Sun / Mon / Tue / Wed / Thu / Fri / Sat
Fair Housing Month
National Volunteer Week - April 10-16
Financial Literacy Month / 1 / 2
3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
10
Mother’s Day / 11 / 12 / 13
Financial
Budgeting Seminar
1PM – 3PM / 14 / 15 / 16
17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21
Path to Empowerment
Cooking Class
11AM – 1:30 PM / 22 / 23
24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28
Housing Seminar
1PM – 3PM / 29 / 30
~ May 2016 ~
Sun / Mon / Tue / Wed / Thu / Fri / Sat
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
8
Mother’s Day / 9 / 10 / 11
Movie Advocate Theater
4:30 PM – 7:30 PM / 12 / 13 / 14
15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19
Creative Cooking Class
11AM – 1:30 PM / 20 / 21
22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26
Housing Seminar
1PM – 3PM / 27 / 28
29 / 30
Memorial Day
(office Closed) / 31 / Lupus Awareness Month
PTSD Awareness Month
ALS Awareness Month
(Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's Disease)
~ June 2016 ~ / Ju
Sun / Mon / Tue / Wed / Thu / Fri / Sat
Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
5 / 6 / 7 / 8
Men’s Group
Event
11AM – 2 PM / 9
IN Annual Meeting
2 PM – 5PM / 10 / 11
12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16
Creative
Cooking Class
11AM – 1:30 PM / 17 / 18
19
Father’s Day / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23
Housing Seminar
1PM – 3PM
/ 24 / 25
26 / 27 / 28
Newsletter Volunteers
10AM – 12:30 PM / 29 / 30
Contact the staff person listed for each event at least one week in advance to register/RSVP. Unless otherwise stated, all events will be held at the main office of Independence Now at 12301 Old Columbia Pike, Suite 101, Silver Spring, MD 20904. 301-277-2839. Travel reimbursement for IN consumers will be provided for Metro Access, Metro bus or rail.
SPECIAL UP-COMING EVENT
Men’s Group Event – Wednesday, June 8, 2016,11am -2:00pm-- A day at the park! Men join your peers and IN’s staff for a day of food, fun, information sharing and leisure activities. Contact Michael Saunders at240-638-0069 or Kelvin Hawkins at 240-638-0068.
Independence Now Annual Meeting-- Thursday, June 9th from 2pm - 5pm at 3300 East-West Highway, Hyattsville, MD 20782. There will be a panel presentation on Employment from the National, Local and consumer perspective. Everyone welcome!
MD-YLF (Maryland Youth Leadership Forum) 2016 -- Open to Maryland residents with ANY type
of disability in their last two years of high school or graduating in the spring of 2016. This annual event will be held at Towson University June 23-25, 2016. Deadline for applicationApril 2016. For moreinformation, contract Shannon Minnick, Youth Services Coordinator at 240-898-0070 or .
2016 Annual Conference on Independent Living -- Solidarity: Everybody In
July 25-28, 2016, Grand Hyatt, Washington, DC
advances independent living and the rights of people with disabilities. NCIL
envisions a world in which people with disabilities are valued equally and participate
fully.We echo the words of Justin Dart:“I call for solidarity among all who love justice, all who love life, to create a revolution that will empower every single human being to govern his or her life, to govern the society and to be fully productive of life quality for self and for all.” For more information, visit or email: .
INDEPENDENCE NOW REGULAR SCHEDULE EVENTS
(monthly, quarterly and annual events)
PATH TO EMPOWERMENT/Creative Cooking Class -- Third Thursday monthly 11am – 1:30pm
April 21
It’s time to celebrate! This 12-month program, Path to Empowerment journey has helped us discover different types of healthy foods, smart and low cost shopping, adaptive tools for use in the kitchen, kitchen safety, food measurements, build relationships and many other life skills and increased knowledge to help us live a healthy and independent lifestyle.We will conclude this program with celebrating our success while exploring various healthy foods.
