Reflections On My Time With WOW In-Sync

Note: December 6th was GA Gives Day.  I wrote this to our stakeholders and potential supporters to give some inside insight into what makes WOW in-Sync a special place.  bviously, this is slightly outdated now.  If you'd like to learn more about WOW and/or get involved in some way or make a contribution, please visit http://www.wowinsync.org. Here's my story:

"I moved to Atlanta in January of 2009 from Tallahassee, FL. I was fresh out of grad school with a Masters in Music (my other job is that of a jazz musician). I was recently diagnosed with adult onset type 1 diabetes, and new to a large city. Needless to say, I needed a JOB.

So, after many hours spent on craigslist, I responded to a post from WOW In-Sync, still known as Hands For Hire at that time. For a van driver position. To my astonishment, I received a nearly immediate return call from VP Robbie Harris. We scheduled an interview for the next day.

Immediately upon touring the facility, I realized how little I knew. I assumed “Adults with Disabilities” meant amputees or those with physical barriers. And while some of the people I met did face such challenges, this was a a community of people facing a very different set of barriers. I was greeted warmly, accepted immediately, and treated with kindness. I hadn’t even had my interview yet.

As Robbie and I sat down, he explained the responsibilities of drivers and direct support staff. He also mentioned that Karen Lynn, WOW president, was intrigued by my music background. She stepped into the interview. Long story short, we talked for a while of the possibility of integrating music into training (something I’d never approached), to the point where I asked exactly which job I was interviewing for again.

Nevertheless, I was hired shortly thereafter to work in direct support, and to involve music with services. Though the means of doing so shifted through the years and other musically inclined staff took up the primary responsibility for leading musical activities, it was a key moment in my time at WOW. They had taken a chance on an employee with a different background, and had invested in me, on behalf of the men and women they supported. As other staff took on more and more musical leadership, it became one of the most popular activities at WOW among those supported.

I had several false starts (and some successes too!) bringing music into day to day activities at WOW. At some point, my interest in education and penchant for writing started to leak out, and I was charged, along with a like-minded colleague, with writing curriculum guides for some specialty training topics. This opened up a new avenue where, over time, I took on more and more responsibility in the areas of program development, compliance with regulation, administration, and company marketing. And I was merely one staff member among several who took on such expansive, creative, and formative responsibilities even without an advanced degree or extensive prior background in the field. The input of those of us with diverse backgrounds helped WOW grow more and more into a unique organization. Case workers and state officials who visited commonly remarked “This is NOTHING like other programs,” “This place is amazing!” and “How creative?!”

WOW has many more-than-qualified industry professionals working in quality assurance and program leadership. Yet, they still invested in me and offered me the opportunity of building and leading the Simply Biz Program this past summer. Although I moved to Phoenix, AZ with my fiance this fall, I’ve remained connected with WOW by maintaining this website, writing blogs, and working to advocate on behalf of our participants. And Simply Biz was excited to announce two job placements this past month!

Thinking back to my first days with WOW, I realize how little I knew related to this field, and how much I learned in the last three years. In addition to seeing more clearly the challenges that so many people face, and the inspiring positivity with which they face it, I also saw glimpses into the very real power of music, friendship, and small gestures. I gained a perspective for the importance of dancing, singing, and smiling with friends as well as the importance of measured, disciplined, and focused effort towards a quality outcome. I can say with confidence that the folks who receive support at WOW also gain these lessons, and teach them too! Interestingly enough, the music I performed improved from being around so many people who enjoy music and other arts on such a pure and human level without any pretension or hangups. I was almost forced to adopt a similar approach, and for that, I’m grateful.

As we approach GA Gives Day and the giving season in general, I just wanted to share my story with WOW as an example of what makes it unique, and what leadership does on behalf of the people it supports. Every cent you give, should you choose to do so, will be used on behalf of men and women who are working hard to succeed. They deserve every opportunity to do just that.

To donate to WOW through my personal fundraising page for GA Gives Day, click here:
https://www.gagivesday.org/c/GGD/a/wowinsync/p/willgoble

Thank you for reading, and many humble thanks to those of you who support us (in any way),

Will Goble
(Webmaster, Marketing Guy, former Program Manager at WOW In-Sync, Inc.)"