Kalix (formally known as Minot Vocational Workshop) annually celebrates Earth Day by offering specials for those wishing to turn their trash into cash!  Americans buy 28 billion bottles of water annually and 70-80% of those bottles end up in landfills.  The Recycling Center celebrates Earth Day to spread the message about the importance of recycling. This year, Kalix gave Minot residents the opportunity to donate tokens/cash earned from recycling to the school of their choice during the month of April.  Thirteen schools received donations from community members.  Dakota Elementary received the most donated tokens and was presented with a traveling... Read More

Congrats to Celeste Badke (ISLA) for being selected as Employee of the Month for May.  Celeste approaches regular life situations with initiative and hard work.  In one recent example, she planned and made arrangements to handle all the details of a residential move, then put in the effort to make it a positive experience for everybody involved. Thank you, Celeste, for displaying the Kalix values:  PROFESSIONALISM and DEPENDABILITY! Congratulations to the other nominees: Amanda Duke (MSLA), JoAnn Kemaldean (MSLA), Brook Velazquez (1109), and Pamela Sanchez (ISLA), Paula Seabolt (MSLA).

Congrats to Shayne York (ISLA) for being selected as Employee of the Month for April.  Shane possesses two of the most important attributes of a Support Staff:  (1) the ability to figure out how to help a person make progress towards goals and (2) willingness to cheerfully help with meeting program needs. Congratulations to the other nominees: Ben Chapin (DSP), Jo Kelly (1007), Jamie Norris (MSLA), and Margarita Nieskes (MSLA). STAR Employee of the Quarter Congratulations to our STAR Employee of the Quarter, Krista Opstedal, Program Director of Assistive Technology.  Six separate staff submitted nominations describing Krista’s passion, creativity, and... Read More

Congrats to Jesika Martin (DSP) for being selected as Employee of the Month for March. During public meetings conducted for CQL, Jesika was assigned to support a person from DSP. Jesika represented Kalix well both by participating in the small group exercises as a Direct Support Staff, and by providing support to a person receiving services while she made a presentation to the entire stakeholder group. Her demonstration of professionalism and inclusion was a perfect display of Kalix values and services for the CQL evaluators. Jesika says that her favorite things about working at Kalix are helping people and making them... Read More

Kalix raised over $12,000 for our assistive technology program through the Giving Hearts Day program on February 13th.  A variety of promotions assisted the fund-raising efforts: The GHD Disability Awareness Challenge invited local celebrities to attempt completion of a variety of everyday tasks while contending with simulated disabilities Sweet & Flour offered free cupcakes to customers that made a donation Broadway Bean & Bagel made a donation for each sale of a Red Velvet Latte Eight participating local non-profits teamed up to get the word out using signs, Facebook, press releases, an audio clip from Josh Duhamel, and a video... Read More

Congrats to Kendra Black (1109) for being selected as Employee of the Month for February 2014.  Kendra had two nominations this month which explain how Kendra exhibits the KALIX values of dependability, adaptability, professionalism and teamwork. Of all the nice things mentioned in the nominations for this award, the most dramatic comment is that Kendra… “inspires others around her to do better.”  Her positive attitude is infectious! Congrats, Kendra. Congrats to the other nominees: Becky Thorp (MSLA), Joe Stockard (MSLA), Johsua Robinson (MSLA), Amy Stewart (1005), Celeste Badke (ISLA), White Bader (1109), and Ronda Wolfe-Hartley (DSP)

Giving Hearts Day 2014 was on Thursday February 13, 2014. Kalix raised over $12,000 to fund our assistive technology program.  A huge thank you to Mattson Construction, Minot Sertoma, and First Western Insurance for providing match donations! See links below for publicity re Giving Hearts Day 2014.   Links: http://www.kxnet.com/story/24697720/disability-challenge http://www.kxnet.com/story/24720488/giving-hearts-day http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/591533/Enhancing-lives-of-others.html Kalix ImpactGiveback.org Page http://www.kxnet.com/story/24658288/giving-hearts http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/591956/Giving-Hearts-Day.html http://blog.visitminot.org/2014/02/06/giving-hearts-day/  

When a Pepsi truck slid into the ditch near Minot recently, a major catastrophe was avoided.  However, the local Pepsi distributor had a problem:  what to do with cases of canned and bottled beverages that couldn’t be sold or consumed? Kalix Recycling Center employees offered a solution.  Each can and bottle is being opened, drained, and then recycled.  It will take about three weeks to process the truckload of beverage containers.  When it’s done, Northern Bottling of Minot will have successfully disposed of unusable inventory.  The Kalix Recycling Center will recycle the cans and bottles.  And a group of hard-working... Read More

Congrats to Tange Stone (DSP) for being selected as Employee of the Month for January.  Tange has been employed at Kalix for 17 years and is recognized as a leader in the Day Supports Program – completing her own assignments, and then making sure that the many necessary tasks of support provision are done for others. Tange never hesitates to assist when and where needed and her primary concern is to meet the needs of those in the Program and with dignity and respect.  Tange definitely exhibits each of Kalix values:  Dependability, Adaptability, Professionalism and Teamwork. Congrats to the other... Read More

Congrats to Jacques Lee (MSLA) for being selected as Employee of the Month for November 2013.  Jacques is recognized as a resource for all staff at MSLA – somebody that can step in and provide quality support to anybody in the building.  PLUS – he is known to proactively check on people so that he is there to provide assistance without being asked. Jacques definitely exhibits each of the KALIX values:  Dependability, Adaptability, Professionalism and Teamwork. Congrats to others nominees:  JoAnn Robbins (DSP) and Laurie Larson (MSLA).