Capstone

CQL Promotes Social Capital from Within

At CQL, we are committed to enhancing the quality of lives for people with disabilities. We are experts at educating organizations on ways they can integrate the people they support into community life and increase their social capital. In 2004 we realized it was time for us to step back and evaluate our own social capital. How can we connect to others in the community? What personal experience can we offer? We recognize that each and every staff member has something to contribute and could be a valuable resource for social capital ideas. So beginning in 2004, CQL made the commitment to helping our employees increase their own social capital by offering paid days off to participate in volunteer activities. Some recent staff activities have included:

CQL's main office in Towson, Maryland, has been sending a crew to Harford County, Maryland with hammers in hand to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Melanie Fender, Shelly McLaughlin, Mary Middendorf, Cheryl Purisch and Pam Scheuermann have been pounding nails, framing some walls and hanging drywall in a three bedroom house-to-be. As a group, we plan to volunteer with Habitat the third Wednesday of every month.

In December, Kevin Edwards and his band, along with 70 other Texas musicians, participated in a 24 Hours of Blues to raise funds for Our Children's Center at Irving and the Family Outreach Center. Local businesses sponsored hours during the benefit, and together they raised over $4,000 for local Irving children's charities.