A Community Filled with HOPE

Last weekend was our Playhouse’s magical gala. This gala is a representation of what a community is all about. First, let me give you the definition of what community means: a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common; a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals.
The preparation for an event such as a gala, begins long before the actual date. It is a handful of people that come together on a regular basis to dream, plan, discuss how we are going to bring a whole community together to inspire, empower, and help people believe in all that GiGi’s does for those individuals with Down syndrome. There are many hours of preparation and I am amazed at the dedication that people have to make a difference in the community in which we live.
The day of the gala brings much excitement. For me, I am nervous. I wonder, will everything go well? Did our guest speaker arrive ok? Is our entertainment for the night going to be good? Will I mess up on my words spoken? Will I trip on my dress as I walk up on the stage? Do I have enough self-advocates up on thestage? Will the guests be inspired? But, as I see all the volunteers that show up to get the ballroom ready and looking like bees working in a hive, I know that it is going to be a great night. I go home from the set-up to get ready for the evening, still nervous as all get out.
I had a friend pick me up to bring me to the gala. I am practicing my speech in the car on the way over. We are laughing and crying at the same time about me messing up while I practiced and then crying over some of stories I would be telling that evening. We pulled up to the gala and outside I see GiGi families taking pictures with their guests that they invited to the gala. I saw people laughing and hugging. I saw people so excited to meet our guest speaker. I saw so many smiles that my face hurt from smiling back. I saw a community coming together to celebrate so many great accomplishments. I took a deep breath and prayed; Let all who attend tonight see each self-advocate as a person first. Let them see beauty. Let everyone be inspired to believe. Let them see HOPE.
Our fifth gala was a magical night with a sea of people in attendance. Some of our guests were there because they have a loved one with Down syndrome and many guests were there because they want to be inclusive in their community. There was so much hope in that room it was overwhelming. The laughter andsmiles continued to the very end of the night. By reflecting on this night, I am so encouraged to know that I live a community that wants to see our GiGi’s Playhouse succeed. It is a community that truly believes in our participants. It is a community that loves. It is a community that is generous. A community that has HOPE.
Hope for me is an expectation and a desire for something to happen. Hope is building the roads one step at a time. Hope is kicking the ceiling out and reaching for the sky to fly. Hope is movement. Movement will happen at GiGi’s Playhouse Rockford because our community is giving us HOPE.