News and notes from Imagine! and the Imagine! Foundation.
Good News Friday!
Jun-16-2023
Employees
To help us celebrate Imagine!’s 60th Anniversary, Morgan Barnes, a Licensed Mental Health Therapist working for Imagine!, answered some questions for us about her work and her hopes for Imagine! in the future.
What is your role at Imagine!?
I am a licensed mental health therapist working in Imagine!’s Behavioral Health department. I meet with individuals to help them manage mental health challenges like anxiety and depression symptoms.
What does the name Imagine! mean to you?
To me, the name Imagine! means the importance of dreaming of a better future in order to take steps to make that dream become a reality. For example, supporting every member of our society so that they are able to live their best life. As Martin Luther King once said, “No one is free until we are all free.” I believe that all individuals in society are at their best when we all are supporting one another.
What does creating a world of opportunity for all abilities mean to you?
I am a piece of Imagine!’s puzzle, supporting individuals to overcome mental health challenges. People with disabilities are at higher risk for co-occurring trauma and other mental health diagnoses compared to the general population due to things like discrimination, barriers to independence and autonomy, lack of support, etc. My goal is for individuals who meet with me to feel confident in who they are and their ability to find ways to have all their needs met, including a sense of purpose.
What does working at Imagine! mean to you?
Working at Imagine! to me is something very special. I started working at CORE/Labor Source in Longmont in 2015 after graduating with my undergrad degree. Working for Imagine! taught me so many important lessons, including that all I needed to be was myself to be accepted into this warm and awesome community. When I left to pursue a career in mental health after the birth of my son, I couldn’t find a workplace that felt as supportive and am thankful to be back.
What is your favorite story from your time at Imagine!?
My favorite memories from working for Imagine! are driving individuals home at the end of the day after day program, and connecting through philosophical conversations. I also remember how supportive all of my coworkers were, we were good friends and it was so fun coming to work with friends.
What is your hope for the future of Imagine!?
My hope for the future of Imagine! is that we continue to expand services to those in need in our community and continue to raise awareness so that we can continue to integrate essential individuals into the fabric of our society. It takes all members of the village for a thriving society.
