By Lacey Michael
Elmore Autauga News
The class from Leadership Autauga County revealed all the exciting and inspirational updates to the Autauga Western ARC’s Smith Center in Prattville on Friday, June 6. This organization, while receiving funding from Medicaid, thrives on partnerships like Leadership Autauga and help from the community to make their center the best it can be.
Assistant Executive Director Kearra Brown took attendees on a tour through the building and right into the center of their self-made community called “Smithville.” Smithville is a hall of rooms that depicts daily living, such as an apartment with a bed, washer and dryer, a pet shop, a convenience store, a salon, a music room, and a living room. They are also planning to add a post office.
These mock-up rooms of community physically and actively show these individuals how to interact and live in a real community, so they are set up for success in their daily individual living. Brown stated that while some people may see this center as a form of “sitting” services, she goes on to say, they have “changed the narrative.”
“Smithville” has been an integral part of this positive narrative in serving individuals who need these services to learn life skills to set them up for independent daily living. Brown stated, “Individuals with intellectual disabilities or mental illness or physical disabilities can come here and receive different services.” This year, their first Non-Profit day, the Leadership Autauga Class partnered with the Smith Center to provide murals painted by the Yellow Room, foldable picnic tables, umbrellas, yard games, and raised garden beds. While the Leadership Autauga Class stated that The Smith Center had already done so much before their investment, they were thankful to be able to contribute to their improvements.
You can learn about The Smith Center Autauga Western ARC and visit their website at
www.awearc.org
for more information. If you are interested in joining Leadership Autauga, they are still accepting applications through June 15
th
and can find more information on their Facebook page.
