An organization laser focused on helping oft-overlooked community members took a little time to allow its employees and volunteers to acknowledge their own accomplishments.
The Arc of Haywood County on Oct. 29 celebrated its 50-year anniversary while also cutting the ribbon on a second office on Boundary Street in Waynesville that will house the supported employment, community living, and community networking teams.
The new location was initially used as a pole barn for nearby Haywood Builders Supply. Over time, walls were added, and it became a mattress store. Now, after a good deal of hard work and a strong vision, it has been given new life.
Several people spoke in front of the building ahead of the ribbon cutting.
Arc of Haywood County Executive Director Todd Barbee has been on the job about four years. He said, from the podium, that over five decades, The Arc’s employees, volunteers, and board members have “been building something pretty special together.” He expressed appreciation for the people who’ve not only spent so much time and effort making it what it is but also those who’ve “fought and demanded better for the community of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
“When I think about these 50 years, the word that comes to mind is gratitude,” he said.
Next up was Waynesville Mayor Gary Caldwell, who has spent many years on the Arc’s board, including as president. Caldwell recalled the Arc’s beginning in 1976 but traced its national origins back to the 1950s. He said the movement began in earnest in North Carolina in 1958, a time at which parents and school officials formed an association to advocate for children with intellectual disabilities. He considered the questions that sparked the movement; questions we should still ask today.
“Why shouldn’t every child have the opportunity to learn? Why shouldn’t every person have the opportunity to work, build friendships, and to make our own choices and be part of this community? Because when we say, ‘everybody,’ we ought to mean everybody, and that belief helped lay the foundation to what became the Arc of Haywood County in 1976,” he said.
Caldwell continued to say that as he’s watched The Arc grow, it has opened up opportunities and changed attitudes in ways he and others “could have only dreamed about” in the early days. Now, The Arc has four residential homes in Haywood County, along with programs to help people find meaningful employment and live independently.
“But more than anything, we watch people build something special together,” he said. “Families, staff, volunteers, neighbors, individuals who have made The Arc such an important part of this community.”
Deana Byrd, the nonprofit’s supported employment coordinator, also thanked those who’d come before her, those who worked so hard to lay The Arc’s foundation. She also explained some of the programs it offers. She talked about the community living program, through which The Arc helps people develop the skills and confidence to live independently and make their own decisions.
The community networking program connects people to society through volunteering and exploring new interests while developing friendships along the way.
She explained that through the supported employment program, Arc clients can find “meaningful jobs” in the community based on their interests and skills.
“What I love about this program is that it’s not just about finding someone a job; it’s about recognizing what each person brings to the table,” she said. “Our community is full of talented, hardworking people, and our local businesses are stronger because of them.”
Byrd said these programs have all “grown tremendously” over the past five years, making the new space a necessity.
“This new Boundary Street location gives our teams room to grow, to collaborate, and to better support the people who participate in our programs,” she said. “It gives us a place to meet with individuals and families, connect with employers and community partners, and continue building opportunities throughout Haywood County.”
The final speaker was former board member Rhonda Schandevel, whose son lives at one of The Arc’s group homes. She recalled that she became acquainted with The Arc 34 years ago, when her son was just five years old.
“When your child is little, so much of your energy goes into what he needs right now — the next appointment, the next school meeting, and yes, the next challenge,” she said. “You know that someday your child will grow up, but you can’t yet picture everything that that will mean.”
At that time, she said Margaret Brown, one of The Arc of Haywood County’s founders, understood something she was just beginning to learn.
“We had to help build a future for our children, and we had to help each other,” she said.
Schandevel expressed her deep gratitude for what The Arc has given her son.
“Canie has a home here in Haywood County where he grew up, with staff who support him and love him and help him in his daily life,” she said. “He can remain connected to his family, his church, and the community that community that knows and loves him. When the group home comes to our church on Wednesday night at Canton Central United Methodist Church, I see what those founding families were working toward — people sharing a meal, greeting one another, and belonging. Those everyday moments mean everything.”
But Schandevel posed a sobering question: What will her son’s life look like when she’s no longer around? With that in mind, she asked those present to consider on The Arc’s semicentennial what the organization will look like in 50 more years.
“Imagine a community where every child like Caney has the opportunity to learn alongside their neighbors, where people with disabilities have the same opportunities to work, to make choices, to build friendships, and to live the lives they choose,” she said. “Imagine a community where we don’t have to keep asking whether everyone belongs, because everyone already does.”