Executive Director Opening Note

Dear Readers,

Our last issue of Breaking Ground was about housing. We featured housing, knowing that it is the foundation of community life. But, community life does not come from housing alone. This issue explores the other factors – experiences, relationships, and freedom to explore all of those – that make community life fulfilling.

In reviewing the content for this issue, and reflecting on it, I was reminded of a conversation I had last year. Developers and disability providers were talking to me about building more housing specifically for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). My instinct was to redirect the conversation to community housing. And the response back, over and over, was some version of, “But that housing is isolating.” I stopped and sat with that. Even if I do not believe that to be The Truth for everyone, it is true for too many.

These two issues of Breaking Ground seek to reinforce the idea that housing and community engagement are interconnected. In the hierarchy of needs, housing certainly comes first. But if we treat housing as the ultimate goal, then we have missed the point. Any setting can feel like an institution without freedom, relationships, and engagement.

As you read on, you will find examples of ways that Tennessee communities are creating those vital elements of community engagement for people with I/DD. Our hope is that we, as a community, can start thinking about housing and engagement as two aspects of the same goal.

Warmly,

Lauren Pearcy