Brave Warriors NCW expanding services in our region
The nonprofit Brave Warriors NCW, previously known as The Brave Warrior Project, has been expanding the services it provides to the families of individuals with developmental disabilities, autism and other chronic health conditions.
Brave Warriors NCW was launched eight years ago by executive director Erica Moshe and her team to provide quality programs that expand and enhance the ability of these individuals to be a part of our communities.
The program started out targeting kindergarten through age 18, but the demand has been so strong that they’ve expanded their offerings for adults.
This work has been a labor of love for Moshe and her husband Phil. Their son Andrew needs a lot of support because of his autism diagnosis and the family early on faced the possibility of having to move their family to a community with more resources.
Instead, they chose to put their energy into expanding what is available locally. The fledgling nonprofit has been growing by leaps and bounds in the last few years.
A year ago, Brave Warriors NCW acquired a small office building between the Jeffers Danielson law firm and Cashmere Valley Bank on Easy Street in Olds Station.
Recently, two representatives from the North Central Washington Arts Alliance, Jamie Howell and Scott Bailey, joined me for a tour of the Brave Warriors facility. Spaghetti was being prepared by the students in the Brave Warriors teaching kitchen. Teaching kids these life skills helps them become more independent and self-sufficient while at the same time fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie.
In front of the building was a surplus 14-passenger van that was recently donated by Link Transit that will be used to transport Brave Warriors to various programs and events in the valley.
It was quite a scene when board members and staff from Link Transit dropped off the bus, with Brave Warriors showing their enthusiasm.
As Moshe points out, so many individuals who have chronic conditions end up spending a lot of their adult lives sitting at home because services are so limited. The nonprofit and board are committed to expanding opportunities and making sure that people with challenging diagnoses can partake of more things that are available.
The original name of the nonprofit — The Brave Warrior Project — created some confusion in the community. It sounded too much like the Wounded Warrior Project which serves disabled veterans.
Moshe, her staff and the folks at P2X Studio locally worked to change the name to Brave Warriors NCW as well as rename various programs.
Recently, the Brave Warriors NCW had a ribbon cutting event for the new music and arts facility, which is located in what used to be a garage on site. The Whispering Woods art and music studio, funded by local donors, is being used several times a week by the recreational therapist on staff. Art and music create opportunities for the Brave Warriors to express themselves and learn new skills. The organization also has a program called Little Explorers for the pre-Kindergarten students as well as a class called Courageous Creators, who make arts and crafts to be sold in the community.
The organization has a travel trailer that they expect to use to sell shaved ice as well as coffee when the permits from the city are acquired. “We’ve already held a barista class,” said Moshe, to teach youngsters how to make fancy coffee. She foresees the day when students can work as baristas for local coffee companies.
Moshe is also excited about the new Wenatchee Valley YMCA building that is expected to open next fall. YMCA CEO Dorry Foster has placed a strong emphasis on accessibility in the new building, with a zero-entry pool, family changing rooms with special equipment to allow families to change and shower their kids with mobility challenges.
Moshe showed me the schematics for a 4,000-square-foot standalone building that they hope to get funded that will allow Brave Warriors NCW to expand services, provide an indoor recreation area and create spaces for local therapists to work with kids.
What the leaders and staff at Brave Warriors NCW have done is create an invaluable community asset that will pay dividends for our community for years to come.
It seems to me that efforts like this that open up accessibility to folks who otherwise would be shunted aside are essential for our communities. Our communities should encourage all to thrive.
Dedicating ourselves to expanding opportunities for those who often get left out or left behind seems like the right thing to do.
