, United Energy Products, Inc., and then ClimateCare for 14 years before deciding in 2016 that it was time to take ownership of ClimateCare’s future. Over the last seven years, Steve has grown ClimateCare to be a full-service small- and large-scale project service provider specializing in new construction, renovations, and service work.

“I am thrilled to be able to give back to the community by serving on The Arc’s Board of Directors,” said Steve. “The Arc’s approach and commitment to innovation is aligned with my own values as a leader. I’m eager to partner with The Arc as they move forward with their strategic plan and ensure Marylanders with IDD are receiving the highest quality services.”

Steve graduated from Elon University and lives in Annapolis with his wife and three children. In his spare time, Steve enjoys running in local charity races, golfing, fishing, and windsurfing on the Severn River and the Chesapeake Bay.

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) was pleased to host Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller for a tour of The Arc’s Severn Office and Community Hub last week.

The tour began with a warm welcome in the Community Hub, where a group of people The Arc supports in Day Services greeted Lt. Governor Miller with welcome signs and pictures. Lt. Governor Miller enjoyed a game of Jeopardy with the group and toured the rest of The Arc’s Severn Office, which houses the majority of The Arc’s program operations, including Behavioral Health.

Lt. Governor Miller toured the Behavioral Health Suite and learned about the meaningful ways The Arc’s Behavioral Health team is creating access, safety, and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who have coexisting mental health diagnoses.

“We launched our Behavioral Health program in 2020 to address the lack of behavioral and mental health services available to people with IDD,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO of The Arc. “Now, several years later, it is an honor to tell Lt. Governor Miller that The Arc remains at the forefront of innovative, holistic behavioral healthcare for people with IDD, setting the bar for what person-centered, trauma-informed support looks like in the disability community.”

Due to recent congressional funding, The Arc plans to onboard eight additional clinicians over the next two years, ensuring access to high-quality mental health services for people with IDD throughout Anne Arundel County and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where there is an even greater lack of mental health support professionals for people with IDD.

The Lt. Governor also met with Judi Olinger, the Executive Director of Chesapeake Neighbors, the affordable housing subsidiary of The Arc. Founded in 2007, Chesapeake Neighbors has a progressive scattered-site development strategy when it comes to creating affordable housing opportunities. Rather than large-scale developments on the fringe of a community, Chesapeake Neighbors rents properties located in desirable areas close to public transportation, grocery stores, parks, and economic activity.

The Arc is grateful for the continued support from the Lt. Governor’s Administration as they continue moving the needle forward in developing affordable housing and providing high-quality programs and services to the IDD community.

Please visit our Facebook page for photos of the Lt. Governor’s visit here.

We are proud to announce that Tee It Up for The Arc and the 50/50 raffle combined to raise over $162,000 for the Children, Youth, & Their Families program!

We welcomed 240 golfers to the tournament this year, and their contributions throughout the day ensured that there will always be someone to help families navigate the multitude of services in the community, advocate for children and their families at school, and support them through critical grant programs like the Family Fund and Holiday Giving.

On behalf of The Arc Central Chesapeake Region, we want to thank our 2023 Golf Chair, Ben Harries. Ben and his team leveraged their extensive personal and professional network and volunteered all day at the tournament, making the day the success that it was. This year is Ben’s last year as Chair of Tee It Up for The Arc, and we greatly appreciate his time and commitment to not only the tournament but to the children and families that will benefit from the funds raised.

We are excited to announce that Steve Smollon will chair our 2024 tournament! We look forward to working with him to make next year’s tournament just as successful.

Check out photos from the event here.

Make sure to mark your calendars and join us next year for the 26th annual Tee It Up for The Arc – Monday, May 13, 2024, at Queenstown Harbor.

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) is pleased to announce that the Maryland Department of Disabilities has awarded The Arc a $1,515 grant for educating the people we support on how to safely interact with police officers and explore their communities with confidence. The Arc will host two event series, one with officers from the Anne Arundel County Eastern and Western Districts and one with first responders in Easton, where there will be educational training, activities, and question-and-answer sessions.

These educational events will provide opportunities for open conversation and learning for the people we serve and the law enforcement officers involved as they discuss what to do when pulled over and how to be safe in the community.

The funding for the grant comes from the Ethan Saylor Alliance for Self-Advocates as Educators, a group whose mission is to prepare and support people with IDD to become and interact with law enforcement officers and other first responders. The grant is named for Ethan Saylor, a young man with IDD who died while being restrained by police officers at a Maryland movie theatre in 2013.

“It has been 10 years since Ethan Saylor tragically died, and there are still too many stories of harm, misunderstandings, and bad experiences between law enforcement officers and people with IDD,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO of The Arc. “Our hope is always that educational events like these will create opportunities for open and honest dialogues and promote positive outcomes for the IDD community.”

