NextWork Activities

A very late look back at some NextWork activities since we opened in July 2020

NextWork has done some awesome activities over the past 2 1/2 years! I thought I would take a look back at the fun times as we begin a new chapter in our program. Being fully staffed now, we have the capacity to do more activities with more clients. It’s a great time to join the party! Submit a contact form if you’re interested!

2020 was an odd year for all of us. At least we can all look back together with confusion! That year, we filled our apartments and ran a pilot program. We gathered data and with the help of our clients, began to better define the program and figure out how things would actually run, especially with new social restrictions and concerns. Here are some pictures from 2020!

In March of 2021, we started having some nice weather and took advantage of it at Harmony Park!

We learned about making junk journals–a fun hobby that stuck with some of us to this day! We always have good food! and for Mother’s Day, we painted pottery at Color Me Mine!

In May of 2021, the community spaces opened in the Hub, and we were able to use the community kitchen for our classes. These are the students and our Life Coach, Saje, in June of 2021.

Students and Saje in a cooking lab, finally in the Community Kitchen at the Hub!

Later in June, we had our first Art From the Heart event! This is a fundraiser specifically for the NextWork program. Artists donate work to be sold in an auction, and the proceeds go directly to the program. Some help fund students who are in financial need. Other funds go to put food in our community pantry.

The summer of 2021 was a fun one! We went to a concert at the Living Planet Aquarium, started learning meditation techniques in our quiet room, learned how to tie dye, attended a conference at Scenic View Academy, and celebrated our first year of independence.

In August, we did some volunteer work at the STEM action center, which is located next door.

Halloween of 2021! Costume Parade.

When Cap gets old and led around by Minnie Mouse…

We had a great Christmas party with the rest of Columbus.

Winter term, 2022, we did some winter activities at the National Ability Center in Park City, including snowshoeing, Nordic skiing and wall climbing. We also played some pickle ball.

In the spring of 2022, we explored South Salt Lake with the help of some city employees. We visited the SSL Police Department, learned about community safety, community gardens, and Animal Control. This was all part of our Safety in the Community class.