Breaking ground into the future, LifeScape project fills kids with excitement

“I am most excited about the fun, new adventure.”

“The new building will be pretty.”

“I’m most excited about not having to walk as far to get to school.”

Excitement filled the air as children from LifeScape’s current campus arrived to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new campus. Even though the event happened in April, everyone is still talking about the impact the new campus will have on the thousands of children served every year at LifeScape.

“I love that LifeScape is helping me,” explained Kari, one of the many children supported at LifeScape.

It’s not only helping children but also is giving employees a purpose.

“After a year of teaching, I knew that LifeScape is where I wanted to be,” said Brittany Dawson, principal of the Lifescape Specialty School and Pathways to Life Specialty School.

“There is so much that we want for our students, and this new building will be able to provide for that. With more space, a better residential facility, technology and room for growth, we will be able to provide so much more opportunities for our students and staff.”

With construction underway at LifeScape’s new children’s campus at Career Avenue and 34th Street North, employees like Dawson are looking forward to having more space, including the 25 percent expansion included in the first phase for the Specialty School.

“Even the physical space is going to be huge for us. There are so many students, families and school districts seeking our services that we will be able to accommodate more families in need,” Dawson said. “We are continuing to grow, and we need to be able to provide for the families looking for support.”

Dawson has spent half of her life — 17 years — working for LifeScape and knows the limits the current campus has.

“We are currently utilizing every square inch of our current building, which is preventing us from growth and opportunities for our students like Dominic,” Dawson explained.

The child smiled. “I love that LifeScape is fun,” he said.

“Our building has served us well for decades, but with times changing and our population of students with disabilities growing, we need to adapt to that and create bigger and better for our students — who deserve it,” Dawson continued.

While the halls of the current LifeScape campus envelop the lives of the children they serve, many employees are just grateful to see progress on the new campus, including one prankster who likes to go from office to office during the school day delivering smiles.

“I like to play pranks on people,” Brayden explained. “I am known as Captain Prankster.”

It’s the smiles, laughter and hope that bring empowerment to everyone who enters the doors at LifeScape.

“I just wanted to say that I am proud to be a part of LifeScape’s journey to be better each day and so thankful for our staff who work directly with our people supported and our leaders who are doing so much to make this new building a reality,” Dawson said.

“In the last 17 years, this has been my favorite part: seeing our organization challenge each other to be better, to grow, to support as many people as possible. Everyone has one life to live, and I truly pray that LifeScape is making a difference in all the lives of the people we support and their families.”

LifeScape’s future is built on that hope, that pride employees like Dawson have for the mission, empowering people to live their best life.

To learn more about LifeScape’s future click here. See the Story on Pigeon605.