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People First BBQ
Author, William M.
People First Chapters do all sorts of things for their members to do in their communities. This year the Chico Chapter decided to have a BBQ in September for people to enjoy food and to share what People First is and what it does in the community. We had it at the Oak Grove location in Bidwell Park. The same place we had last year’s BBQ. The chapter officers decided to keep the menu simple with burgers and hot dogs. With only a few items, we could be sure to get plenty of food for people to enjoy. We also had iced tea and water for people to drink. Our helper
Bryan cooked the food while we went around and greeted everybody who came and talked about what People First was.
Having the barbeque was our way of giving back to our community and also trying to get more members for our group. We had around 40 people show up from around our area. Some people from We Care A Lot’s Redding office came to join in on the fun. We talked about People First being an advocacy group for people with disabilities. Sharing a little of why advocacy is so important for everyone as specially individuals with disabilities. Advocacy allows us to learn how to speak up for ourselves and fight for what we want.
People started coming around 1 in the afternoon just as the coals were getting hot enough to cook the food. We chopped onions, tomatoes, and lettuce for the burgers and opened up the boxes of chips for people to have with their food. It was a lot of work but also fun as we got to do something fun for our community. We all introduced ourselves to everyone who came and talked a little bit about who we are and what People First does for the community. I mentioned that we did a BBQ last year and wanted everyone to enjoy themselves. Someone played music on a speaker they brought for all the party goers to enjoy. We set up the toppings and condiments while the burgers and dogs were cooked. Once some of the food was ready, we had people line up to get their food. There were a lot of people there, we had to have some people wait for more food to finish cooking. Burgers were by far the most popular over the hot dogs. Adding cheese to the burgers was really popular as well.
The nice thing about doing a barbeque two years in a row is we can try to improve from the previous year. Last year people wanted tomatoes so we added them to the menu. Looking forward to next year we are thinking about just having burgers so we can serve more people. Also, we are going to look into setting up stations where people can grab buns, veggies, and condiments for themselves instead of us serving them.
We ended the party by having our secretary Danette speak a few words about People First and advocacy. Advocacy is about standing up for yourself and others. People First teaches individuals with disabilities how to find their own voices and work for things they want. The barbeque was a way we can get people to come to learn about why they should join People First and find their own voices. We decided to have the cookout because it was something we liked to do. Advocacy is all about making decisions for yourself and deciding what you want. We wanted to have a party so we all worked together to make it happen. Everyone voted on what type of food to have as well as all the other important related decisions. Individuals must learn to make their own choices. Self-advocacy gives them the power to choose for themselves what they want to do. It is important to find your own vision for what you want to do and make it happen. People First is a place where anyone with a developmental disability can go to meet people to learn how to share their own voice in their communities. Advocacy groups like People First are great places to go learn how to contribute to their communities with their peer’s supportive help.
Spreading Her Wings’: Ashley Groulx Finds Independence and Community
By Jackie D.
REDDING, Calif. — For Ashley Groulx, moving into her own apartment wasn’t just a change of address — it was a long-awaited step toward independence and community connection.
On Sept. 17, 2025, Groulx officially moved into her new home, achieving a goal she had been working toward for years.
“I wanted to be closer to the ALIVE program to be able to walk with my friends and to be able to go to the community suppers and music in town,” Groulx said. “I wanted to be able to go trick or treating and walk downtown and then just go home.”
Before her move, Groulx lived in a smaller town with her aunt, where there weren’t as many opportunities to get involved. “No,” she said, when asked if there was much to do where she lived before. “It was a smaller town. Here I can do the Halloween activities and the tree lighting for the Christmas sparkle parade.”
Groulx has wasted no time making her new space feel like home. She decorated her apartment for Halloween and plans to continue for Thanksgiving, Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter. She also adopted a cat named JoJo.
“I’ve gotten my own space,” she said. “I had to put myself into a bubble before and there were people all over and I couldn’t do what I wanted.”
