On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor Indigenous peoples’ strength, courage, and resilience. We celebrate the vast contributions of Indigenous communities to the world. We recommit to respecting Tribal sovereignty and self-determination and working to usher in a new era of our Nation-to-Nation relationships.
The history of America’s Indigenous peoples is marked by perseverance, survival, and a deep commitment to and pride in their heritage, right to self-governance, and ways of life. Since time immemorial, Indigenous peoples have built and sustained powerful Tribal Nations, cultivated rich cultures, and established vibrant communities. And their discoveries and knowledge still benefit us today. But because of our Nation’s failed policies of the past, generations of Native peoples have faced cruelty, violence, and intimidation. They were forced to leave their homelands, prohibited from speaking their own languages and practicing their sacred traditions, and forced into assimilation. Indigenous lives were lost, livelihoods were ripped away, and communities were fundamentally altered. Despite the trauma and turmoil, Indigenous peoples have persisted and survived. Their stories are testaments to the bravery and resolve of generations to preserve their heritage, cultures, and identities for those to come after them.
Today, Indigenous peoples lead in every way, share their histories, and strengthen their communities. They are also stewarding lands and waters, growing our shared prosperity, and celebrating the good of our Nation while pushing us to tell the full truth of our history. Indigenous peoples have long served in the United States military, fighting for democracy. And Indigenous communities continue to be an integral part of the fabric of the United States, contributing so much to our shared prosperity.
President Joe Biden
Vanna Health and COMHAR will be hosting a Community Fall Fest for members of Vanna Health and COMHAR on November 7, 2024. Come socialize, paricipate in games and craft activities, enjoy open mike time, and share your goals.
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National Disability Employment Month (NDEAM) 2024
Observed each October, during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, or “NDEAM,” we celebrate the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. NDEAM’s purpose is to confirm our commitment to ensuring disabled workers have access to good jobs, every month of every year. That’s the spirit behind this year’s official theme: “Access to Good Jobs for All.”
The “Situations and Solutions Finder” offers examples of workplace accommodations shared by users of the Job Accommodation Network, a service of the department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. The database draws its examples from organizations large and small, across industries, and from the private and public sectors. The tool allows users to filter and save results by disability, limitation and/or occupation.
“Accommodations are at the heart of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and they’re about maximizing productivity for workers with disabilities, plain and simple,” said Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy Taryn M. Williams. “By allowing people to learn what has worked for others in similar, even if not exactly the same, situations, this new resource empowers employers, as well as employees or job applicants themselves, to ensure disabled workers have access to what they need to do their best on the job.”
For more information about COMHAR’s employment opportunities for the neurodiverse population visit our website.
On Friday, September 27th, COMHAR hosted a Mural Arts dedication in partnership with the Porch Light program. The mural artist, Marisol de la Garza worked with COMHAR program members to create the mural entitled “The Path Through Connection”. Jane Golden, Executive Director of the Mural Arts Program, mural artist Marisol de la Garza, Trapeta B. Mayson, COMHAR’s Interim CEO, and Malik Gray from DBHIDS all spoke about the importance of Art in the Recovery process. Their words were brought to life when members who participated in the creation of the mural shared how art has become a valued element of their personal recovery journeys.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony followed the presentations. The mural is located on the Lehigh Ave. wall of COMHAR’s administration building at 100 W. Lehigh Ave.