The Meristem Monitor is a listing of activities and news items occurring at Meristem. This newsletter is a student-centered effort (with a parent advisor) to help students, staff, and parents stay updated on and involved in the Meristem community. For items to be listed or questions and comments, please contact Laura-Lynne Powell at lauralynne.powell@gmail.com, or Taylor Oide, Meristem Marketing Coordinator, at tayloro@meristem.pro.

March 24-28

Day Program

Bring Supplies for the Snow Trip

If your student is going to be going on the snow trip, please send them back with waterproof or ski clothes: pants, jackets, boots, gloves, and a hat.

We Need Your Help in the Garden

Get some free hours and want to get your hands dirty? Come help us for an hour or two in the Garden. Contact Twyla at twylat@meristem.pro to learn more and schedule your visit.

ILS/Dorm Program

Transportation Trip Planning Underway

Dorm students are beginning to plan their larger spring transportation trip, happening in April! This is dorm student only event, more details to follow.

Opportunity to Give Back by Planting Trees

Dorm students have the opportunity to give back to the community on March 29 by planting some trees! ILS Management is encouraging families of dorm students to keep talking about the importance of signing up, giving back to the community, and building connections.

Work Skills/TAP

Program Update from Family Zoom

At the last family Zoom meeting, program directors gave updates on their program areas. Eric Steward of TAP and work skills described the work his team of 6-8 people is doing with students including moving those who are interested and ready towards a new, year-long work readiness program. This is designed after Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE) programming which helps students explore their interests, gifts, and challenges as they develop work skills and employment plans.

Student Coordinators

Family Support Group Meetings Continue

Thursday support group meetings are 7:15-8:45 pm, by Zoom only, except as noted. Thursday meetings are held:
April 3, 6-7:30 p.m. *note the time change
April 17
May 1
May 15, 6-7:30 p.m. *note the time change

Monday meetings are a hybrid option with some Zoom participants and some in person. They are ALWAYS held 1:30-3 pm. Monday meetings are held:
April 7
April 21
May 5
May 19

Student Coordinator Helpline

A reminder that students and parents should use their SC as their primary contact and utilize the SC helpline if a quick response is needed (or to report absences, etc.) Perhaps text BOTH your SC and the helpline to be sure your message is received. The SC help line is 916.546.9422.

Cafe Updates

Josh Starts as New Cafe Program Coordinator

Last week, Josh Dellar was introduced as the new Cafe Program Coordinator. Josh brings a wealth of experience in restaurant management, menu development, and has built a successful consulting business. He is looking forward to growing the Cafe program. Shannon is still at Meristem, and will be taking on a more administrative role within Day Program. Contact Josh at joshd@meristem.pro.

Cafe Introduces New Menu Items

Last week, the Cafe introduced two new menu items: street tacos and a Meristem burger. The street tacos are made with pork al pastor, salsa verde, house pickled escabeche, and are served with chips and salsa. The Meristem burger is a beef chuck, brisket, short rib patty with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, gluten-free bun, and Meristem spread. Both of these items were a hit last week, the burgers sold out!

Have questions or want to make a reservation? Contact: reservations@meristem.pro, or call 916.768.6390.

Administration

Meristem Monitor Also Available Online

This newsletter is now available online, which means its contents are available at any time (including such things as the school lunch menu, always a lot of interest in that!). This is part of an overall redesign of the Meristem website. One long-range goal is to have an archive of past newsletters online so folks can search past editions. For now, the current newsletter is online. Head to Meristem’s new landing page and hit the “Latest” tab. The Monitor will also continue to be emailed weekly to students, staff, families.

Next Family Zoom Meeting with Erin Will Be Held This Wednesday, March 26

Monthly family Zoom meetings with Executive Director Erin Schirm are held the third Wednesday of the month. The next month, however, that falls in the middle of Spring Break. So the next family Zoom meeting will be held the fourth Wednesday, March 26, at 5 pm. Salina will email families a link prior to the meeting. A recording of the meeting is sent in the days that follow it for those who missed. Contact Salinas@meristem.pro with any questions.

