Expressions Winter 2021

A Season of Possibilities

On my desk at home, there’s a list of dishes I’m considering making for gatherings this season. There are some annual favorites—like the sweet potato casserole I’ve learned to love as an adult—and some new takes on old classics, like pecan pie truffles. Cooking for my family and friends is not simple. There are people who do not eat sugar, people who do not eat meat, and people whose bodies cannot tolerate gluten. I have learned to make biscuits without dairy, cookies without eggs, and casseroles without meat-based broth. For meals I grew up thinking there was only one way to make, I now know there are countless ways to create tasty dishes, even the most traditional and comforting ones, so that everyone can enjoy them. The challenge of creating beautiful and delicious meals that create inclusion instead of exclusion has become a great joy to me. This mindset—that limits do not have to be limiting, that by removing options we can actually open new doors—lives strong in the DePaul community. We provide care to a diverse group of beloved individuals, each one experiencing limitations. Some have restrictions on where they can live because not all family provides safety. Others have limits on the kinds of social or sensory experiences they enjoy. Still others must avoid certain activities due to medical issues. Our team walks alongside them, helping them find their no-matter-what people within the boundaries of what is healthy for their unique life. Key to our vision of hope and belonging is the belief that some of our greatest expansions happen when we feel the most constrained. To see how our families and staff turn limits into possibilities, you need only read ahead to the stories in this newsletter. To go deeper into the lives of those we serve, I invite you to listen to our podcast “Opening Doors to Hope and Belonging” (depaulcr.org/openingdoorspodcast). Your support makes the work of belonging possible and helps turn boundaries into bounty.

Wishing you hope and belonging this season,

Amanda Stanley