By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Progressive Community Services in St. Joseph is welcoming people together to discuss topics not just affecting people with disabilities, but the community at large.
Executive Director Heather Weddle says the hope is that the discussion will be about the power of employment, transportation, and independent living.
And Weddle hopes people will connect with that and that the work to make the community an inclusive community can extend beyond the session.
"That people can invite people with disabilities to join their committees, to join boards, to join conversations to make Buchanan County a more inclusive place," Weddle tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "We hope to expand inclusion in our community, we hope to expand transportation options, we hope to expand independent living options."
Weddle says the event has a specific target audience.
"Well, we first and foremost want to have the opportunity for area legislators, elected officials, partners, stakeholders to come together and learn about several topics of interest that not only impact people with disabilities and their families, but also impact our entire community," Weddle explains.
The luncheon will take place Thursday at Stoney Creek Inn. Weddle says reception for the event has been incredible.
"We hoped to get 75 people to come out and visit and learn together and so far, we have met that goal, so we're really excited," Weddle says. "We have Missouri representative Bill Faulkner will be joining us, Missouri representative Brenda Shields."
Weddle says also on hand will be several leaders from Buchanan County as well as the city of St. Joseph.
Due to the success of this event, Weddle says they hope to be able to hold more in the future, however registration is closed for the event on Thursday.