MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Aspiro, the Green Bay-based non-profit, is expanding into Marinette County. It works with individuals with disabilities and their families.
From walks around the track to playing games of “The Price is Right,” these are just some of the activities Aspiro clients participate in at the organizations new Marinette hub.
Last month, Aspiro started renting space at the Marinette Community REC Center as part of its expansion into the Northwoods.
“Aspiro started to witness families starting to come down to Green Bay to access our services, which told us there was a really unmet need in the area,” said Nicole Hoffmann, Aspiro’s vice president of development.
Three days a week, Aspiro staffs its Marinette classroom, offering the organization’s Building Full Lives program.
Something it’s been offering in Green Bay for years.
“I like going out in the community and doing some things rather especially doing BFL I guess BFL you can like go out in the community not just staying in the building and And volunteering and stuff and I like doing that,” said Green Bay client Lexie Maisonneuve.
BFL focuses on daily living skills, career exploration, volunteerism and community living.
According to Hoffmann, “We go out in the community and spend our day in the community doing one of those three things. It may be a business tour as part of career exploration. Daily living skills we might look at how to use a laundromat or go shop a grocery list. And then the third component is we’re looking at, we’re working with different nonprofits in the area to volunteer either at the food pantry or Goodwill or some other place.
Eli Olive is one of the new Marinette clients.
“I wanted to do a job training skills, though. Like I want to get my first job at Starbucks and then work railroads by being a train conductor,” he said.
And with the expansion into Marinette, Aspiro will work with Olive to achieve those goals. All things attainable, according to individuals who have been part of Aspiro programs for years.
“I think it’s just like a really good program and it teaches us about, like, life skills and, like, we get to do different lessons and, yeah, go different places,” added Grace Weyenberg.
A win for the Aspiro clients and the communities they touch.
