Thrive Together: Because we all thrive when everyone is included

On August 28th, Nora Project supporters near and far gathered to celebrate the importance of inclusive education for all students. While inclusive education is a dream that many share, it's a far cry from the reality of our current education system. Throughout the program, event Emcee, famed storyteller Kevin Kling, and Supporter of the Year, Lachi, spoke about their lived experiences with disability – and the impact that Nora Project programming can have on disabled and nondisabled students today. 

A close up of Lachi shows her sitting at a table, enjoying the program. She is a black woman with long cornrows and wears a white off the shoulder dress with silver jewelry.

Emcee Kevin Kling speaks into a microphone and hold papers in his left hand. Kevin is an older white man and wears a grey suit and horn rimmed glasses.

According to the Miriam-Webster dictionary, the word thrive means “to grow vigorously” or “flourish.” As Co-founder and CEO Lauren Schrero shared in her remarks during the program, “It’s really quite simple--to thrive, kids need to know there’s a place for them in this world.”

She goes on to say, “The truth is, disabled kids are not thriving in our current education system. And it’s not because of their disabilities. It’s because they’re bullied and experience social isolation at rates far higher than their nondisabled peers. Because teachers have low expectations for their futures. It’s because all too often they are physically excluded, either by design (separate classrooms, separate extracurricular programs) or by utter lack of access (inaccessible structures or massively overstimulating environments). It’s because traditional models of inclusion in school make them feel pitied, or like someone else’s good deed or charitable moment. It’s because they lack disabled role models--very few educators are visibly disabled and there is so much stigma around disability in education, it’s rare for teachers with non-apparent disabilities to self-identify.”

The Nora Project is changing that. Our professional development requires educators to examine their own beliefs about disability and empowers them to lead from a new perspective. It gives them tools and support to meet students’ needs with dignity and strategies and curriculum for building classrooms where every student feels like they belong — where every student can thrive together.

And the one thing that The Nora Project does that no one else is doing, is we provide comprehensive disabilities studies programming to kids from preschool through high school. Our classroom curriculums teach that disability is diversity, that it’s natural, that it’s valuable, that it’s okay and not something to be ashamed of or looked down upon. We teach about disability rights, disability culture, about the many ways disabled folx have and continue to make the world a better place for everyone. 

Your support of The Nora Project makes all of this possible. Whether you subscribe to the Nora Notes blog and tell your friends about posts you see, or you supported Thrive Together or other TNP campaigns throughout the year, or you follow along and amplify our messaging on social media – you’re promoting disability pride, disability inclusion, and better schools for all kids. You are making a difference!

If you weren’t able to tune in live to Thrive Together, or want to relive the magic of the day and see the possibilities of what an inclusive education can do for all students, please watch the replay of the program here and consider making a donation to support TNP educators and students this school year.

Event guest and longtime friend of TNP, Kelly Cervantes wrote about her experience attending Thrive Together on her blog recently, saying “Miguel and I had the honor of attending The Nora Project’s annual gala and it was altogether perspective-changing. I think a lot of us get on our soapbox of choice and talk about disability and inclusion, but often fall short of fully executing (myself included)... I was able to see what a truly inclusive event can look like.” The core of our work centers around inclusion in schools, but the reality is, inclusion should be the standard everywhere, all of the time. 

Browse event photos through the gallery below or in our Facebook photo album courtesy Lori Sapio Photography. Image descriptions are available in the photo captions.

Multiple books sit on a table in stacks, upright, and flat on the table. They are wrapped in pink, green, blue, or yellow paper and have ribbon with the colorful Thrive Together logo on them. Thank you cards are tucked into the ribbon of each book.

A table is decorated with a balloon centerpiece that has roses and greenery throughout the yellow, pink, and blue balloons. Stemmed glasses sit around the centerpiece on coasters that read 'This party is for everyone.' Scattered across the table are branded chocolates, enamel pins, and handouts with information about captioning and donating.

