Parker Personal Care Homes (PPCH) recently celebrated the grand opening of The Hive Community Center in Parker, Colorado, on March 28, 2024!
The Hive is a unique community gathering place created based on the needs PPCH saw in their community. It aims to provide inclusive opportunities for creation, fun, and community in Douglas County. It includes a dirty soda shop, a retail space specializing in DIY craft kits and MakerSpace equipment, two fully loaded MakerSpace rooms, a podcast space, a high-tech sport simulator, an art installation (featuring pieces for sale by artists of all abilities), and a multi-purpose community room available for rent.
“Traditionally, services for individuals with long-term care needs and intellectual or developmental disabilities have been structured around models that take place separately from the community,” said the CEO of PPCH, Jodi Walters. “We were inspired to try something new and create a space where all individuals are welcome and have the supports they need for success available. This space is for everyone, not just individuals with disabilities or care needs.”
Their vision also extends beyond the walls of The Hive: they want to inspire others to embrace inclusivity and invest in spaces where everyone is welcome to play and become inventors, builders, and creators. The Hive hopes to highlight that individuals with diverse abilities can create high-quality products and will provide opportunities for individuals to learn a variety of employment skills that they can take into the community.
“We were lucky to have incredible partners in Developmental Pathways that believed in our vision and provided us significant grant dollars to make this dream a reality; it could not have happened without their collaboration,” stated Jodi.
This project was conceived, planned, and heavily funded by PPCH, whose hard work made The Hive a reality, along with the support of the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners and Developmental Pathways. Additionally, this project was largely made possible through the voter-approved Douglas County Developmental Disabilities Mill Levy funds and other grant funding through Developmental Pathways.
“This space is opening today largely because of our community and the voter-approved funding. Mill Levy funding is distributed to Developmental Pathways – a vital partner in this vision – and to dozens of other organizations via grants every year,” stated Douglas County Commissioner George Teal. “Our community-based partners bring that vision to life – and helped bring this idea to fruition today. We want to celebrate that partnership and collaboration.”
About Parker Personal Care Homes:
Founded in 1995, we are a well-established organization that provides a large variety of services. The supports that we offer include Foster Care Supports, Children’s Extensive Supports, Supported Living Services, Host Homes, Community Participation Services, Supported Community Connections, Specialized Habilitation, Independent Living Services, and Vocational Rehabilitation Services. We believe that we have one of the most important jobs there is – enhancing the quality of people’s lives. We take the time to gather the right tools and identify the appropriate resources so that we are able to provide individuals ample opportunities to make informed and healthy choices about their lives.