Job Openings

The following job opportunities are available at Meristem: Independent Living Instructor, three positions: one the week day shift and two the weekend shift, and a Work Skills Program Specialist. Details on careers at Meristem are here.

Student Lunch Menu

Monday
Snack: Oatmeal with Berries
Lunch: Chicken Cacciatore | Roasted Potatoes | Garden Salad

Tuesday
Snack: Roasted Yams | Balsamic Reduction
Lunch: Ground Beef Tacos | Rice | Beans | Garden Salad

Wednesday
Snack: Chilaquiles
Lunch: Butter Chicken | Rice | Vegetables | Garden Salad

Thursday
Snack: Fresh Fruit
Lunch: Enchilada Bake | Rice | Garden Salad

Friday
Snack: Yogurt with Berries and Granola
Lunch: Sloppy Joes | Potatoes | Slaw

On-Campus Events

  • Cafe is reopen and serving meals on Thursdays and Fridays from 11:30am-1:30pm
  • Family support group meetings are held every other Thursday, at 7:15 p.m., and every other Monday at 1:30 p.m.; next meetings are April 3 and April 7.
  • Performances of “Bothered and Bewildered” are on weekends from March 7-23
  • Next Family Zoom meeting with Erin is Wednesday, March 26
  • Cesar Chavez Day, Monday, March 31 is a regular program day at Meristem
  • Next break is Summer break from May 26-30
  • Magic the Gathering tournaments on Mondays at 3:30-7:30pm in Town Hall, open to the public.

Meristem’s full year Program Calendar is here.

Miscellaneous Events & Resources

CalABLE Webinars
CalABLE, California’s tax-advantaged savings program for people with disabilities, has a series of webinars with helpful information on a number of topics. Recent ones were on Special Needs Trusts and the CalABLE savings accounts. Slides from that webinar are here. A list of the 2024 webinars are here. Slides for the 2025 webinars are here.

Herbal Arts Classes for the Public
Herbal Arts instructor Amy Branum is hosting a series of classes on Herbal Arts as part of her School of Botanical Studies. Classes include an introductory series that will be held on Meristem’s campus on weekends beginning March 22. Classes are:

Grassroots (in person): An in-person class to introduce the foundations of herbal medicine. Classes include teas, introduction to plant identification, herbs for stress, introduction to flower essences, etc. Held 8 Saturdays beginning March 22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost and registration is here.

Flower Essence Immersion: Meets twice a month beginning April 1. Class meets online twice a month. There is an additional option to take an in-person flower essence-making class to make flower essence within the natural habitat. Details here.

Spring Medicine Making: Begins May 31 and meets Saturdays for five weeks. Hands-on work wildcrafting and making medicines. Class harvests plants and process them together to make tinctures, syrups, oils, extracts, etc. Held on the Meristem campus. Registration and details here.

Stage Right Productions to Perform in the Meristem Theater
Stage Right Productions, a local non-profit theater company, has chosen Meristem as the venue for their next production. Bothered and Bewildered recently wrapped up. The group’s next show, the classic Broadway fable Guys and Dolls, runs June 19-July 6, at Meristem. Details and tickets are here.

Gentle Yoga
YogaSix in Land Park is a yoga studio that has been approved as a social/recreation vendor with Alta California Regional Center and offers one-hour gentle yoga sessions specifically designed to be accessible and adapted. Class focus includes breathing techniques, exercise, and mindfulness. The class is Saturdays 12 p.m.-1 p.m. at 4700 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento. To enroll, call 916.502.4152.

Fair Oaks Farmers’ Market
This nearby Farmers’ Market is held every Tuesday, 9 am to 2 pm, year-round, rain or shine. Location is Fair Oaks Park, 11549 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks.

Midtown Farmers’ Market
This year-round farmers’ market has been voted the best in the state and features more than 200 vendors. Booths offer artisan creations, prepared foods, baked goods, flowers, local wines, and of course lots of fresh fruits and vegetables from area growers. It runs 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays and covers several blocks with arts and crafts and good eats starting at 1050 20th St. More information here.