Emory Valley Center

12/20/2025

📬 December Community Newsletter is Here! ❄️

Take a moment to check out Emory Valley Center’s December Community Newsletter! Inside, you’ll find exciting updates, upcoming events, and heartwarming highlights from across our programs and community.

We’re so grateful for the continued support of our families, partners, and friends—and we love sharing these moments with you. 💚

👉 Don’t miss out—give it a read and see what’s been happening at Emory Valley Center this December!

https://www.emoryvalleycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/December-25-Community-Newsletter-Final.pdf

12/19/2025

Our Holiday Christmas Social was a wonderful success! 🎄✨

We had an amazing time celebrating together with festive fun, including an ugly sweater contest, delicious cookies, music, and games — plus a very special visit from Santa and his elves 🎅🤶. The joy, laughter, and holiday spirit truly made the day unforgettable for everyone involved.

From all of us at Emory Valley Center, we wish you and your loved ones a safe, happy, and joyful holiday season! 💚🎄

12/19/2025

We are incredibly grateful to Barry Stephenson and Materials & Chemistry Laboratory, Inc. for providing the funds that made the playground renovation at our Early Learning Center possible! 🌟

Here at Emory Valley Center, we are truly thankful for the opportunity to work alongside such generous and community-minded partners. Their continued support has helped create a safe, engaging, and joyful outdoor space where our children can learn, play, and grow each day.

We are honored by their ongoing generosity and commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of the children and families we serve. Thank you for investing in our mission and in our future! 💚

12/17/2025

Our Early Intervention team gathered for a joyful Angel Tree wrapping party, and the room was filled with holiday cheer, teamwork, and giving hearts!

From wrapping gifts to sharing laughs, this special time reminded us what the season is truly about—coming together to support children and families in our community. We’re so proud of our team for their generosity and dedication, not only in the work they do every day, but also in spreading kindness beyond our walls.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this Angel Tree celebration so meaningful. Moments like these truly reflect the heart of our Early Intervention team!

12/16/2025

Community is at the heart of the human experience. For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), a supportive and inclusive community is not only essential for well-being—it’s truly transformative. When individuals with IDD are embraced as valued members, everyone benefits, and our communities grow stronger together.

👉 To hear more about the power of inclusion and advocacy, check out the video from our Advocacy Specialist, Mel Stanley. Her message highlights why community matters and how we can all play a part in creating belonging for everyone.

12/15/2025

We’re Hiring at Emory Valley Center!
Join a team where your work truly matters. At Emory Valley Center, you can make a meaningful impact every day by supporting individuals in reaching their fullest potential. We’re searching for compassionate, dedicated professionals to join our mission-driven team — and we’re offering a $1,000 sign-on bonus for all Direct Support Professional (DSP) positions!
If you're ready to begin a rewarding career with purpose, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply today:
https://apply.workable.com/emoryvalleycenter/
For more information, contact our HR Department:
Kim Jeffers-Whitaker
kim.jeffers-whitaker@evcmail.org

12/12/2025

🌿 Celebrating Our Gardenscape! 🌿

There’s something truly special about our Gardenscape — it’s more than just plants, swings, and activity spaces. It’s a place where our staff and the people we support can relax, connect, grow, and enjoy time in nature together. From meaningful conversations to quiet moments of reflection, this space continues to make a powerful impact on our daily lives. 💚

We are incredibly grateful to UCOR and the United Way of Anderson County for making this beautiful, inspiring space possible. Your support helps us create opportunities for connection and community every single day.

Thank you for helping our Gardenscape thrive! 🌱✨

12/11/2025

🪵✨ Our PSR Group Got Crafty This Week! ✨🪵

Our PSR group had an amazing time participating in a hands-on woodworking class, and we couldn’t be more proud of the creativity and teamwork they showed! From sanding to personalizing their pieces, everyone had a blast learning new skills and trying something fun and different.

A huge THANK YOU to the incredible partners who made this experience possible:

👏 Grow Oak Ridge – for helping bring this opportunity to life.
👏 John Polly – for sharing your time, patience, and woodworking expertise.
👏 Appalachian Arts Craft Center in Clinton – for your support and partnership in helping make opportunities like this possible.

We’re grateful for community partners who continue to uplift and create meaningful experiences for the people we serve.

12/10/2025

🌟 Community Engagement Department Hits New Heights! 🌟

The Community Engagement Department spent the day in beautiful Knoxville on the 24th floor of the Truist Building for our Strategic Planning Meeting—and what an inspiring day it was! 🏙️✨

We were honored to learn from two amazing guest speakers:
🎤 Courtney Piper, President of Piper Communications
🎤 Naomi Asher, Founder, Director & CEO of The Maven Consulting

Their insight, passion, and expertise helped spark new ideas and meaningful conversations as we plan for an exciting year ahead. 💡📈

A huge thank-you to Courtney Piper and Naomi Asher for sharing their time and expertise with our team! 🙌

And an extra special thank-you to Truist for hosting us in such a beautiful and inspiring space!

12/09/2025

🌟 EVC Team Takes on the TASH Conference! 🌟

A group from Emory Valley Center had the opportunity to attend the TASH Conference in Denver, Colorado last week!

Scott Britton, EVC MAPs Participant, and Dianna Wooldridge, Independence and Innovation Specialist, were selected to present on how the MAPs program has supported Scott in gaining a new level of independence over the past couple of years.

We’re so proud of their hard work and the impact they’re making! It was a wonderful week of learning, connecting, and even enjoying a little fun along the way. 🙂

12/08/2025

🌟Our Early Intervention Team is AMAZING! 🌟

At Emory Valley Center, our Early Intervention team feels incredibly grateful to walk alongside so many wonderful families — and we don’t take a single moment for granted!

Every day, our dedicated team shows compassion, creativity, and heart as they help little ones learn, grow, and shine. From celebrating tiny milestones to cheering on big breakthroughs, they bring joy, support, and smiles to every family they meet.

We’re honored to be part of each child’s journey — sharing laughter, building confidence, and making sure families feel supported every step of the way.

Here’s to our incredible team and the amazing families who make this work so meaningful. You inspire us every single day!

12/05/2025

The Senate Special Committee on Aging is gathering stories on the importance of community living—and they want to hear from you!

Your experiences help show Congress why Medicaid HCBS programs are vital for supporting independence, dignity, and full community participation for people with disabilities and older adults.

HCBS makes it possible for individuals to live at home, attend school, work, and stay connected to their communities. Your voice matters—share your story!

Your voice matters! Tell Congress why community living is a right, not optional. Share how programs like Medicaid HCBS impact your life before the Senate Aging Committee hearing. Submit your story today! []