Community Driven: How We Live, Work, and Grow in the Cedar Valley

posted by Bonnie Kipper on Wednesday, May 13, 2026

For people served by EPI, community isn’t just a place—it’s where life happens. Being community driven means creating meaningful opportunities for people to live, work, and grow in ways that reflect who they are, what they choose, and where they call home.

How Are we Living in our Community?
Across the Cedar Valley, people supported by EPI live in homes woven throughout local neighborhoods—places that look just like any other home on the street. These are not facilities; they are everyday homes where individuals live independently with the right supports in place.

Through My Life, My Way, a supported community living enhancement, EPI has reimagined traditional day habilitation into a more personal, flexible approach to support. Days, evenings, and weekends are intentionally shaped around what matters most to each person.

Within the home, tech-enabled services support safety and independence—giving individuals greater freedom while creating time and space to fully participate in My Life, My Way. Whether it’s hiking a favorite trail, attending church, enjoying local music, volunteering, or simply relaxing at home, these everyday choices build confidence, independence, and connection—while ensuring supports remain appropriate and responsive.

Where are we Working in our Community?
Employment is a powerful pathway to inclusion, belonging, and independence. Through EPI’s employment services, individuals are securing meaningful jobs and earning competitive wages. Currently, 149 individuals hold jobs earning at or above minimum wage, and that number continues to grow.

EPI partners with more than 360 businesses across the Cedar Valley to create equal employment opportunities and connect employers with a skilled, motivated workforce. These partnerships benefit everyone—businesses gain dedicated employees, and individuals gain purpose, independence, and a sense of belonging in their communities.

Each new connection reflects what’s possible when communities invest in people and recognize the value of inclusive employment.

How are we Growing in our Community?
Growing—what we often describe as living, working, and growing—goes beyond participation. It’s about building relationships, strengthening independence, and reaching meaningful milestones over time.

That growth might look like moving into a first apartment, expanding social connections, gaining confidence at work, or transitioning from services with new skills and goals. Through intentional support, people continue to grow not only within EPI’s services, but beyond them—deepening their role and presence within the community.

When inclusion is done thoughtfully and with purpose, it creates opportunities that last. Being community driven isn’t a program—it’s a commitment, and it remains at the heart of everything we do.