05/17/2021
In 2015, four young adults, supported by People Inc., embarked on a cross-country trip, alongside two staff members. The journey was the first of its kind for our agency. Jon Caldwell, Nick Feeterman, Aaron Hanson and Eric Johnson developed the idea while camping with the “Guys Group,” a former agency program that helped members discover and nurture their passions, build lasting friendships and develop life skills. Together with their then life quality coaches, Nick Cacciotti and Christopher Zienski, they fundraised for the trip, rented an RV and documented the adventure with hand-held cameras. The 6,000-mile journey taught them everything from planning and budgeting to safety and social skills. Stops included cities in Colorado, Nevada, California and Arizona, with visits to national parks and landmarks. Along the way, they met staff members and management of organizations who support people with disabilities, collaborating and sharing program ideas. The journey attracted local and national media coverage. Upon their return, the group had hours of candid footage edited into an award-winning film, Six Guys, 6,000 Miles! People Inc. continues to support person-centered objectives, such as those available through the Personal Development Mentoring Program, which uses one-on-one coaching to achieve personalized goals.