The event space has multiple circular tables covered in white tablecloths with ballon centerpieces, glasses, and branded goodies. In the background, a few people mingle and prepare for the event.

A colorful bouquet of various flowers sits on a table along with a coaster that reads 'This party is for everyone,' a flyer with information about captioning, and a glass.

Dr. Ari Levy leans down and hugs his daughter Gabrielle in the Steak 48 venue. Ari wears a lilac button up shirt and Gabrielle wears a light green dress and red glasses.

Juanita Herrera and her partner Edgar Alcala pose and smile in front of the TNP step and repeat banner. Juanita wears a black and white patterned dress and black rimmed glasses. Edgar wears a gray polo shirt with the Chicago Bears logo on the chest.

Lorina and Rick Jacobson pose together and smile in front of the TNP step and repeat banner. Lorina wears an emerald green dress and Rick wears a white checked jacket.

Craig and Michele Boroughf pose next to each other in front of the TNP step and repeat banner. Craig wears a light blue plaid button up shirt and navy blue jacket. Michele wears an aqua dress with a long statement necklace and matching earrings.

Event co-chairs Lisa and Larry Sablosky pose together in front of the TNP step and repeat banner. Larry wears a blue and white checked button up shirt with a tan jacket. Lisa wears a navy blue dress with small ruffles on the shoulders. Both wear Thrive Together enamel pins.

Marcellina Offoha, Lachi, and Clementina Ibole pose in front of the TNP step and repeat banner. Marcellina wears a navy dress with blue, teal, and beige patterns with a matching hat, rectangular glasses, and gold jewelry. Lachi wears a white off the shoulder dress with silver jewelry and holds her bedazzled silver glam cane. Clementina wears a light pink dress with puffed sleeves, cat eye glasses, and matching jewelry.

Trish & Jamel Alikhan pose together in front of the TNP step and repeat banner. Trish wears a white laced dress with elbow length sleeves. Jamel wears a white button up shirt and heathered dark gray suit jacket.

Stefanie and Chase Chavin pose in front of the TNP step and repeat banner. To the left Stefanie wears a beige dress with teal and blue geometric shapes and gold lines. To the right Chase wears a white and blue plaid button up shirt and a grey suit jacket.

Linda and Richard Price pose in front of the TNP step and repeat banner. To the left Linda wears olive green slacks and a black, sleeveless, collared shirt. To the right, Richard wears a white and blue striped polo shirt. Richard is the Chairman of The Nora Project's Leadership Council.

Jordyn Zimmerman, Andrew Zimmerman, and Farheen Kaleem pose together in front of the TNP step and repeat banner. Jordyn wears and black, long sleeves dress with red, purple, and yellow flowers on it. Andrew wears a navy blue suit and white button up shirt. Farheen wears a white dress that has large pink flowers with black stems on it.

Kendra and Grant Chavin pose in front of the TNP step and repeat banner. Two the left a blonde woman wears a black dress with one shoulder strap. To the right, a man with red hair and a goatee wears a blue button up shirt.

Dena and Don Hicks pose in front of the TNP step and repeat banner. Dena wears her dark hair in a ponytail and wears a high necked dress with red, orange, and yellow flowers. Don has a beard and wears a navy blue suit with a red and blue plaid button up shirt.

Marney Solomon, Lisa Sablosky, and Joanne Blankstein pose in front of the TNP step and repeat banner. Marney wears a hot pink dress and black glasses. Lisa wears a navy blue dress with small ruffled sleeves. Joanne wears a black blouse with beige flower and a black and white stripes shirt. She holds a glass in her hand as well.

Lachi wraps her arm around Jordyn Zimmerman and smiles in front of the TNP step and repeat banner. Jordyn is a white woman with dark wavy medium length hair and wears a black floral dress. Lachi is a black woman with long cornrows and wears a white off the shoulder dress with silver jewelry. Lachi also holds her bedazzled silver glam cane.

