The Flathead Youth Opening Doors through Advocacy (YODA) group has been having so much fun in the past few months! We have gained 6 new members and hopefully there are more to come. We have a member that will be attending MYLF as a delegate this year. We helped with a Comedy/Karaoke party that was put on by Summit Independent Living Center in Kalispell. Of course we attended the party as well and had some great food, sang our hearts out, and got some really great laughs in from Mike Beers’ comedy act.
Right now, YODA and Summit Independent Living Center have formed a baseball team that plays at Miracle Field in Kalispell twice a week. We are all so lucky to have this field! It is completely accessible for people with disabilities, including the dugouts, so if you have never had the chance to play baseball, or just haven’t been able to play for a while, then you can contact Amanda Edwards at Summit Independent Living Center in Kalispell. Miracle Field provides most all the equipment, including uniforms. Baseball will go on through the first week of August and you can join our team at any time. We are the Athletics team and, of course, our uniforms are GREEN to honor YODA!
Flathead YODA meetings are held on the first Saturday of each month in the United Way conference room at the Gateway Community Center, from 2pm – 4pm. We have yummy snacks and drinks for everyone. At our upcoming meetings, YODA will be doing some advocacy work for our community.
There is a local business that isn’t accessible so we will be writing letters to the business asking to put a ramp up. If you are between the ages of 14 to 30ish, like to make new friends, and want to help make your community be the best it can be, then contact your local Summit Independent Living Center at 406-257-0048 and ask for Amanda Edwards. Or you can e-mail her at aedwards@summitilc.org.
