On December 11, 2024, Pathways to Friendship proudly hosted the Southeast Community Inclusion Summit, bringing together over 50 community members and leaders from faith-based organizations, recreation programs, arts and cultural groups, libraries, and educational institutions. Since December 2022, Pathways to Friendship has organized six Community Inclusion Summits across different regions of the Commonwealth. This event marked a return to the Southeast, fostering connection at the beautiful Camp Yomechas, part of the Middleboro Old Colony YMCA.
The summit centered on strategies to promote meaningful inclusion for individuals with disabilities within community spaces and programs. It was an inspiring day filled with thoughtful discussions and a shared commitment to building communities where everyone experiences membership, belonging, and friendship.
Lisa Drennan of MERGE Consulting delivered a compelling keynote address. As the founder of MERGE Inclusion Consulting, Lisa has been a leading voice in disability inclusion. MERGE provides expert guidance to recreation programs, sports teams, camps, and community organizations. Through customized training, MERGE empowers groups to welcome, engage, and support individuals of all abilities.
A highlight of the summit was a friendship story shared by Jack Yates, emphasizing the value of reciprocal friendships between people with and without disabilities. You can explore more friendship stories on the Pathways to Friendship platform.
Phoebe Goodman, a Pathways Facilitator, led an engaging panel discussion on inclusion. Panelists included representatives from the Old Colony YMCA, Spectrum Empowerment Project, CapeAbilities, Holy Cross Retreat House, and Pembroke Recreation. The discussion extended beyond physical accessibility, delving into emotional accessibility—the openness of our hearts and minds. The panel emphasized how inclusive practices create opportunities for meaningful friendships between people with and without disabilities as peers. The day concluded with participants creating inclusion resolutions to guide their community organizations on the path to success in 2025.
Looking Ahead
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Metro/Northeast Summit in March 2025. Stay tuned for more details, including registration links, we’d love to have you join us!
About Pathways to Friendship
Pathways to Friendship is a collaborative initiative on social inclusion between the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and The Arc of Massachusetts. The program fosters meaningful relationships between individuals with and without disabilities, highlighting the benefits of these connections and providing resources to support individuals, families, and organizations in creating and sustaining inclusive relationships.
These events are made possible through the generosity and commitment of Southeast Inclusion Network members and collaborative partner organizations.
Join Us
We invite you to join our Regional Inclusion Networks. These virtual meetings provide a space to advance inclusion within organizations and communities, share best practices, network, and learn from brief presentations. Everyone is welcome to be part of the inclusive change happening in your community. Currently, we host three Regional Inclusion Network meetings.
Together, we’re making meaningful progress toward creating stronger, more inclusive communities!
