Cultivating Inclusion, a Lewis County-based organization dedicated to promoting acceptance and empowerment for people with disabilities, will hold its annual Inclusion Celebration and Awards event from 6 to 8 p.m. on May 25 at The Juice Box, located at 216 S. Tower Ave. in Centralia.
The celebration is free of charge so the event can be accessible to all who want to attend. There will be appetizers and light refreshments for guests, with drinks and a dinner menu available for purchase.
Attendees will have the opportunity to bid on items and baskets at a silent auction.
“We’re thrilled to host this annual event once again,” said Nicole Miller, the operations director of the program’s parent organization, the Lewis County Autism Coalition. “It’s an opportunity for us to honor individuals in our community who embody the values of our organization and to bring people together in celebration and recognition.”
Cultivating Inclusion will seek award nominations from the community until May 1. According to the organization, nominees should “embody the organization’s mission to create an accepting community for people with intellectual, behavioral, and physical disabilities or differences.” Awards will be presented in the categories of community, work and school. Suggestions for who to nominate includes employers, business leaders, teachers, students, members of the public, or a person with a disability or neurodivergence who advocates for themselves or others.
“We encourage everyone to nominate someone they know who goes above and beyond to create a more inclusive community,” Miller said. “These awards are about recognizing those who make a real difference in the lives of others.”
Those interested in attending can RSVP online at lcautism.org. Award nominations can be submitted at lcautism.org/inclusionawards/.
