VFI Celebrates 30th Anniversary in Grand Setting

By Lois Thompson

What was originally designed as a 30th anniversary celebration for Voices for Independence (VFI) turned out to be a show of solidarity for the disability community, according to Steve Johnson. Johnson, director of marketing for VFI in both Washington, Pa., and Erie, said the event, held at the Warner Theater in Erie, was a fundraiser to honor VFI's 30 years of service to individuals with disabilities in 27 counties throughout Western Pennsylvania.

However, Johnson pointed out that those in attendance were not only supporting VFI, but also Inspire, a disability-based theater troupe that performed onstage during the celebration. The evening began with a reception in the lobby of the theater that included a DJ and catering by a local restaurant.

The crowd then proceeded into the main theater for presentations and the live Inspire performance. Johnson said VFI CEO Shona Eakin spoke about how far the organization has come since its humble beginnings, and Johnson himself crafted a slide show of pictures from throughout the years that ran in the background. Eakin received a commendation from Erie Mayor Joe Schember to honor not just her but also VFI as a whole for 30 years of service. "That was a truly special moment for us, to be honored for three decades of service to the disability community," Johnson said.

The evening then continued with the performance by Inspire. Johnson explained, "This theater troupe has been around since the '80s. It started as a night class for individuals with disabilities at a local high school, McDowell High School. They tried a couple of different classes, and when somebody brought up the idea of a theater class, they said ok, we can try that."

Johnson said that the individuals who make up Inspire have developmental disabilities, and since starting, the group has put on about 26 productions, everything from "Fiddler on the Roof" to "The Lion King." "While the show does contain choreography, uninhibited interpretive dance also allows the performers to live in the moment and put on a great show, with music in the background."

For this show, Inspire hooked up with Abbey Road, a local Beatles tribute band with whom they had performed during their last engagement at McDowell. Johnson said for this evening, for the first time, Inspire found themselves performing on the Warner stage. "They had all of this room to move and work, inside a beautiful theater with people cheering for them. It was a wonderful moment for us."

Johnson said quite a few people also traveled from VFI's facility in Washington to attend the event. "It was the perfect culmination of the 30 years we've put in, celebrating the work we've done, the disability community, and all the progress that's been made across the board."

For more information, call (724) 223-5115 or visit vficil.org.