We Are Up

04/09/2026

Thank you Emma Underwood! You took the time to make a difference. It is Autism Awareness Month, kindness really matters.

04/05/2026

Get your shoes on and come down to Arts Alive to catch our good friend Wyatt Wheetley rocking on F Street next to the Waterfront Cafe!

04/05/2026

04/04/2026

Like most of rural America, Humboldt is rooted in agriculture. Our trees and creeks, deer grazing in the fields and neighbors lending a hand when needed bring a sense of calm and connectedness that We Are Up cherishes. https://www.weareup.org/farm

04/02/2026

SPECIAL OLYMPICS - More than sports - Lasting Friendships and Community
8 vans, 6 cars, 20 coaches, and 40 athletes traveled to Anderson, CA for a basketball tournament in March, returning home with vans full of medals—and even more lasting memories from the dinner and dance. This incredible group is truly worthy of our support and celebration!

Did you know? There are 200 families in McKinleyville alone who are Regional Center Clients? The percentage of people with an I/DD in Humboldt County, 21%, is significantly higher than the national average of 15%. Yet access to services is limited in our rural community, further increasing the impact on caregivers, family and friends, on whom many persons with disabilities rely. We Are Up aims to address this impact by providing opportunity, inclusion, and better health and well-being outcomes for residents and the community as a whole.

03/29/2026

Rural communities are struggling. According to the California Department of Education, Humboldt County leads the State of California in the percentage of students enrolled in special education programs, with 17% of its K-12 students diagnosed as having one or more disabilities. This percentage jumps to 22% when preschoolers are included. When these students age out of the school system we want We Are Up to be an option for them and their families. https://www.weareup.org/

03/28/2026

It really does take a village to create something wonderful.
We Are Up is incredibly grateful for the people in our community who keep showing up with their time, talent, and generosity.
A special thank you to Stacey Douglas Jones for creating our logo and the beautiful booklet “Building a Community.” Stacey never does anything halfway, and it shows! Let us know if you’d like a copy.
We’re also so thankful to David Jones and Caprice Allen of the Hoo Hoo Club for their generous $2,000 donation to We Are Up—plus a wonderful lunch at the Ingomar Club.
And thank you to Morgan Maxon for sharing her podcast, Mildly Crushing It—an incredible resource for families navigating the sometimes rocky waters of raising a neurodivergent child. https://www.weareup.org/

03/24/2026

Run Dat Productions is a local DJ studio that is a big part of our community. Check out their DJ Show!

03/20/2026

Can you imagine wondering every day what will happen to your child who will need lifelong support after you are not longer there to provide that support? One in 31 children are born with autism,
In these days, when families move from their local communities we face more challenges providing support for our parents as they age and our children with autism and other intellectual disabilities. Both populations are growing rapidly and Humboldt County is more impacted than many. We need new solutions. https://www.weareup.org

03/17/2026

We know that single program solutions have not solved complicated issues such as housing instability, food insecurity, and health inequities. We Are Up is a replicable model, an ecosystem of care for people with IDD, seniors, and others in our community. Isolation creates so many problems for so many of our vulnerable neighbors, especially in rural areas. https://www.weareup.org/housing

02/15/2026

Who doesn’t love a little dance after a lovely Valentines Day dinner?

01/03/2026

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered, contributed or shared the We Are Up mission. We have so much opportunity to make a difference for our community, thanks to YOU!!! https://www.weareup.org/about-us/did-you-know