Leaders in Action

Publish date: January 21, 2009

Leaders in Action is a series of articles showing how Leadership Louisville Center programs help produce tangible results by connecting people, places, and resources in our community.

Ignite Louisville team makes lasting impact on autism resource network

Ignite Louisville is the Leadership Louisville Center’s leadership development program for young professionals. A key part of the program is the “Make Your Mark Challenge” — an annual opportunity for program participants to undertake a significant development or improvement project for a local nonprofit. Ignite Louisville is sponsored by Norton Healthcare. Maker's Mark Distillery supports the Make Your Mark Challenge.

Since 1999, a very active group of Louisville-area parents and community volunteers have run Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT). FEAT is dedicated to "easing the journey of autism for families". Their mission is to ensure that all individuals with autism have the opportunity to reach their full potential through effective early intervention and ongoing support.

While serving a great need in an underserved community, FEAT volunteers were quickly becoming over-engaged with the large amount of time and work involved. When they learned about the opportunity to get help from talented young professionals in the Ignite Louisville Class of 2008, they jumped on it.

FEAT’s project proposal to the Make Your Mark Challenge was modest. They requested help in two areas; 1) hiring an executive director and 2) creating a board committee structure. What transpired over the next six months was so much more.

FEAT’s project was chosen by an ambitious Ignite Louisville team called Team Quintessential, shown at left.

According to FEAT board chair, Justin Baker (LL ’09, IL ’04), the impact of the team is lasting: “They not only came in and helped the organization, they laid the foundation for a long-term strategic plan that will benefit families and children with autism well into the future.”

Baker said the group brought much to the table. “They were energetic and made it fun for themselves and for FEAT. By going through the Make Your Mark Challenge process, FEAT has been able to grow the board to include talented volunteers who are not directly affected by autism. They bring a variety of perspectives to the organization.”

First, the Ignite Louisville team put together an effective organization structure based on committees accountable for distinct areas that support FEAT’s mission. Then, they outlined a search, interview and selection process for an executive director. As a result, FEAT successfully hired their first executive director, Donna Beasley, in November of 2008.

In addition to fulfilling the initial project requests, the team wanted to directly help FEAT families, which they did in several ways. They had the idea of adding a discussion forum to FEAT’s website, www.featoflouisville.org, with the goal of connecting parents. They researched service providers, negotiated a contract and raised funds to pay for the forum which is expected to be live in February 2009. Baker believes it will be used extensively among parents looking for news and research on treating and dealing with autism, and to support each other.

The team also learned that there’s an 80% divorce rate in families with children diagnosed with autism, due to emotional strain. In an effort to ease the toll on families, they worked out a plan for college students to provide respite care through ResCare.

By April of 2008 the team would put in over 800 hours of work and win the 2008 Make Your Mark Challenge, earning the grand prize of a $1500 donation to FEAT.

The Make Your Mark Challenge projects officially ended with graduation in April, 2008, but the team’s work continues. David Cosby, who has a son with autism, now serves on FEAT’s board. David is currently working on designing programs for Dads and is helping with YMCA sports programs involving children with autism. David pointed out, “Because so many children learn great lessons through sports activities, getting Dads actively involved with their children through special needs based sports programs is a positive step toward helping the kids and strengthening families.”

Michelle Harper also joined the board shortly after the project was completed and Kevin Muench recently joined the board. In addition, the entire Ignite team has made a commitment to meeting periodically with Donna Beasley and the FEAT Executive Committee to offer assistance to the organization and remain connected to the great interaction gained during the project.

This remarkable group of young professionals embodies the vision and spirit of the Ignite Louisville program and the Make Your Mark Challenge. We wish the very best to both Team Quintessential and FEAT.