Voices of Mainstay
In this Mainstay Unlocked, Joe and Dave share their stories and what VOM means for them.
My Journey with Mainstay
By Joseph
I lived at one location until 2021, and since then I have been living at a Mainstay apartment. My hobbies are listening to music, coloring, going out to eat and shopping. My jobs included working at a nursery taking care of plants and picking up litter at Achieva. I also have a couple side jobs cutting grass, shoveling snow, and weed whacking.
I like living at Mainstay, I like being independent. Living with my roommate independently has given me many choices and the freedom to make decisions that are important to me. At home, I learned to clean, cook, bake and do my own laundry.
I joined “Voices of Mainstay” this year and I really enjoy learning about our rights and other discussions. I like being involved in the outings we go on and talking to my peers. My favorite outing was a trip to the Capital, and I am looking forward to going next year.
I feel it is very important to advocate for yourself, and I feel that I could help my fellow peers at “Voices of Mainstay” by being a good role model by speaking up for myself.
“Voices of Mainstay” has helped me to be more confident to speak in front of a group and to be open minded to new ideas and ways that I can advocate. I learned who I can call when needed. I hope to help others.
Thank you, Joe.
A Bit About Me
By Dave
My name is Dave and I would like to share a bit about myself and my involvement with “Voices of Mainstay.” I was born and raised in Crafton, Pa. I lived with my father until 2008. I came to live at Mainstay, when my father’s health started to decline and he moved in with my brother because he could no longer care for himself.
In the past eighteen years, I have lived at a Mainstay apartment. I like it there a lot and I get along with my roommate. I learned my independence by cooking, cleaning, laundry and money management. I have had many jobs. I was employed by Achieva where I swept debris and leaves off the sidewalk.
Through Achieva, I was able to get another position three days a week for several years in Bridgeville building pallets, waxing floors, and I worked twenty-six years at Cannevin High School. I enjoy doing lots of activities and I like to keep busy by working a side job with my roommate shoveling snow, weed whacking and leaf blowing. We started out with four customers and today we have seven customers. As a dog lover, I also like to volunteer and walk my neighbor’s dogs.
If I could change one thing it would be to fix some minor repairs around the house, but other than that I love living independently here at Mainstay. My plans for the future, would be to go back to school to learn academics, reading comprehension, public relations and communications skills. I would like to improve my I.Q. I feel I have a lot of potential. I got interested in learning when I would read my father’s psychology and medical books and my brother, who is in law enforcement, had a lot of law books that I have read. I have read the Constitution and Amendments. To describe myself, I would say that, I love the outdoors, fishing, hunting, hiking and camping, they were the hobbies I enjoyed growing up. I love the tranquility and peacefulness being out in the woods.
I apply technology to my daily life by listening to Alexa radio, cell phone, and using my iPad for learning techniques. When I heard about “Voices of Mainstay” I was very enthusiastic and felt eager to join. “Voices of Mainstay” has improved my life, it has brought me happiness and the potential to help others.
I enjoy the meetings, I want to help people be able to advocate for themselves and I want to be a good role model. At “Voices of Mainstay” we discuss important and interesting topics, and I enjoy contributing and participating in our discussions.
I feel it is very helpful so that we could apply our “rights” into our daily lives. I am also on the “Voices of Mainstay” Board of Directors. I was nominated by my peers as the “Communications officer” My job is to keep the people here at Mainstay informed and reminding them of the time, location and events coming up. My goal is to work harder to get more people to be involved and stay in touch with advocates. I feel it is very important to advocate for yourself and even though I live an independent life, I feel that I can be even more independent. By using my voice, I am heard. I love living at Mainstay because I love all the opportunities and the independence they have given me.