2015 National GiGi’s Playhouse Conference!

Last week five members from your GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse team traveled to Chicago to join up with the 25 other existing Playhouses and the 10 that are preparing to open their doors in 2016!  We are growing! We are Strong! Our voices are one and we are being heard.

BUT, there is more to be done.  We will not get comfortable, we will continue to advocate, believe and help our friends and family have everything they want out of life!

We are blessed to be a part of such a wonderful organization and the staff at Inc. works year round to provide us with tools, experts and training to bring back to our families so we can all achieve our Best of All!

What is Best of All? Glad you asked, here is how GiGi’s Playhouse defines it.

best of all (adjective) \best of all\ ​

– is continual, measurable, celebrated and it never ends. ​

– It is a daily challenge to do a little better than you did the day before and it is​ always celebrated.

– Every day is better than the day before

– Complacency is the enemy!

We will be talking more about this in our programing in 2016 and we are so excited to see how our friends show us their Best of All!

(be on the lookout of these awesome tools that were just rolled out!)

Of course each of us that went brought back excitement and ideas. Let’s here from them.

Janet LaSalle – Syracuse Board of Managers President.

“I am so energized by GiGi’s Playhouse National Conference. I am excited for #generationG and the global movement for greater acceptance and social change for our children and adults with Down syndrome. I love the new programs we will be rolling out in the next year with increased metrics so we can help our children work towards their BEST OF ALL! I am grateful to be part of our local playhouse and part of the national mission! Can’t wait for all there is to come in 2016!!”

Mathew Dwyer – Syracuse Board of Manager Vice President

“The conference was a great review of what we’ve accomplished so far, both locally and nationally, and a reminder that we also have so much work ahead of us. We are making so much progress!”

Christina Cacciola – Syracuse Site Coordinator (this was Christina’s first conference) 

“Though it is stressful and everyone, even parents of individuals with Down syndrome, want to give up at times we must carry on so one day the same privileges we take for granted, are extended to everyone.  Meeting Nicole and learning her story and how GiGi’s Playhouse has helped her spread her wings really moved me. I would have never guessed that she had been anything but confident.
It was amazing to see GiGi’s impact in that capacity. During my office hours, I typically deal with babies and children. It was incredible to see that not only are we there as a venue and meeting place, but we are there to mend, and to give the unfortunately rare re-assurance to our participants that they are not anything less than amazing and deserving.
I am so immersed in the positivity of GiGi’s that I forget how cruel the world can be sometimes. Her story grounded me, and made me recognize that though we have made “leaps and bounds” there is still so much work ahead of us.  Thankfully we are stronger together!”

Trish Graham – Syracuse Board of Managers

“Conference was a great experience and really opened my eyes to the perspective that the GiGi’s Playhouse mission is not just about my kids or even the kids in Syracuse. It is much bigger. It is about global acceptance! We all have a voice and we all can contribute.

Heather Rodriguez – Syracuse Board of Managers

This is my second visit to the National Playhouse for conference and I can say with 100% accuracy that it was just as amazing as my first visit and I am already count the days to my next visit! The inspiration, the connection to people from all over the US and Mexico sharing a common goal and focus is so grounding.  I am excited to learn how the National office is working hard to roll out tools that will help our programing be even more effective. 2016 is going to be a great year of the GiGi’s community! We are #generationG and we are going to rock this world!

We loved being able to hear Farzin challenge and inspire us to keep working!

GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse we are so excited for 2016!

Join us this Saturday (11/21) from 3-5 as we celebrate THREE years in Syracuse.  RSVP here

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