The Arc of Colorado and all thirteen Colorado local chapters of The Arc are celebrating National Developmental Disability Awareness Month March 2017 with the sixth annual community-wide FREE awareness event Achieve With Us Colorado Film Festival, showcasing films related to the field of developmental disabilities.
One of the featured films is “Learning to Drive,” a marvelous depiction from director Roderick Stevens about the journey of a developmentally disabled young man learning to take the wheel and how the experience affects him and his brother. Stevens and star Connor Long were both on hand for a reception at the Sie Film Center on Friday night, where guests got to enjoy the film and ask questions of both afterwards.
The Arc of Colorado, with local chapters, (not to be confused with Arc Thrift Stores) provides crucial educational information for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. They connect clients to community resources, help them to understand and access government services, and stand with them when they need an advocate. For more information, log on to www.thearcofco.org.
Bette Brennan and Ian Brennan
Arc of Colorado Director of Special Projects Heidi Haines with Isabella Brennan
Brian and Sherrill Long
Brian and Sherrill Long with their son Connor Long, star of “Learning to Drive”
Melissa Stevens and her brother Roderick Stevens, director of “Learning to Drive”
Vicki Wray, left, Lorraine May, Tonya Kelly, Ben Rhodes and Randy Patrick–all board members
Arc of Colorado Executive Director Marijo Rymer, left, Brian Long and Anca Call
Marijo Rymer, left, Connor Long and Anca Call
Scrumptious food buffet provided by Pam Read, Goddess Catering
Eleanor and Meg Wright
Kim Tenure of Arc of Arapahoe & Douglas County, left, Kaley Day of Advocacy Denver, Heidi Haines and Jill Pidcock of Arc of Colorado
Dianne Holscher, left, and Heather McNamara
Heidi Haines and Jim Brennan
Bob and Nadine Mantooth
Deon Gillespie
Pam Read, left, Randy Patrick and Jody Neely
Ava Espinosa, left, her mom Heidi Haines, Anca Call and Marijo Rymer
Kian Phair and Rachelle Rice
Tony Daversa, left, and Isaac Haines
Sherri Trudeau and Andrew Trudeau
Jim and Michele Bartlett
Kids had a great time at the reception
Maya Monreal, left, with Stephanie Johnson
Robbie Roppolo, left, Leah Frumpkin, Kim Tenure and Joe Monreal
Marijo Rymer, left, with Ann Rossart and Jeff Fernengel
Trey Gronenthal, left, Mitchell Gronenthal and board member Danielle Angotti
Everyone enjoyed the great food provided by Goddess Catering
Board member Kelly Stahlman chats with Jim Brennan
Robbie Roppolo, left, Kian Phair and Andrew Trudeau
Bev, Mark and Tim Yoakum
Valerie Smith and Javier Marfil with kids Maya and Leo
Guests had a good time chatting and getting ready for the film
Hungry customers
Ben Rhodes and Marijo Rymer
Skip and Shawna Dorsey
Board member Mitch Routon chats with Heidi Haines
Scott and Kathryn Gould
Tara Admire, left, Aaron Gonzales, Theresa Gonzales and Dennis Tetley
Wilfred Romero, left, Kathy Stults and Mitch Routon
Tonya Kelly and Christiano Sosa
Greg Avery of the Denver Business Journal, left, with Sherrill Long, Susan Lubbers and Mac Weaver
Maureen Welch, left, and Dalois Meyer
The Activity Options crew
Ava Espinosa and her grandfather Bruce Gottschalk
Mitchell Gronenthal, left, Jonathan Brink and Devon Garcia
Heidi Haines, director of special projects; Marijo Rymer, Executive Director
Speaker:
Roderick Stevens and Connor Long
Sponsors:
JFK Partners, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; Denver Film Society; Cdolorado Communities United for People with Developmental Disabilities; Colorado Chapters of The Arc; Arc Thrift Stores
Attire:
Casual
Ticket Prices:
Free
Event Coordinator:
Anca Elena Call
Board of Directors:
Randy Patrick, president; Lorraine May, immediate past president; Tonya Kelly, vice president; Ben Rhodes, secretary; Jill Pidcock, treasurer; board members: Danielle Angotti, Linda Golden, Karen Huber, Joe Kusar, Keith Larsen, Rob Moore, Oren