Earlier this year, we had the honor of gathering with the original founders of Friends Life Community (FLC) around a familiar dinner table. As we began, Jack Herndon, co-founder and Board Chair at the time, shared a powerful sentiment that has been the driving force behind FLC from the very beginning – the unwavering commitment to ensuring that the Friends experience life to its fullest, in the embrace of a genuine community.
The vision was clear: Friends Life Community would become the embodiment of a “real community” for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a place that would be synonymous with genuine community in the hearts of all Nashvillians.
The Essence of a “Real Community”
But what does it truly mean to be a “real community” for adults with disabilities? The answer is simple yet profound: it’s about being known, having a support system, forming meaningful friendships, and experiencing the gift of reciprocity.
Being Known
In a “real community,” you are not just a face in the crowd; you are known. People know your name, your likes, what upsets you, and how to bring a smile to your face. It’s about being invited to sit with friends, celebrating birthdays together, and running into familiar faces at the grocery store who greet you by name. When you are known, you feel confident, your voice matters, and you’re enveloped in a sense of safety, love, and acceptance for who you are.
“As a parent, it’s incredible to know that there are people here who know Katie as well as or better than we do.” — Karl Hamilton, co-founder.
Having a Support System:
Real community means having a dependable support system in both good times and challenging moments. It’s about supporting each other to surpass expectations, being held accountable for giving your best, and knowing you’re not alone in problem-solving. For both our Friends and their family members, it’s about providing a safety net that allows everyone to step outside their comfort zones and achieve greater independence.
Meaningful Friendships:
In a “real community,” friendships are not transactional; they are genuine. Through FLC, the Friends develop authentic bonds with peers. They work alongside community members, engage in thousands of hours of volunteer work, contribute to the local workforce, showcase their art, perform in the community, and bring joy to others through Treat Truck events. These experiences allow them to practice essential social skills, build confidence, advocate for themselves, and improve their communication – all of which lead to stronger relationships within the community.
The Gift of Reciprocity:
Real community is a gift of reciprocity. It’s about mutual benefit for everyone involved, regardless of ability. Every individual, with or without a disability, contributes their diverse abilities, perspectives, talents, and skills to create a vibrant, inclusive community. Here, everyone participates in giving and receiving, and it’s this balance that makes the community whole.
Experiencing Life to the Fullest:
It’s our belief that when one experiences “real community” with those around them, they also experience life to the fullest.
“It has far exceeded anything we could have ever dreamed,” co-founder Jennie Scott beautifully reflects.
Thank You to Our Real Community!
As we celebrate 15 incredible years of “real community” at Friends Life Community, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every member of this remarkable community. Your commitment to creating a space where our Friends can experience the fullness, happiness, and dignity of reciprocity is truly immeasurable.
Thank you for being a part of our journey, and here’s to many more years of friendship, belonging, and purpose! 🥂❤️ #RealCommunity #InclusionMatters #15YearsStrong
Wendy Gunn
It’s an honor to share my testimony with the world. You merit all the accolades that mention you. Lord Meduza has been a gift to me since our meeting online. He is the only one that knows everything about creating spells. I adore him immensely for his kindness, compassion, integrity, and the support he offers to everyone who interacts with him. Without Lord Meduza, I wouldn’t have survived this difficult situation. His magic turned me into a Lottery winner of £177 Million Pounds, transforming my entire life into something beautiful and extraordinary. The numbers he provided for the lottery were transformative, elevating me from grass to grace, and I want to express my eternal gratitude to him. Thank you, sir, for being a source of help to those in need. Anyone who reads this article and requires assistance can reach him through his Email: lordmeduzatemple@hotmail.com or Whats__App: +1 807 798-3042 as he is unmatched in crafting spells. Website: lordmeduzaspelltemple.com
Alice Brown
ALPHA KEY HACKER EXPERT IN CRYPTO RECOVERY
Alpha Key Recovery has truly earned my trust by demonstrating how reliable they can be when it comes to recovering lost cases, resolving debit issues, contacting them for any cryptocurrency recovery, bank issues, credit card scams, and many more. I won’t lie; their incredible responses to my case have left me speechless. info below
Mail: services@alphakeyrecovery.com
WhatsApp: +15714122170
Signal: +15403249396
Website: www.retrieval.alphakeyrecovery.com
Mike Lucas
I LOST MY CRYPTO, TO ONLINE SCAMMERS, HOW DO I RECOVER IT? HIRE WIZARD GEO COORDINATES RECOVERY HACKER
If you’ve been the victim of a crypto investment scam, don’t give up, recovery is possible with the help of WIZARD GEO COORDINATES RECOVERY HACKER. I was in the same situation, traumatized and almost wanted to commit suicide but I thank God that I got the contact with WIZARD GEO COORDINATES RECOVERY HACKER They successfully recovered my lost funds. From the start, WIZARD GEO COORDINATES RECOVERY HACKER showed professionalism, empathy, and a strong commitment to helping scam victims. They truly understand the emotional and financial impact of such scams. For anyone affected by crypto fraud, I suggest that you get in touch with WIZARD GEO COORDINATES RECOVERY HACKER. Contact them at:
Email: geovcoordinateshacker@gmail.com
Telegram: @Geocoordinateshacker
Website; https://geovcoordinateshac.wixsite.com/geo-coordinates-hack
Thanks to their expertise and swift action, I was able to reclaim my assets.
Barry M. Tyson
As a Powerball jackpot winner, I am thrilled to share my experience: thanks to the support of Priest Alaska, I won a life-changing sum of money. With his guidance and assistance, I was able to secure an incredible $50 million win! Priest Alaska’s advice and blessings played a crucial role in this fantastic success, and I am infinitely grateful for his help. If you, too, would like such guidance and blessings in your life, I highly recommend reaching out to Priest Alaska. You can contact him via email at alaskaspellcaster44@gmail. com. For more information, please visit his website: https://dralaskaspellcaster.mystrikingly.com. Seize the chance to win the lottery yourself with Priest Alaska by your side!
Tony Chan
LOST YOUR CRYPTO? YOU WANT TO RECOVER YOUR STOLEN BTC? CONTACT WIZARD GEO COORDINATES RECOVERY HACKER
It is truly amazing what you can achieve with the right information. I’m truly grateful for the service of WIZARD GEO COORDINATES RECOVERY HACKER, which was able to recover my cryptocurrency funds from fake investment accounts. Losing $650,000 of my hard-earned money was excruciating and devastating when I thought I could earn more from investing in cryptocurrency, not knowing that I had fallen for a scam. I was able to contact WIZARD GEO COORDINATES RECOVERY HACKER when I did my research online and came across their testimonies. I saw that WIZARD GEO COORDINATES RECOVERY HACKER has been helping many victims like me to recover their funds. I requested assistance from WIZARD GEO COORDINATES RECOVERY HACKER. They only required the information from my own wallet. The money was found in my wallet in less than 24 hours, and it turned out that the intruder had already spent some of it, leaving me with only about $530.000 cryptocurrency. I’m truly grateful for their service and I commend them for being professional and trustworthy, i decided to share my good news for those that are having same issues should contact him via
Email: geovcoordinateshacker@gmail.com
Telegram: @Geocoordinateshacker
Website; https://geovcoordinateshac.wixsite.com/geo-coordinates-hack
They are the real deal when it comes to recovering of lost cryptocurrency. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.