In addition to newfound independence, Groulx is finding joy in community involvement and future goals. “Volunteering with the Follies dance and lip synching show and with the local plays at the two local theatres,” she said, describing her plans. “I want to go on big trips and go to Reno more. I also want to go to the People First conferences.”
Groulx has also joined the local People First Chapter and hopes to one day serve on the Far Northern Regional Center Board of Directors.
“I’d love to see her succeed and grow and be a self-advocate and be independent,” said her cousin and interviewer, Jackie Dubois. “She wants to be a part of the Far Northern board of directors and I’d like to see her do that eventually.”
The past few months haven’t been without hardship. Groulx’s mother passed away in early September, shortly before her move. “I have my mom’s ashes and went to her celebration of life and got a little urn,” Groulx said. “It helps me to have my friends around me when I’m sad.”
Despite the loss, Groulx continues to move forward with courage and positivity. She has reconnected with an old friend from Greenville and enjoys cooking her own meals, doing her laundry, and having her own mailbox.
When asked if she feels proud to have her own apartment, Groulx didn’t hesitate. “I’m very proud,” she said.
Dubois, who has known Groulx since infancy, expressed pride and encouragement for her cousin’s journey. “I think in due time, this community will be there for you,” Dubois told her. “I want you to know that you’re not alone.”
FNRC’s Tribal Liaison Strengthens Connection With Native American Communities
Author, Tre K.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – At the 4th Annual California American Indian Symposium on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, held Oct. 22–23 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bakersfield, Far Northern Regional Center (FNRC) Tribal Liaison Allen Dickens discussed the importance of trust, cultural understanding and communication in his role serving Native American communities across Northern California.
Dickens described the Tribal Liaison position as “mostly a point of contact for families, tribal entities, and tribal health care providers.” He said the role is key to ensuring Native American individuals and families can easily access FNRC services and that staff members understand cultural perspectives.
“In order to provide quality assistance to tribal families and individuals with disabilities, staff must be trained to see the Native American point of view,” Dickens said. “Often, when we see a bias or just feel as if we’re being treated differently due to skin color or ethnicity, we likely display mistrust, feel discriminated against, and have no faith in a system where we feel we are perceived as second class.”
Dickens emphasized that meaningful outreach begins with listening and relationship-building. He said many Native families and tribal governments are still unaware of regional center services or have limited trust in state agencies.
“The Native American community has come to expect very limited assistance from any ‘State’ agency,” he said. “They figure the best they can hope for is glorified lip service. The Tribal Liaison position needs to be used to overcome this view.”
Part of that effort, Dickens explained, involves training FNRC staff and service providers on tribal history, governance and culture. “It is essential that FNRC staff and service providers have an understanding of and regularly practice cultural competence to lessen disparities commonly experienced by minority members,” he said. “It is impossible to know what culturally competent care means for Native Americans with disabilities if we do not ask and learn directly from Native California tribes.”
He summarized his approach simply: “Ask, listen to their answer, then see what we can do to overcome the challenges.”
Dickens also shared a recent success story from Siskiyou County that underscored the importance of communication. When a tribal Human Services Director reached out for help with a 23-year-old man who needed services, Dickens worked with both the tribe and FNRC staff to ensure the man’s referral was completed.
“This story highlights one of the main stumbling blocks to Indigenous people accessing FNRC services,” Dickens said. “An apparent easy fix, but without the staff knowing they had an FNRC contact that they felt comfortable to call, it would have been another case fallen through the cracks.”
Through his work, Dickens continues to bridge gaps between FNRC and tribal communities, ensuring Indigenous individuals with developmental disabilities receive the services and respect they deserve.
Mains’l Services Brings Community Together for Fourth Annual Trunk or Treat
Author, Tre K.
CHICO, Calif. – Mains’l Services hosted its fourth annual Trunk or Treat event in downtown Chico, drawing crowds of families, community members, and staff for an afternoon of Halloween fun and connection.
