Hello, Friends of Kerr,
It has been a stunning fall with bright leaf changes and sunny days. Our Fall Appeal benefitting the work of Albertina Kerr has also been bright and sunny! We are so very thankful for all of our supporters. Your commitment to Albertina Kerr is pivotal in driving our mission to empower people to lead self-determined lives in their communities. Also, If you didn’t get an opportunity to support us during our Fall Appeal or Giving Tuesday, there are more opportunities to support us before the end of the year! (Photo above: Pictured with me is Laurine Apolloni, a member of the Kerr Governing Board)
We recently celebrated a heartwarming milestone in our community: the 75th birthday of one of our senior residents. It filled us with joy as the resident’s entire support system expressed their gratitude to Kerr for the unwavering support their loved one has received throughout her whole adult life.
More exciting news: we moved three residents from our youth group homes into our newly opened Transitions Kerr Group home. This home will support these young adults as they move into early adulthood, providing life skills training, advocacy, career exploration, internship support, and educational assistance.
We are over the moon with the B.U.L.L. Session Invitational Charity Events’ generosity. These Business, Union, and Labor Leaders presented Kerr with a significant donation for Kerr’s Crisis Psychiatric Care for Youth, raised from their annual gala and golf tournament, which will significantly impact the lives of the youth we serve. We are also grateful for the City of Hillsboro, which awarded us a Community Services grant for renovations on one of our group homes, and the Oregon Department of Human Services, which granted us a modification grant for three of our Washington County homes.
Kerr’s Wynne Watts Commons won the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) 2023 Terwilliger Center Award for Innovation in Attainable Housing. This award celebrates developments that provide deeper affordability while showcasing innovative and replicable solutions. Wynne Watts Commons is a beacon of hope, providing much-needed housing and empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live independently and comfortably. None of this would have been possible without our incredible partners: Edlen & Company, Pence 
Construction, Ankrom Moisan, and Greenhammer Design Build, along with our generous community supporters.
At Kerr, we continue to make progress toward our Strategic Plan goals. As part of our commitment to excellence, we have initiated the accreditation process with the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL). This accreditation will enhance our standards and quality across all our programs and services and ensure our services are person-centered.
Kerr’s commitment to leadership training on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility (DEIBA) remains unwavering. We hosted a Kerr Leadership Rally that included Implicit Bias Training as well as Leadership Training from Professor Jennifer Allen from Portland State University. The day provided valuable insights, all while enjoying games, connections, and a delicious lunch. (Photos left: Kerr’s Leadership team)
Finally, I am honored to share that I have been appointed to the System of Care Advisory Council, a governor-appointed role aimed at improving the effectiveness of state and local care and support systems for youth aged 0-25. This appointment presents a significant opportunity for Kerr to influence policy and make a lasting impact on the lives of young people across the State of Oregon.
We are grateful for your unwavering support. Together, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of the individuals and families we serve. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey.
Sincerely,
Allison Stark
CEO, Albertina Kerr