The last weekend of September was one we will not soon forget.
Over three days and three very different events, nearly 1,000 people came together to connect, celebrate, be inspired, and most importantly, Get in the Mix.
Kicking Off the Weekend with Wrestling With Purpose
Our weekend began Thursday evening with Wrestling With Purpose: An Evening with Ben Kjar, where approximately 350 people gathered to hear from wrestler, speaker, and STANDOUT star Ben Kjar.
The audience brought together high school and college wrestling teams, coaches, families, parents, community members, and supporters for an evening that went far beyond wrestling.
Ben challenged us to disobey average in order to stand out. He shared his story, the obstacles he has faced, and the importance of setting meaningful goals and having the courage to "call your shot."
It was an inspiring way to begin a weekend centered around showing up, getting involved, and recognizing what is possible when people are given the opportunity to thrive.
Dancing the Night Away
On Friday, it was time to trade the wrestling mats for the dance floor.
Around 300 friends, families, and community members joined us for our Get in the Mix Dance, a 90s-themed celebration filled with music, dancing, laughter, and plenty of throwback fashion.
There were no speeches or formalities. The evening was simply about having fun, spending time together, and creating a space where everyone could be part of the celebration.
Seeing a packed dance floor and hundreds of people enjoying the night together was a wonderful reminder of what "getting in the mix" is all about: belonging, participation, connection, and community.
Celebrating Our Community
The weekend concluded Saturday evening with our Get in the Mix: Annual Dinner and Awards Celebration.
Community members, families, professionals, local leaders, elected officials, advocates, and supporters joined us for an evening of recognition and celebration. We were also grateful to have Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade stop by at the beginning of the evening and help us kick off the celebration.
At the heart of the evening were our award recipients. The Annual Awards give us an opportunity to recognize people and organizations making a meaningful difference in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout the Pikes Peak Region.
Ben Kjar joined us once again, this time as our keynote speaker. His message reminded us that we were born to stand out and challenged us to think about how we approach our lives, our goals, and one another. Above all, he reminded us of the power of attacking life with kindness.
Nearly 1,000 People Got in the Mix
By the end of the weekend, nearly 1,000 people had participated in our three Get in the Mix events.
That number means so much to us because behind it are hundreds of individual moments: conversations, introductions, celebrations, dances, handshakes, hugs, new connections, and memories.
A weekend of this size would not have been possible without an incredible amount of work behind the scenes. We want to extend our deepest thanks to The Arc Pikes Peak Region staff, volunteers, contractors, sponsors, partners, and everyone else who helped bring these events to life.
We also owe a very special thank you to Ben Kjar and his family.
Ben did much more than give two speeches. He brought his family with him, attended all three events, spent time getting to know our community, and stayed until the very last person who wanted to meet him had the opportunity to do so.
That generosity meant a great deal to us.
Ben's story is about standing out, overcoming obstacles, and pursuing ambitious goals, but throughout the weekend, he also showed us what it means to go above and beyond for other people. We are incredibly grateful that he and his family chose to spend this special weekend with our community.
Finally, thank you to everyone who got in the mix with us.
Whether you joined us on the wrestling mats, hit the dance floor, celebrated our award recipients, volunteered your time, supported an event, or helped make someone feel welcome, you were part of what made this weekend so special.
The Get in the Mix weekend may be over, but the work of building a community where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are included, valued, recognized, and empowered continues every day.
Thank you for being part of it.
We can't wait to Get in the Mix with you again next year!
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