|
Marlee's Story
In June of 1971 I was born with Spina Bifida Myleomengocele. I attended
school in the St. Louis Park School District in Minnesota. Me and my
family are long-time members of Adath Jeshurun, a conservative
synagogue in Minnetonka, Minnesota.
I graduated UMD with a Women’s Studies major and a double
minor in Sociology and Philosophy in 1994. When I returned home I
assumed the role of Vice President of my father’s company,
Minneapolis Granite & Marble Co. The company sells and installs
cemetery memorials and granite counter tops in the twin cities metro
area. I did the accounts receivable, accounts payable, production
cards, answered the telephone and much more. My parents started
wintering in Florida in 1997.
I would run the entire operation while my parents were gone for the
winter with my father checking in every day. I worked for my father
full time until May of 2003. I decided I needed a new direction in my
life, I was becoming too stressed out, working for my father became a
chore and not a job I was proud of. In 2003 I joined Bet Shalom Reform
Congregation in Minnetonka, Minnesota. I was the Administrative
Assistant to the Executive Director of the synagogue. I had a variety
of responsibilities within the synagogue but mostly I answer the busy
telephone, keep the synagogue calendar and membership . I did
whatever projects my boss asked me do, I helped out wherever I can,
whether it was with the
Rabbi's office or the Religious School. After 6 years of working at Bet Shalom, I was let go the end of June of 2009.
In November of 2004, I became an ostomate for the 2nd time.
As an infant I had a urinary diversion but had it reversed before
I went off to college in the summer of 1989. This time I had
colostomy surgery. I was at my wits end after a year trying all
sorts of medication and treatments to stop incontinent issues due to my
Spina Bifida. It was a long surgical recovery because I wasn't taught
proper ways to take care of the ostomy and I kept having supply
issues. A family friend that had gone through the surgery years
before, and she put me in contact with the Minneapolis chapter of the
Ostomy Association and 2 great WOCN nurses through University of
MN/Fairview Southdale Hospital. I am currently President Elect of
the chapter. I am probably one of the youngest people in the
group but I am sure I will make an impact.
On July 20, 2009 I was hired as the Office Manager of a charter school called Nova Classical Academy in St. Paul,
MN. Nova
Classical Academy has a K-12 charter. They opened in St. Paul in the
fall of 2003 with grades K-6 and we have added grades yearly toward our
goal of providing a complete K-12 education, beginning with their first
ninth grade class in the autumn of 2009. They believe strongly that an
effective K-12 education must be systematic and comprehensive and must
have continuity from year to year. The resounding success of classical
charter schools in other states shows that many parents agree with
them. They provide many volunteer opportunities for parents to
contribute to the success of the school. Parents of Nova students are
expected to participate actively and support the school in its
mission. The lower school is at another location
in St. Paul. I will work closely with the staff and faculty of this
location while maintaining the hub of the upper school. The upper
school houses grades 6-9, while the lower school houses K-5. I
am very excited to work with this organization.
Nova
means new, and it offer parents “a classical education for a new
century.” At Nova Classical Academy staff, parents, and students share
a unity of purpose and consider themselves members of a community of
learners. They believe, with the late Mortimer Adler, that a complete
education is the work of a lifetime and that the K-12 years are only
the beginning of a lifelong educational journey. They also believe
that the purpose, goals, content and method of classical education will
allow them to achieve their goal of producing intelligent, literate,
curious young adults who are able to read, write, calculate, think,
understand, solve problems and follow through on a wide range of
interests; who are self-disciplined, compassionate and moral; and who
have the skills and passion for thinking and learning that will allow
them to teach themselves for the rest of their lives.
After years of struggling to find my place and voice in the Jewish
community, I have finally found it. I am a vocal part of Adath
Jeshurun’s Inclusion Committee and am currently serving as
committee chair. I am the happiest and the most peaceful I have ever
been. As a Jewish female with a disability, I finally feel the joy,
powerful spirit and strengthened inner-self I had while attending UMD
classes.
In 1997 I moved out of my parent’s house into my own condo
and started to live an independent life. This was the first sign of
empowerment as an adult for me. Finding a job on my own without my
parents help was another step. There were others as I was growing up.
For example, getting a driver's license at the age of 16 was a powerful
experience, graduating from high school and Talmud Torah in 1989 was an
exciting time and very emotional for me.
I think having a Bat Mitzvah in 1984, having a sweet 16 party and being
confirmed in 1987 and getting my driver’s license were the
highlights of my childhood. I accomplished things many thought I
wouldn’t be able to do because of my disability. I felt like
my own advocate at times growing up.
While at UMD I helped form a student run group for people with
disabilities called Access for All. I felt I needed to connect with
others that had a variety of disabilities. That is why I have created
Empowering Jews with Disabilities. I needed to fill a void. Jews with
disabilities seem to be hidden throughout the Twin Cities. It isn't
easy to meet people, let alone people with disabilities.
This site is a way to get information, connect, talk openly about
anything and everything, and be respectful towards different opinions
and ways of life. To empower ourselves as Jewish people with
disabilities is one of the most rewarding and greatest self esteem
builders I can think of.
There will be open forums posed and message boards created for all
types of issues, questions, thoughts, comments. A chat room will be
open so someone can go in and meet, talk, and make history. This
website is new and ground-breaking. I am very excited to see where this
evolves and I can't wait to meet new people and re-connect with people
from my past.
Marlee
kiven002@yahoo.com |
