Dakota Communities is proud to announce that two of our staff members have been honored with 2009 ARRM Cares Awards! Selected from over 150 nominees, Rosie Moriarity and Lisa Wallen have been recognized as professional caregivers committed to providing innovative services to people with intellectual, developmental, and/or physical disabilities.
Here are their stories….
Lisa Wallen
Lisa Wallen has been employed by Dakota Communities for 18 years. From the very beginning Lisa demonstrated heart and soul about what it means to advocate for others.
It was late February 2008 when I first started working at Inndale, a home for women with Multiple Sclerosis. The first thing I heard about was the MS Walk. Lisa Wallen patiently explained to me the importance of the walk. I watched as she immediately set out to see what could be done to get things started to meet the goal. Lisa devoted time to this project in addition to handling all the other responsibilities of her job.
Lisa helped the ladies write everything from letters to Montel Williams to press releases. She had reporters from local newspapers come to the house to interview the ladies, completing stories in the Sun Post and Pioneer Press. She set up a spot on the television show “Twin Cities Live” about the tenacity and indomitable spirit of the ladies. This lead to a response from several people in the immediate community who started to send funds.
The day of the walk approached. Lisa had coordinated family members and other Dakota Community staff to join us. We had over 50 people respond. The ladies were surrounded by people that day that reminded them of how much they can impact others. Not only did the ladies meet their goal of $3000, they raised an additional $500 more than expected.
We celebrate Lisa not only for the tremendous work she did to make the walk a huge success, but because she saw an opportunity to teach others. She knows MS does not define a person. MS is a challenge that can be met with dignity through the support of people like Lisa. The career Lisa chose 18 years ago makes a daily difference and impacts all of us in such simple and yet profound ways. She makes us all better Advocates.
-Colleen Mutzabaugh
Rosie Moriarity 
Rosie awoke on a morning September that felt different from other mornings. She could not explain why, but she knew she had to go and check in on Melanie. You can call it a sixth sense or just that feeling you get when you become incredibly close to a person. But Rosie knew that something was not quite right. Upon entering the room she found Melanie unconscious with shallow breathing, her skin turning blue. She knew to immediately call 911 and get her to a hospital. Rosie saved Melanie’s life that day.
This is one example of how Rosie has changed Melanie’s life not only through health and wellness but through increased quality that she makes happen every day. Melanie was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in her late 20’s and began requiring in home support from Dakota Communities in 2004. Rosie entered her life in 2005 and shortly thereafter became her fulltime live-in staff. But this was never just a job for Rosie, and she was never just a staff person for Melanie….Rosie quickly became her best friend and advocate.
Finding that perfect balance of friend and advocate is a gift that Rosie has been able to achieve. She has encouraged Melanie to maintain physical, mental, and spiritual opportunities that are essential to a whole life for her, regardless of her disability. Melanie was following a path of depression and poor physical health. Rosie came in and changed the direction of that path. With Rosie by her side, Melanie pursued and won employment as a greeter at Wal-mart, rediscovered her love of classical music as a concert violist, became a flourishing member of a Red Hat Society, volunteered as an usher at the Ted Mann Theater, and rediscovered her Jewish Faith; becoming an active member of her synagogue, celebrating the high holidays with friends and family. For the first time in several years, Melanie was able to travel out of state, visiting New York and Washington DC.
Because she has so much to look forward to, Melanie has recovered from her illness and continues her infectious joy for living with Rosie by her side every step of the way…as an advocate, an angel and friend.
-Jodi Iverson, Toni Boelter & Erica Cournoyer