“This year’s event went really well,” said Nich Dugan,
Manager II with Mains’l Services. “We switched our location this year. One of our offices moved to a new location downtown off of Wall Street, and we had one of our neighboring businesses, Nation’s Finest, partner with us to participate.”
About 20 Mains’l employees volunteered to host decorated trunks for the event, which ran from 3 to 5 p.m. “Our parking lot was filled from the time we started until the time we ended,” Dugan said.
Each trunk featured a unique theme, with several including games and interactive elements. “We had a basketball game going on at one of the trunks and a Candyland game at another,” Dugan said. “There was lots of laughter and just people having a great time.”
Transportation support also helped make the event accessible to more attendees. “The B-Line was a big hit for transportation,” Dugan noted. “The paratransit came and went multiple times, bringing groups of people.”
The annual event, which began four years ago at Mains’l’s Landing Circle office, has grown steadily. Past years have included partnerships with local organizations such as the Seventh Street Center for the Arts, where the Trunk or Treat coincided with a haunted house.
Dugan said the event has become more than just a Halloween celebration—it’s a way to strengthen community ties. “I think it does have an impact,” he said. “Mains’l operates a lot of different services—from supported living houses to day programs—and it brings everyone together. It’s a good activity for socialization and a great community connection.”
He added that the event helps Mains’l connect with people who may not be familiar with the organization. “We got to connect with people in the community that we might not have had the opportunity to connect with elsewhere,” he said. “Building community in any way we can is always meaningful.”
Looking ahead, Dugan said Mains’l plans to continue the annual tradition. “Hopefully in the future we’ll continue to grow and have more volunteers host trunks,” he said. “And we’ll keep reaching out to the community so they can come and participate.”
Dugan expressed gratitude for everyone involved. “I’m just glad for the opportunity to share what we’re doing and to continue doing it,” he said. “I look forward to hosting it again next year.”
Teaching, Learning, Caring: How One Woman’s Compassion Built a Lifeline for Others
Author, Tre K.
PARADISE, Calif. — When Kandy Judd reflects on how Teaching Learning Caring (TLC) began, she describes it as “a very long road to recovery” that led her to a life of service.
In the 1990s, Judd faced unimaginable challenges — the loss of her husband, a near-fatal car accident that left her with a brain injury, and years of rebuilding her strength. But those trials, she says, also gave her perspective and empathy that would define her work helping others.
“I had so much compassion that I would take it home with me on the weekends,” Judd recalled. “It was affecting my private life. I would go home and cry because I couldn’t fix these guys.”
Her journey into the field of independent living support began by chance. After attending a job interview with her husband, she found herself fascinated by the opportunity to help people with disabilities live more independent lives. The Interviewer said, “Gosh, you seem to really have a handle on this. Are you looking for a job?” Judd remembered with a laugh, saying, “Well, yes, I am.”
That spontaneous moment launched a decades-long career serving individuals with developmental disabilities throughout Northern California.
After years of experience in the field — including work with programs supporting individuals with significant behavioral challenges — Judd and her longtime colleague, Cindy Schroeder, decided to take a leap. In 2016, they founded Teaching Learning Caring (TLC) in Paradise. “We started doing all the paperwork, all the background, everything for our own business,” Judd said. “My dear friend Melanie Breedlove, who also worked in the industry, came up with the name Teaching Learning Caring.”
Their first client came that August, but success did not come easily. “It was slow to start,” Judd said. “But I didn’t have to have the income at that point, so I was able to transition and not make money to start — just to support myself.”
Then came another major test: the Camp Fire of 2018. The blaze devastated Paradise and destroyed TLC’s office, along with Judd’s sporting goods store and all of their client records. “We lost all of our paperwork,” she said. “We lost Social Security cards, birth certificates, marriage licenses — all of that was lost. That was a tough one to overcome.”