Peggy, TNP's Board Chair, and Paul Bianco pose in front of the TNP step and repeat banner. Peggy wears a high neck emerald green dress. Paul wears a navy blue suit jacket with a floral button up shirt. They both hold up photo props that read 'Radically Inclusive' and 'All in for Inclusion.'

Event guests mingle and enjoy drinks on the balcony of Steak 48. The space has plants, tables with white tablecloths, and a television with the colorful "Thrive Together" logo.

Ellie Forman and Lisa Seidenberg stand on the balcony of Steak 48 as they both hold up coasters that read 'Thrive Together' and 'This party is for everyone.' Ellie wears a dress with various floral patterns and Lisa wears a navy blue dress with pink flowers on it.

Gail Thomas, Penny Daniels and Board member Beth Flores stand in front of the TNP step and repeat banner. All three women wear neutral colored blouses and hold photo props that read 'community is for everyone,' 'radically inclusive,' and 'all in for inclusion.'

Lyle Logan and Leadership Council members Shawnelle Richie and Carl West stand in the Steak 48 venue. Lyle wears a light gray suit, Shawnelle wears a white and gold blouse, and Carl wears a beige and navy plaid suit jacket.

Jamie Schrero and Richard Price smile and pose together on the Steak 48 balcony. Jamie wears a colorful dress with various patterns on it and gold necklace. Richard wears a light blue polo shirt.

An attendee holds a Thrive Together program and reads it as she sits at the table. The program shows he agenda, auction details, and the names of the Board of Directors.

Lauren Schrero wraps her arm around Richard Price's shoulder as they both smile in front of a wall of windows. Lauren wears a dark orange dress and holds a drink in her other hand. Richard wears a light blue polo shirt.

Board member Michael Glicken and Dr. Claudia Perez pose together on the Steak 48 balcony. Michael wears a navy blue suit with a red patterned tie. Claudia wears a matching dress and jacket with an abstract pink, purple, and black pattern.

Carl West, Lauren Schrero, and Rick Jacobson pose in the Steak 48 venue. To the left, Carl wears a beige and blue plaid suit jacket. In the center Lauren wears a dark orange dress and holds a drink in her right hand. To the right, Rick, who is TNP's Immediate Past Chair and member of the Executive Committee, wears a beige and black plaid suit jacket and black polo.

Lauren Schrero and Adam Levy pose in the Steak 48 venue while holding photo props that read 'community is for everyone' and 'radically inclusive.' Lauren wears a dark orange dress and Adam wears a navy blue suit jacket.

Many attendees dressed in cocktail attire sit at rectangular tables and mingle in the Steak 48 venue.

Event co-chairs Lisa and Larry Sablosky stand at the front of the room in front of the TNP step and repeat banner. Lisa smiles and holds papers as she speaks into the microphone. Larry wears a blue and white checked button up shirt with a tan jacket. Lisa wears a navy blue dress with small ruffles on the shoulders. Both wear Thrive Together enamel pins.

A black and white photo focuses on a man in a dark suit jacket sitting and watching the program. Around him, other attendees watch as well.

A black and white image shows all four event co-chairs, Lisa and Larry Sablosky and Jaclyn and Steve Maletzky, standing at the front of the room. Jaclyn speaks into the microphone as she reads off of a paper.

A close up of Kelly and Miguel Cervantes shows them smiling while they sit at a table and face the front of the room to watch the program. On the left, Kelly has her hair in a high pony tail and wears a burgundy and beige patterned blouse. To the right, Miguel has his dark hair in a low bun and wears a blue floral button up shirt.

Emcee Kevin Kling speaks into a microphone and hold papers in his left hand. Kevin is an older white man and wears a grey suit and horn rimmed glasses.

A close up of Lachi shows her sitting at a table, enjoying the program. She is a black woman with long cornrows and wears a white off the shoulder dress with silver jewelry.