The event in Anne Arundel County will be held at the Goldfinch and Chickadee Pavilions at Lake Waterford Park from 11:00am – 1:00pm on Friday, May 12, 2023. The question-and-answer sessions will be led by Cathy Maxfield, our Community Activities Coordinator, and will be open to all of the people The Arc supports in Day Services who wish to attend.

On the Eastern Shore, the people we support will take part in a Citizen’s Police Academy hosted by the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office. To kick off the series, there will be a roundtable discussion at The Arc’s Easton Hub on May 2, 2023, followed by additional training days during the month of May. Attendees will learn about calling 911 on May 4, police roles and responsibilities on May 11, specialized units on May 17, and will celebrate their newfound knowledge with a graduation celebration and luncheon on May 25.

We hosted an open house at our new Linthicum headquarters to celebrate The Arc’s growth and to show off the new space. The event kicked off with a brief program that began at 5:15 pm, followed by tours of the new space.

Over the last five years, The Arc Central Chesapeake Region has taken significant steps to deepen our services and commitment to the regions and communities we serve. Enterprise-wide, The Arc and its subsidiaries have each experienced significant growth and continue to expand services.

As we continue to meet the community’s needs, we realized that our headquarters in Severn, Maryland, had reached capacity. To better support our growing operations, we opened The Arc’s new corporate headquarters at 999 Corporate Boulevard in Linthicum, Maryland, in April 2023.

Linthicum will house many of our executive and corporate support areas, including the Office of the CEO, Finance, External Relations, People & Culture, Self-Directed Services Administration, and Stakeholder Relations. The headquarters will also operate as a shared space for programs and include an additional Community Hub and Behavioral Health Suite.

The Arc’s Severn location will continue to be integral to our operations. With a focus on Program Operations, the site will continue to host our Talent Acquisition team, Living Options & Services, Day Services, a Behavioral Health Suite, Information Technology, and Chesapeake Neighbors.

We would like to thank Senator Pamela Beidle, Delegate Heather Bagnall, Delegate Mark Chang, County Executive Steuart Pittman, and everyone else that attended.

Every year at Celebration Impact, The Arc recognizes people in the community who have made a significant difference on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This year, Celebration Impact will take place on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at The Arc’s Program & Operations Headquarters in Severn, Md.

The Arc is pleased to announce this year’s award winners:

Leadership in Direct Service Award

Javonna Thomas

Leadership in Administration & Management Award

Jessica Sauers

Karen Cratty

Outstanding Personal Achievement Award

Kojo Yirenkyi

Terry Cramer

Lorraine Sheehan Advocacy Award

Delegate Mark Chang

Delegate Ben Barnes

Leadership in Social Responsibility Award

Easton Rotary Club

Impact through Leadership Award

Carol Beatty

Each of the awardees will be honored at Celebration Impact on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, from 5:00pm – 7:00pm with a reception at the Hake Pavilion on The Arc Severn Office campus. Tickets to attend are free, but you must register in advance.

The Arc Central Chesapeake Region (The Arc) congratulates Gregory Snyder II, Chief of Staff, on his acceptance to the Shore Leadership Class of 2023. This year-long professional development program creates opportunities for collaboration among top community leaders from organizations around Maryland’s Eastern Shore, all of whom play critical roles in shaping the culture of the region.

The Arc’s services extend to nine counties on the Eastern Shore, and Greg is eager to have face-to-face discussions with other executives and senior leaders to increase awareness of how issues impact people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the region.

“There are so many ways community organizations and businesses can come together to increase access for people with disabilities on the Eastern Shore,” said Greg. “I am excited to work with my classmates to bring a disability rights and advocacy lens to the forefront while having these important conversations.”

Under Greg’s leadership, The Arc has made significant progress in meeting strategic goals. Greg has developed The Arc’s inaugural Living Boldly self-advocacy group for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities supported by The Arc and has made impactful connections with local leaders in government, business, and other non-profit organizations on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Building strong connections with like-minded change-makers is essential as The Arc continues to expand and support more people on the Eastern Shore. “So much more is accomplished when leaders come together to see how their priorities interrelate,” says Greg. “I am proud to be representing The Arc and our vision and mission at Shore Leadership.”

The Arc congratulates Greg on this recognition of his leadership and success in his career, along with all other members of the Shore Leadership Class of 2023.

About Shore Leadership

Shore Leadership is a professional development program dedicated to enhancing the quality of life on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Shore Leadership participants interface with community leaders and experts from organizations and institutions that shape the region’s structure and culture. Participants meet once monthly to focus on key topics of regional interest. Shore Leadership has been facilitating positive change in the region since 1997. To learn more, please visit shoreleadership.org.