Honing, and selling, their crafts
Paul Bunyan Transition Plus program
They're young adults with disabilities who are trying to make it on their own. They each have skills they need to further develop, such as learning how to socialize or how to live and work on their own.
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As part of this effort, the young adults - students ages 18 to 21 in the Paul Bunyan Transition Plus program in Brainerd - will host an open house/crafts sale from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday at the Paul Bunyan Transition Plus building, the white building between the Brainerd High School and the BHS South Campus.
Heather Carlson (left) of Aitkin recently placed the candy bar reindeer crafts she made on a table at the Paul Bunyan Transition Plus building as Sara Peysar and Chad Thesing watched. The students are in the Paul Bunyan Transition Plus program, which is hosting an open house Friday where students will sell their crafts to the public. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey » Purchase reprints of this photo.
Students in the program, offered through Brainerd, Aitkin, Crosby-Ironton, Pequot Lakes, Pillager and Pine River-Backus school districts, each made crafts to sell at the open house. The crafts will be sold at cost.
The skills learned through creating and selling the crafts will lead the adults one step closer to graduating from the program.
Pam Olson-Lorenz, coordinator of the Paul Bunyan Transition Plus program, said the program, in its fifth year, teaches students the transitional skills they need for independent living and working. Olson-Lorenz said the students have completed the 12th grade, but they still have hurdles to overcome before they can live on their own.
A few of the crafts that will be on sale Friday during an open house at the Paul Bunyan Transition Plus building. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey » Purchase reprints of this photo.
The program teaches students skills related to employability, independent living, socialization, functional academics, health and fitness. Olson-Lorenz said each student has a team in place, which includes a parent, social worker and a rehabilitation services counselor, to help them get through the program.
Although there are 14 students in the program this year, Olson-Lorenz said the enrollment numbers will only grow in the years to come.
Nick Britton, 18, Pillager, recently worked on one of his wooden whistles that he will sell Friday at an open house at the Paul Bunyan Transition Plus building. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey » Purchase reprints of this photo.
Olson-Lorenz said the students spend half of each day in the community, working to develop their skills at such places as Northland Arboretum, Lutheran Social Services for the Meals on Wheels program, Lakes Area Senior Activity Center, Women's Shelter of Mid-Minnesota and the Brainerd Public Library.
Thea Yundak, 18, Pequot Lakes, has been working on memory and social interaction skills. She's building those skills through her work with Bridges of Hope at Common Goods.
Nathan Gray used a glue gun as he recently worked on a craft that will go on sale Friday during an open house at the Paul Bunyan Transition Plus building in Brainerd. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey » Purchase reprints of this photo.
Heather Carlson, 19, Aitkin, joined the program this fall because of a medical condition that caused her to temporarily lose her ability to walk, talk and eat. Carlson said she's learning how to count money, manage time, how to complete personal data sheets and application forms and how to plan, shop and make family-style meals.
"This program helped me a lot," said Carlson, who has an upbeat personality.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.