By JAMEY HELGESON

The Arc of Mower County

The Arc of Mower County is proud to unveil our new brand identity along with renewed energy and dedication to providing opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families.

You’ll find a dynamic new logo on (our publications, website, building … whatever is applicable to your organization) and along with it a comprehensive new brand identity which will serve to unite affiliated chapters across the county under the banner “Achieve With Us.”

It’s at once an invitation and a command, as it represents our movement’s determination to achieve even more in terms of participation, inclusion, acceptance and respect for people with I/DD in the years to come.

In the logo’s design, you’ll see the energy and determination The Arc brings to supporting and embracing people with I/DD and their families across their lifetimes and across many diagnoses. You’ll notice a bold color combination of orange and yellow chosen specifically because it is unique in the realm of nonprofit organizations, and can be exclusively associated with The Arc much like a specific shade of pink is associated with breast cancer awareness or red with The American Red Cross. This identity was developed over the course of a year including in-depth research, professional brand consultants and a dedicated team of individuals (including an advisory group of chapter professionals) inside The Arc who understands our mission and goals.

With respect to our mission, the elements of the brand represent a strong, energetic organization working to provide opportunity for people with I/DD; opportunity for hope, opportunity for growth and opportunity for change.

We know a thing or two about change as we have been on the front lines of a movement that has ushered in dramatic changes in the law, in schools, in health care, in communities and often on a very personal level affecting families as well as individual’s lives.

It’s also an identity designed to communicate the collective power of a group of like-minded people who are embracing, determined and experienced in promoting and protecting the civil rights of as well as providing the services and support needed by people with I/DD and their families across the Arc of their lifetimes and across many diagnoses from Down syndrome to autism and many more. In fact, The Arc is the nation’s largest and leading organization for people with I/DD and their families with a 60-year history of fighting discrimination and providing people with I/DD the opportunity to live full, satisfying and self-determined lives as valued and contributing members of their communities.

As our brand becomes widely recognized and promoted on a national level, our local organization will benefit in terms of support from donors and volunteers and in the ease with which everyone will be able to identify with our mission.

The new identity will take us forward as a movement and command the kind of respect and recognition on a national basis that our organization deserves. That respect and recognition, in turn, will allow us to continue to achieve our goals for people with I/DD.

We invite you to achieve with us, today.

Contact us to get more information about the new brand, the availability of new logos and artwork for those who work with us and how you can support us into the future.

Upcoming Events and Activities

n Tuesday: Walking Tacos, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

n Wednesday: Special Olympics Bowling, 4 to 5:30 p.m.

n Thursday: Open Center, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

n Friday: Women’s Night Out, 5 to 10 p.m.

n Saturday: Minnesota History Center Field Trip, Noon.

n March 28: PACER Workshop — Six Skills for Effective Parent Advocacy, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Learn six important skills you can use to become a more effective advocate for your child with a disability.

n April 16: Prom. Theme: Light Up The Night at St. Edwards Corcoran Center

n April 30: Rock and Bowl-A-Thon at Echo Lanes from 2 to 4 p.m.