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Community of Opportunity

Tackling on multiple fronts the complex issue of housing for a growing special needs population.

Newsletter – February 2023

First Place Announces First-of-Its-Kind Report First Place AZ is thrilled to announce public distribution of the long-awaited Greater Phoenix Housing Market Analysis (GPHMA). Download the comprehensive report with current data identifying the housing and support needs and preferences of adults with autism and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities and their family members/caregivers in English and/or Spanish. Thanks to researchers at the First Place

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Newsletter – January 2023

Newly Named Make Waves Center Makes Big Splash at First Place We’re thrilled that the Make Waves Family Foundation, a Boston-based foundation that empowers youth and adults living with Autism and other developmental disabilities, has made a $1 million gift over the next five years to the First Place Global Leadership Institute, creating the Make Waves Center for Community Development.

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Newsletter – December 2022

Happy Holidays from First Place–Phoenix! Thanks to everyone who joined us for the annual Holiday Tour of Doors! First Place–Phoenix residents and Transition Academy students were full of joy leading tours around the property, showcasing the great work and creativity everyone put into making their doors so fun and festive. Congratulations to winners for Best Theme, Most Unique, Most Festive,

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Newsletter – November 2022

In a Different Key PBS National premiere December 13 Tune into your local PBS station December 13 for the premiere of the award-winning documentary In a Different Key about the first-ever child diagnosed with autism, now an 89-year-old man living in Forest, Mississippi. The film is based on the 2016 Pulitzer-prize finalist book of the same name written by renowned

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Newsletter – October 2022

One First Leads to the Next at 11th Global Leadership Institute Symposium We took many significant steps forward together at this year’s symposium held in person in Phoenix and via webinar. Participants joined us for an agenda packed with local and national experts in the fields of autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities, housing, healthcare and employment. We’re especially grateful to keynote

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How a Centuries-Old Art Form Helps Build and Bond Today’s Communities

By Denise D. Resnik, Founder & President/CEO, First Place® AZ From the earliest days of designing First Place–Phoenix, we used the concept of kintsugi—the Japanese art of golden repair—to describe our approach to creating, developing and connecting home and community. Kintsugi is a centuries-old art form. The artist smashes a perfect piece of pottery and then repairs it with gold

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