Nikita Currie shares at Haywood County's 2006 United Way Kickoff how the Ben Rich Center and United Way have changed his life.

The Ben Rich Center:

Making Dreams Come True

By Lucretia Goddard

Many people today see their job as a chore, but for Nikita Currie of Brownsville it’s a dream come true.

Born with cerebral palsy and diagnosed mentally disabled, Currie had doubts of ever living a normal life. Ten years ago, however, he decided to go to the Ben Rich Center in Haywood County for help.

There they assisted him in developing his working skills and gave him the opportunity to work on several contract jobs at the center. Eventually they were able to help him find his first job at E.W. James Supermarket, making Currie’s dream of working a reality.

He currently works three days a week at the supermarket through the supported employment program offered by the Ben Rich Center. Each day a job coach from the center accompanies Currie to supervise his work and assist him when he has trouble doing things on his own.

“I thank God for giving me a job,” Currie said. “I love working. It’s a pleasure just getting out of the house and doing something.”

In addition to helping him find a job, Stephanie Thorton, satellite supervisor of the Ben Rich Center, said they have worked with Currie to change his overall perspective on life.

“We’ve worked with him to help him feel like he’s an asset to the community and that he can do things we can, like have a job and get a pay check,” Thorton said. “We’ve showed Nikita that he may have a disability, but he can still have a normal life.”

According to Thorton, the Ben Rich Center works with about 36 other developmentally disabled people who like Nikita also dream of living a normal life. The center offers these clients the opportunity to develop both working and living skills. Those who are eager to have a job are taught basic working skills and are given the opportunity to work on contract jobs at the center. Others are taught specific working skills and are placed in jobs within the community under the supervision of Ben Rich staff. For those who want to become more self-sufficient at home, the center teaches clients everyday living skills, such as how to do laundry and wash dishes.

“Our ultimate goal is to provide productive days in the lives of adults with developmental disabilities,” explained Thorton. “We focus on trying to teach them to be independent.”

Seeing the impact the center has made on the lives of those it serves, Haywood County’s United Way has given $9,000 this year to help the center continue its work.

To find out how to help with Haywood County’s United Way effort, call Jennifer Wood at (731) 422-1816 or email her at jlwood@unitedway.tn.org. More information is available at United Way of West Tennessee’s website, www.unitedway.tn.org. Donations may be mailed to United Way, P. O. Box 2086, Jackson, TN 38302-2086. Please note on your check that it is for Haywood County.