Lisa Glover
My name is Lisa Glover and I am from Grand Rapids, Michigan. My husband, Jay, and I just bought a house by Calvin College! I love pick-up volleyball, sunshine, spending time at our family’s cottage, and being with friends.
I work at David’s House Ministries as the Activities & Volunteer Coordinator. I started working at David’s House when I graduated high school as a Direct Care employee. David’s House Ministries is a group home for adults with disabilities and it has been an absolute blast working there. Some of my favorite parts of my job include taking individuals who live at David’s House to volunteer at Roots Brew Shop, participating in classes through Northoek Academy, and partnering with Arts In Motion.
I was a part of Young Life Capernaum for many years, which is a youth group for students with disabilities. Through Capernaum I was introduced to several DSAWM members. Since Capernaum serves students 26 and younger, a few of us decided to create a separate group for those who have aged out of Capernaum in Grand Rapids. Our group is called Living In Fullness Together (LIFT). We are a nonprofit organization who gathers twice a month to engage in social, spiritual, and community activities. It is through friendships made in Capernaum and LIFT that I have been invited to events with the DSA. My friends in the DSA have invited me to participate in Rapid Runners, the Step Up Walk, the Rock Your Socks Dance, and other large group events. What a great group of people!
I am thrilled to be serving on the board with the DSAWM. I would love to see the DSA partner with local group homes and offer activities and opportunities to older adults. I also hope to find creative ways to provide transportation for folks to attend programs and events. Mostly I am just looking forward to getting more involved with this amazing organization.
Florine Paul
Hi, my name is Florine Paul. I am a mother of seven children and a host of grandchildren whom I absolutely adore. Each holds a special place in my heart, so I must say I was pleasantly surprised to know that grandchildren cause your heart to grow in ways you could never have imagined, even as a parent, and it is to date my most cherished job.
I am also a retired school teacher and still occasionally sub for the Kentwood School District. I only sub for one school, the one I retired from, because I have found wonderful bonds in teaching the same students repeatedly. Prior to teaching, I worked for 18 years as a Special Education parapro, working with children with special needs. Though I worked with many different diagnoses over that 18 years, I have never had a student with Down syndrome.
Six years ago my granddaughter, Addison, was born with Down syndrome and while the diagnosis totally caught us all off guard, it is because of her that I have learned so much about trisomy 21. Our family is Addison’s tribe and we have learned how to support her in every way we can. But in all the support we have given her, she has taught us so much more, through her love, struggles, accomplishments, and victories. As I have become involved over the years in different projects and programs for her, I learned a lot about the DSA. Later, when my daughter Roshelle sat on the DSAWM board, I was stunned to learn about the many programs they were involved in to meet the needs of children with Down syndrome and educate the public. It is because of this that I wanted to be a part of the organization that helps other parents of children with Down syndrome learn steps to enrich the lives of their children and also makes the public aware of the amazing accomplishments made by individuals with Down syndrome.
