New Bern organization dreaming big to support 'friends' with disabilities

Some people find their purpose in life early on, while others stumble upon their true calling much later.

For New Bern resident Elizabeth Walker, founder and CEO of the nonprofit My Big Dream, her late 40s have been a time when both her faith and her compassion have led her in a new direction. One that involves helping those who too often go unnoticed.

Walker established My Big Dream in New Bern in June 2021 with a mission of bringing caring and understanding to those with developmental and intellectual disabilities such as autism, down syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome.

With the help of volunteers, Walkers assists the organization’s members in creating Christmas ornaments that are sold during the holiday season. She also has bigger plans for the future that includes a full-time day program with a workshop, gift shop, cafe, and housing.

Miller said she has been especially concerned with the welfare of those less fortunate than herself ever since she was a young girl growing up in Texas.

“It was a mission that God put in my heart when I was little,” she commented. “People often ask me when I’m working with the special needs population if I have a child who’s special needs, but I don’t. Since I was little I’ve always had friends who were part of that population and that was part of the reason why when I was formulating the business plan I referred to the people who attend the program as a ‘friend’, rather than putting a label on them.”

Walker said My Big Dream seeks to fill a gap for special needs individuals who are entering young adulthood.

“They can go to high school until age 22 if you’re special needs. But after that there are not very many options then,” she noted. “That’s really what I want to make sure we address.”

Walker formed the idea for My Big Dream after visiting a nonprofit in Georgetown, Texas during a trip back home in 2016.

“I had that like ‘aha’ life moment where I was frozen to the table and like ‘This is what I need to do with my life,” she recalled.

Walker said her drive to start a nonprofit was also based on what she described as a lack of opportunities for the special needs population of eastern North Carolina.

“There’s not a lot of places where they can go and work and have a social life, gain some spiritual insight and eventually have housing,” she commented.

Early in her planning process for My Big Dream, Walker conducted a Facebook survey of people she knew with special needs children asking them to describe their greatest needs and fears.

“It was like these resounding messages asking where can their child work, how can they have friends, and that ultimately scary question of if I die tomorrow where are they going to be?” Walker said. “That’s when I knew that yes, there is a need.”

The dream takes flight

After a series of informational meetings with parents followed by the filing of paperwork with the state, My Big Dream was incorporated as a North Carolina 501(c) (3) nonprofit in June 2021.

In July and August of that year, participants began gathering one night a week to make handcrafted Christmas items and ornaments. The following November My Big Dream held its first Friends and Family Christmas Pop-Up Shop. Walker said the group’s products sold out within 45 minutes and brought in more than $800.

My Big Dream also produced a cookbook, “Recipes from the Heart”, that is available online.

“Truly, the smiles on the kids’ faces where they had pride in what they made and someone came and bought it, that was when I was like, ‘Okay, I’m in,’” Walker recalled.

This year’s Pop-Up event featured holiday items such as door hangers, throw pillows, plates and candied almonds. All proceeds from the sales go directly back into the program, said Walker.

My Big Dream has also partnered with OneHope Wineries of Napa Valley, Ca. as a separate way of raising funds. Walker said 10% of all wine purchases made through the company will go back to My Big Dream.

According to Walker, over the last year, the program has received donations totaling $5,500.

“It’s really just trying to get our name out to the population and what we’re trying to do,” she explained.

My Big Dream meets once a week in New Bern at Two Rivers Church, 3321 Neuse Blvd. Though the group has been meeting on Tuesday nights, beginning December 1 the meeting will move to Thursdays from 6-8 p.m.

The meetings are open to ages 16 and older.

Walker said she expects 10-15 participants to show up beginning next month and hopes to grow that number over 2023.

Right now, Walker said, participants are welcome to simply show up for the meetings, though registration may be required in the future.

“A lot of individuals come with their parents the first time but I’ve had more independent adults showing up,” she said

A vision of the future with housing, work opportunities

Walker said based on the response she’s received from the community she expects to move quickly on plans to expand My Big Dream’s services. Those goals include finding space for a program workshop, gift shop and cafe.

“The kids would be able to learn kitchen work as well as housework there,” Walker said.

Eventually, Walker plans for My Big Dream to provide housing as well.

“It’s all going to be in one location, so there would be tiny homes, group homes and places where they can work,” she explained. “The business model really is that the public comes to us so we can create that safe environment rather than sending our friends out where there are too many uncontrolled variables.”

Walker said she would like to locate the services in downtown New Bern, an idea she eventually plans to take to the city government.

“Somewhere the tourist population could come in and see what we’re all about when they drive through New Bern,” she said.

Though she has a handful of volunteers working with the program, Walker said she  needs “lots and lots more.” She is currently looking for volunteers to help with everything from social media to legal accounting work.

“Also, if there’s someone who wants to provide supplies to us, those are always welcome,” she said.

According to Walker, My Big Dream’s ‘friends’ and volunteers plan to expand beyond Christmas ornaments next year to produce other seasonal items for sale.

“I’m hoping each season we can have something going on,” she commented.

As a self-described introvert, Walker said her work with My Big Dream has forced her out of her shell and into the larger world of business and fundraising, a role she’s finally coming to relish.

“There are people that message me all the time saying thank you for having this for our child,” she said. “It’s just about kind of giving that resounding hope to everybody.”

Reporter Todd Wetherington can be reached by email at wwetherington@gannett.com. Please consider supporting local journalism by signing up for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: New Bern organization dreaming big to support 'friends' with disabilities