Mini-Town, Maximum Help

Southern Colorado has another first of its kind in the country. It’s a two week old mini-village called “Possibilities”. It’s designed with the disabled in mind. Goodwill is the brains behind this University of Life. This lab-classroom is nestled in the new Goodwill building off Garden of the Gods and Centennial in the northwest part of Colorado Springs.

I got a tour of this facility and it’s pretty amazing. Goodwill teaches the disabled community in the Pikes Peak Region life skills so they don’t have to worry about the pressure about making mistakes in a real life situation. This village called “Possibilities” includes a credit union, a fitness center, a town hall and even a sort of apartment facility. Goodwill’s Denise Krug is in charge of this University of Life. She gave me a tour of the apartment, “This is our interactive apartment where you would come to learn to do cooking and to entertain with your friends.” There are three kitchens set up for students and a laundry center. Krug says, “Anything you can think about being successful within your own apartment would be taught here.”

John Schwarz goes to this University of Life. He told me, “It’s working out great. It’s good and I’m having a great time here.” The key to this facility is you can learn and practice until the skill is achieved without any pressure. There is 14 thousand square feet of learning spiced liberally with fun.

It took three years of planning and donations to build this facility. No taxpayer money was used. Currently there are 120 students in the “Possibilities” program. Goodwill has room for 300.