A close up shows three men in button up shirts and suits sitting at a rectangular table. Behind them and beside them, other attendees mingle out of focus.

A close up of a man shows him sitting at a table and watching the program. He wears a dark navy suit with a burgundy button up shirt.

Lindsey Lauter and Nate Parsons sit at table and watch the program. To the left Nate wears a brown suit jacket and blue button up shirt. To the right, Lindsey wears a green dress with various flowers printed on it.

Lauren Schrero stands at the front of the room, in front of the TNP step and repeat banner, and speaks into the microphone. She wears a dark orange dress and holds her notes in her right hand. She smiles as attendees watch and listen to her.

Attendees dressed in cocktail attire sit around a few circular tables and clap.

A black and white image shows Glen Fladeboe as he holds a microphone and smiles while hosting the auction. Glen is a white man with dark hair and he wears a suit, glasses, and a Thrive together pin.

Art Reliford claps as he sits at a table after winning a trip to Mexico during the action. He wears a brown and white plaid jacket and white button up shirt.

Miguel Cervantes, Lauren Schrero, and Glen Fladeboe stand at the front of the room as Miguel presents Hamilton tickets to be auctioned off. Lauren, Miguel, and attendees in the audience raise their hands.

Attendees smile and laugh together as they sit around a rectangular table.

Glen Fladeboe holds a microphone while looking at the attendees as he hosts the auction. He holds his other hand up with his pinky and pointer fingers in the up to signify the number two. Glen is a white man with dark hair and he wears a suit, glasses, and a Thrive together pin.

Miguel Cervantes stands and puts his hands together in thanks to a bidder during the auction. Miguel is a latino man with his dark hair pulled into a bun and goatee. He wears a blue floral button down shirt and dark orange pants.

Jordyn Zimmerman smiles as she types on her AAC device while introducing an honoree. Jordyn is a young white woman with wavy shoulder length hair and wears a black floral patterned dress with long sleeves.

A black and white image shows Lachi speaking into the microphone while receiving her Supporter of the Year award. Lachi is a black woman with long cornrows and wears a white off the shoulder dress with silver jewelry. Lachi also holds her bedazzled silver glam cane in her hand.

A black and white image shows Katy Fattaleh speaking into the microphone as she introduces an honoree. Katy is a white women with long dark hair and wears a paisley patterned dress.

A black and white image shows Juanita Herrera speaking into the microphone while accepting her Educator of the Year award. She is a Latina woman with dark, shoulder length and wears a black and white patterned dress and black rimmed glasses.

Many attendees dressed in cocktail attire sit at a circular tables during the auction. One man standing raises his placard to make a donation while others clap.

Seven attendees dressed in cocktail attire sit at a table during the auction. One woman raises her placard to make a bid.

Many attendees dressed in cocktail attire sit around circular tables and watch the auction. In the background Jen Newton and Lauren Schrero stand and point to the newest bidder.

Many attendees dressed in cocktail attire sit around circular tables and clap after an item was won at the auction.

A black and white image shows Lachi wrapping her arm around Miguel Cervantes shoulder while they both smile widely. Miguel is a latino man with dar hair and a goatee and wears a floral button up shirt. Lachi is a black woman with long cornrows and wears a white off the shoulder dress with silver jewelry. Lachi also holds her bedazzled silver glam cane.

Lauren Schrero faces the camera as she talks with attendees in a circle. One woman facing away wears a snakeskin patterned dress with a beige purse over her shoulder. Another woman wears a blush off the shoulder dress as she sits in her wheelchair and looks around them. In the background other attendees mingle with each other.

Jordyn Zimmerman and Miguel Cervantes talk to each other. Miguel wears a blue floral button up shirt and holds his hands together. Jordyn wears a black long sleeve dress with orange, red, and purple dress and holds her AAC device in her left hand. Another attendee in a light blue button up shirt walks past them while holding a book wrapped in pink paper.

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