• What Belonging Means to Me
• A Lori Story
• The Responsibility of Belonging
• My Friend Tim

"Staff take good care of me.  I love when they take me bowling and let me win.  They care about my health.  When I want to do something, Christi tries to make it happen.  I love going to the fire station to see the firemen.  They show me around and are nice to me.  I like the fire trucks.  That is why it is a great place to live."
-Person supported by Hope House Foundation

“Strong sense of connectiveness to everyone and everything.”
-Mayor Krasnoff, Mayor of Chesapeake

"Belonging = acceptance into an environment without limits on what you can do or become.  To belong to a community is to be allowed inot the community and to be encouraged to reach your full potential."
- Chris Jones, The Fat Tony Band

A Lori Story
By Karen Fine

Lori and Me…
Lunch? Are you free?
Route 58, Silver Diner, The Corral?
Or maybe a Ruby Tuesday salad bar spree!
Sounds good to me…
As long as we finish with a dip at “Skinny”.

 Her cup runneth over with jokes o’plenty
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do” is her entry
Singer, songwriter, Stockley Gardens performer.
Hope House Open Doors, and Our Voices informer.

Our friendship reminds me of what really matters,
A deep understanding of how  we belong,
To community, the world, a humble human song.
My lori stories always end with a Hug,
“See you next time” we declare oh so smug.

The Responsibility of Belonging

When you meet Keisha, the first thing you notice is her smile; a highly contagious smile that radiates warmth and happiness.  She is quick to laugh; a lyrical chuckle that hints at her talent for song.   Keisha is a woman who has been served by Hope House since 2002.  She loves living on her own, in her cozy and inviting apartment, but what she values most is her sense of belonging in the community.  

Keisha’s community is made of up an extensive network of family, membership in a variety of social groups and her many, many friendships.   For Keisha, a strong sense of belonging stirs an equally strong sense of responsibility.

Keisha is a Norfolk native. Growing up in Norview and graduating from Old Norview High School in 2000. Her family still lives in the area; they are a close-knit group, spending holidays, birthdays, and leisurely weekend afternoons together.  Keisha’s biological mother passed when she was 12, and as a result she moved into foster care.  Her adopted mother, who has continously supported Keisha and encourages her to reach for her dreams, raised her and her 3 sisters.  “My mom means the world to me!”  On Sundays they go to mass together, her mother sitting in the front row listening as Keisha sings with the choir.  

Keisha is active in her community; volunteering, spending time with her friends and family or traveling with her choir.  She is also active in Young Life Capernaum, going to weekly meetings, participating in events and outings.   As a Junior Leader in the group Keisha is the role model for her peers, setting the example by being involved in her community.

This past year Keisha joined Hope House’s Breast Health Committee. She is a part of a team that teaches women about the importance of early detection and how to conduct self-exams.  She became involved because of her belief in early detection and the knowledge that women with disabilities can often be overlooked when it comes to breast health and screenings.   
Keisha became a breast health trainer by taking part in programs offered by Hope House funded by the Tidewater Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and in cooperation with the American Cancer Society.  Her natural talent for leadership and her passion for advocacy make her both an ambassador and a role model.  

This past October Keisha completed the Komen Race for the Cure 5k, in Virginia Beach.  She joined her friends on Team Hope House, which included more than 30 people we serve and staff.   Despite the cold and rainy weather, Keisha finished the race and cheered her teammates along the way.  

For Keisha, life in the community and a sense of belonging are not static concepts, simple labels or obligations.  Community is something you actively create, belonging is a two-way street -- and both come with the responsibility to give back more than you take.   “I enjoy my community, being a part of it and teaching people about the importance of breast health.”  

My Friend Tim
By Zach Fine
Zach Fine is a junior at Norfolk Academy where he enjoys the winter musical and playing lacrosse.

When I was still a kid I was introduced to Tim. I remember walking into Tim’s apartment and seeing a room full of Dalmatian décor and some familiar video games and systems. I always thought it would have been fun to play video games with him, but I didn’t think about it too much as a child.

This past summer, my dad suggested that I spend some time with Tim. He dropped me off at his apartment so we could hang out. Even after all those years Tim told me that he remembered who I was.  Since then, Tim and I have formed a very unique friendship.

Since our first meeting, Tim had taken up karate. I even visited him at the YMCA for one of his practices. I was a bit surprised that he was able to have the physical and mental discipline that is required for karate. And because of our friendship I have learned that there are no limits for people with disabilities.

Tim is a very unique and creative individual. He also enjoys art, and inside his workout room he has displayed his drawings of people in karate poses as well as his friends. I have helped him paint some of the pictures, and Tim has told me that he enjoys having a friend to paint with. I feel that being there with Tim helps both of us focus and allows us to do things we couldn’t do alone, such as paint a mural on one of his walls.

We probably like playing video games together most of all, and I’m glad that we both own a Wii game system. This allows Tim to borrow some of my games, and I help him play through them when I come over. One of the more challenging aspects is helping Tim play some of the more complicated games. I teach Tim the moves and techniques in a very different way than I would to my little brother. He can’t always beat all the levels, but if I am there to assist him, he can complete most of the levels.

I am glad to know Tim, and being friends with him has changed my perspective of people with disabilities. Although Tim is not like my other friends, I feel a special bond between us. I have grown as a person by being friends with Tim, and I hope to continue hanging out with him during the school year.