Contact Shannon Minnick at 240-638-0070 to register and to request accommodations.
May 19 -- Creative Cooking Class -- National BBQ month
Did you know that May is National BBQ month? Well in light of this revelation we will be learning barbequing right from your kitchen in an easy and healthy method in any season.
Contact Victor Murrana at 240-898-2185 or Rochelle Harrod at 240-898-2184 to register and to request accommodations.
June 16 -- Creative Cooking Class -- National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month
While most of us know that eating more fresh fruits and vegetables are important for good health, do we actually know the variety of choices, the nutritional value, various ways of preparation and how much we eat? Let’s learn and prepare together.
Contact Victor Murrana at 240-898-2185 or Rochelle Harrod at 240-898-2184 to register and to request accommodations.
HOUSING SEMINAR-- Fourth Thursday monthly 1pm - 3pm
This event is designed to provide up-to-date information about housing programs, housing options and provide training on housing preparation and how to retain your housing. To register, request accommodations or for more information contact Rochelle Harrod at 240-898-2184.
April 28--Fair Housing and You: Do you know your rights? Presented by Mid-Atlantic ADA Center and Equal Rights Center.
May 26 -- How to complete a public housing application and Certification Packet
Speaker to be announced.
June 23-- Are You Ready to Move?
How to complete a rental assistance application?Go through step by step process for Montgomery and Prince George's County rental assistance process.
FINANCIAL/BUDGETING SEMINAR -- Financial Literacy Month
Wednesday, April 13th,1pm -3pm
Budgeting Basics 101 Presented by Dan Florea of Guidewell Financial Services.To register, request accommodations or for more information contact Rochelle Harrod at 240-898-2184’
ADVOCATE’S THEATER --Movie “Concussion”
Wednesday, May11th,4:30pm - 7:30pm
Will Smith stars in Concussion, a dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American Immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth to be known. Omalu’s emotional quest puts him at dangerous odds with one of the most powerful institutions in the world.
Overpaymentscontinues. . . .
Do not panic and do not ignore them!
The opportunity to appeal has a time limit. Social Security gives you sixty days to file an appeal, but you should do it as soon as you can, to avoid having your benefits withheld to repay the overpayment. Reconsideration is the first step of an appeal. Someone at the Field Office who did not make the original decision will review your request along with any supporting documents you present. If Social Security reverses the decision, congratulations. If not, you have the right to appeal the decision further, or request a waiver of the overpayment. If you decide to continue to appeal, though, you must file the next appeal within sixty days of the denial notice.
We at Maryland Work Incentives Network help with overpayments related directly to your work activity. We can help you understand which option is best in responding to an overpayment notice. We cannot act as your representative, but we can help you represent yourself. Let us know if you have any questions. Our number is 1-888-838-1776.
Employment Services are now a reality.Independence Now is in the fledging phase of the process. We are very eager to begin helping people to achieve their dreams for employment. If you have an open DORS case and or have a Ticket-to-Work give us a call. We are looking for serious job seekers who are highly motivated to work. If this is you, contact Denise Sosbe, Employment Services Coordinator at 240-898-2188 or .
National Volunteer Week is April 10-16
“honoring the people who dedicate themselves to taking action and solving problems in their communities”
Independence Now’s Volunteers:
Robert Watson
Cindy Buddington
Justin Campbell
Sarah Allan
Timothy Hairston
Sandra Sermons
Alex Vakalopoulos
Cathy Raggio
Pat Laird
Kathy Gregg
Maureen McNeill
Carol Boyer
Michael Fitzpatrick
Donna Jackson
Sean Riley
Gerald Alleva
Lorenzo Kenney
Francie Gilman
Rhonda Austin
Jorge Obregon
Karen Diggs
Savannah Jackson
Just4Us
New Members and Donors - Welcome and Thanks!
- Equipment Connections for Children
- Outback Steak House
- Giant