Upcoming documentary to focus on Center of Family Love residents, initiatives

The Center of Family Love’s Gift of Love Gala is what brought a new vision to light.

“We think all of our residents are heroes because of their individual untapped talent, and we are hoping to infuse that into our society,” Debbie Espinosa, Center of Family Love president and CEO, said. “The problem with the world is that we see the disability and not the ability; and we need to change the way we view people with different abilities because we have not given them a chance.” 

One of the main focal points of CFL’s new vision is the brand-new state-of-the-art building that will help bridge the gap between people with different abilities and inclusion in the workforce. 

Historically, there has not been anything for people with disabilities past high school, but the new building will “give us the ability to develop their skills as well as showcase these new talents so that they can teach the next generation of heroes,” Espinosa said. “Society has never allowed this population to get into the business world, so we do not know their perspectives and just how much they have to offer.” 

“The world needs this population’s input,” Espinosa said. “We as a society need to recognize that people with different abilities might not do things the same way, but they will do it their own way, and we need to incorporate it into our society.” 

The Center of Family Love wants people to realize that because this is the only way we have done something does not mean that it is the best or only way to do it. 

“Inclusion to us means making a mark that will change people forever,” Nellie Sanders, executive vice president of fundraising, said. 

The new building will have the ability to give residents the opportunity to continue life after high school by working with experts in the field to develop skills and untapped potential. The Center of Family Love has partnerships with businesses, restaurants, a ballet as well as many others. 

“We have an extensive waitlist with two thirds being from the adult population. We are also expecting an additional 600 people to come develop their skills,” Espinosa said. 

Not only has there been community interest in the new vision of CFL, but this movement has also piqued the interest of a former BBC documentary filmmaker. Production has started on the documentary which focuses on the day-to-day activities, fundraising and CFL’s workforce initiative.

Documentary filmmaker Nik Coleman notes that “there will always be doubters, but the mission is to change that.” 

The Center of Family Love’s workforce initiative seeks to find talents and maximize abilities in such a way that the residents are leading and teaching the next generation of heroes. 
    
“It is cloud seeding, and we are trying to make it rain,” Coleman said. 

“God’s divine intervention has led us to where we should go next and it has been an incredible walk,” Sanders said. 

To learn more about the Center of Family Love, visit centeroffamilylove.org.

Courtney Rhone is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.