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    • PRESS RELEASE — WALK, ROLL OR STROLL AT THE ANNUAL HIPSTER RELAY
    • PRESS RELEASE — MY POSSIBILITIES FOUNDER CHARMAINE SOLOMON NAMESAKE FOR ADULT TRANSITION CENTER
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    • PRESS RELEASE — PETICOLAS BREWING COMPANY BREWS EXCLUSIVE BEER TO BENEFIT NORTH TEXAS NONPROFIT
    • PRESS RELEASE — MY POSSIBILITIES RAISED $343,000 AT ANNUAL COMMUNITY BALL
    • PRESS RELEASE — BERRY FAMILY SERVICES PRESENTS MY POSSIBILITIES ANNUAL COMMUNITY BALL JUNE 15

Cooking with Heart: Nicky’s Story

    Home HIPster Blog Cooking with Heart: Nicky’s Story
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    Cooking with Heart: Nicky’s Story

    By Barbara Boretsky | HIPster Blog | 1 comment | 3 February, 2017 | 3

    Nicky concentrates on the task at hand, examining each bell pepper carefully before placing it on the cutting board. It’s passed her rigorous inspection and will be included in the vegetables prepped for today.

    “She’s very meticulous,” says Culinary Coordinator, Diana, “the amount of pride and detail that goes into it- she will actually tell you if she doesn’t want you to serve something.”

    Quiet (and ostensibly shy), newcomers might never guess that Nicky’ victory comes in the form of being a kitchen dynamo. As one of the original 12 HIPsters to gain their Food Handler’s License, she’s always been drawn to the kitchen and culinary arts. When she first began attending My Possibilities, she participated in cooking class after cooking class- showcasing a growing skill and aptitude for not only cooking, but creating as well.

    “There’s a reason the salad on the Standard Menu is named after her,” says Diana “she created it from start to finish- the dressing, what went in it. When people order her salad or she sees it on the menu, she lights up.”

    But for Nicky, food is more than just a source of pride. Although Nicky communicates primarily through gestures and sign language, when she cooks, another language comes to life.

    “She’s taken her love of culinary, and turned it into a way to communicate what she can’t verbally say. She knows what she wants to say, and she expresses it with food.” Diana says.

    In addition to being a tool for communicating with other HIPsters and Staff, food has become a way for her to showcase her newfound independence.

    “She led [a] class in making tamales- when she couldn’t say ‘Step one, step two, step three…’ she sat there and showed all of us how to do it. If I was going too fast, she would [sign to] me ‘pay attention’. She would do the sign for pay attention and then she would just kind of get into her zone.” says Diana.

    For many, cooking may seem like one more chore, but for Nicky it’s an outlet for creative expression and communication. Each time she creates a new recipe or preps a meal is a #biglittlevictory that reimagines what’s possible for others like her.

    For more information on our Catering services, click here. To learn about our Culinary program, click here.

    #BigLittleVictories, 2017, Nikki

    Barbara Boretsky

    More posts by Barbara Boretsky

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    1 comment

    • Sandy Lewis Reply February 4, 2017 at 2:05 pm

      I am so proud of my Nicky!!!

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    © 2017 My Possibilities
    • About
      • Board of Directors
      • Advisory Board
      • Staff
      • Corporate Partners
      • Annual Report
      • Governance
    • Program
      • Academics
      • Electives
      • Vocational
      • Therapy
      • Parent Portal
    • Admissions
      • Application Process
      • Schedule a Tour
      • Apply
      • Submit Application Fee
    • Campus Life
      • Athletics
      • HIPster Life
      • Photo Gallery
      • Success Stories
      • Video Gallery
    • Make Payment
    • Surrounding Area
    • Events
      • A Special Evening – April 3
      • Community Ball – June 13
      • HIPster Golf Classic – Sept. 14
      • North Texas Giving Day – Sept. 17
      • HIPster Showcase
      • Piece-a-Thon – Nov. 27
    • News
      • Sun Club
      • HIPster Blog
      • PRESS RELEASE — MY POSSIBILITIES RECEIVES $1.5 MILLION GRANT FROM MOODY FOUNDATION
      • PRESS RELEASE — ORIX FOUNDATION AWARDS PLANO NONPROFIT $15,000 GRANT
      • PRESS RELEASE — CAMANIO CARE COLLABORATES WITH MY POSSIBILITIES TO PROVIDE IMPROVED CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
      • PRESS RELEASE — WALK, ROLL OR STROLL AT THE ANNUAL HIPSTER RELAY
      • PRESS RELEASE — MY POSSIBILITIES FOUNDER CHARMAINE SOLOMON NAMESAKE FOR ADULT TRANSITION CENTER
      • PRESS RELEASE — MY POSSIBILITIES JOINS FORCES WITH BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS TO OPEN A WELLNESS CLINIC
      • PRESS RELEASE — THE ROAD AHEAD LEADS TO MY POSSIBILITIES
      • PRESS RELEASE — SCOTT + REID PRESENTS MY POSSIBILITIES ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
      • PRESS RELEASE — PETICOLAS BREWING COMPANY BREWS EXCLUSIVE BEER TO BENEFIT NORTH TEXAS NONPROFIT
      • PRESS RELEASE — MY POSSIBILITIES RAISED $343,000 AT ANNUAL COMMUNITY BALL
      • PRESS RELEASE — BERRY FAMILY SERVICES PRESENTS MY POSSIBILITIES ANNUAL COMMUNITY BALL JUNE 15

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