But Judd and her small team persevered. They began working out of their cars and eventually rebuilt the business from the ground up. “It took Cindy two years to get her new house built, and we ended up opening up an office in her new home,” Judd said.
As TLC recovered, Schrader’s granddaughter, Samantha Lowe, joined the team — continuing a family legacy in the field. “Samantha became my new partner in TLC,” Judd said proudly. “She picked up the ball and has not quit running with it. She knows the industry, she knows the business.”
Today, Teaching Learning Caring employs three full-time and two part-time staff members, in addition to Judd and Schrader. The company serves clients across Northern California, some of whom Judd has worked with for more than two decades.
“I have one gentleman who I’ve worked with for 22 years,” she said. “He’s such a wonderful, functioning adult now. I get goosebumps every time I think about where he’s come.”
For Judd, the work is deeply personal. Many clients, she says, become like family — and even those who leave sometimes find their way back. One former client called her years after losing touch, asking, “Kandy, will you take me back?” Judd said she burst into tears. “Of course we’ll take you back.”
That compassion has earned Judd community recognition, including a recent Celebration of Heroes award honoring her impact. “It’s not why we do what we do,” she said. “But it’s certainly nice to have that acknowledgment — that what we do has been appreciated.”
Through tragedy, fire, and years of rebuilding, Judd remains grateful for the chance to serve. “The one thing consistent about our job,” she said with a smile, “is there’s no consistency.”
And for Judd, that unpredictability — and the people it brings into her life — is exactly what makes the work worthwhile.
UVENTi App Connects Far Northern Regional Center Clients to Community
Author, Tre K.
REDDING, Calif. — A new mobile app called UVENTi is helping adults with developmental disabilities across Far Northern Regional Center’s (FNRC) service area find local opportunities for connection, recreation and belonging.
Developed by Compass SLS & ILS, the app was designed specifically for FNRC clients to make discovering local activities easier and more inclusive.
“The mobile app is designed for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to find local opportunities for connection and belonging,” said Holly Murray, Grants & New Services Assistant at Compass SLS & ILS. “The mission of UVENTi is to make the discovery seamless, enjoyable and inclusive for everybody with those accessibility needs.”
Using a simple, intuitive interface, users can explore a wide variety of local events — from concerts and festivals to workshops and cultural gatherings — all in one place. “Everything’s in one central location,” Murray explained. “You’re not having to go to different websites like Facebook Events or Eventbrite. It’s all in one spot, using language that’s friendly for the clientele.”
The app also includes interactive features to encourage engagement. “It’s kind of gamified,” Murray said. “Users can earn badges for attending different types of events — like recreational or social activities — and even share photos of their experiences with friends and family.”
Access to the UVENTi app is limited to FNRC clients aged 18 and older to ensure safety and confidentiality. “It’s only meant for clients,” Murray said. “We’ve had staff ask if they could use it, but to keep it a safe platform, it’s just for clients. That being said, if a client needs help, a family member or caregiver can help them access it on their phone.”
To get access, clients can visit uventiapp.com and request a referral through their FNRC Service Coordinator. Once approved, Compass issues an access code to enable the client to log in securely.
Murray, who helps coordinate and monitor events entered into the app, said the focus remains on inclusion and community involvement. “The overall objective is community and just inclusion,” she said.
Compass SLS & ILS built the app after receiving a grant that aimed to expand opportunities for clients to engage in their local communities. “We created it for you guys — the regional center and community services guided how it should look and how to share it,” Murray said.
In addition to managing UVENTi, Murray and her team regularly meet with local agencies and committees to promote awareness of the app and encourage participation. “We’ve had opportunities to get the word out to local communities,” she said, noting recent outreach efforts in Butte County and through FNRC’s Health & Wellness Committee.
Murray said she hopes UVENTi will continue to grow as a bridge between clients and their communities. “It’s just a way to see what’s happening out there,” she said. “It helps people make connections and feel part of something.”
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