News
Check out the latest published news articles featuring Circle of Friends, including updates on creating supportive employment opportunities and progress on planning the intergenerational, multi-ability community.
Circle of Friends opening 2nd coffee shop in Cherokee County
WOODSTOCK — Downtown Woodstock’s Circle of Friends is expanding to provide people with disabilities more opportunities for work and social connection.
Coffee With A Cop Set For Tuesday In Woodstock
WOODSTOCK, GA — The Woodstock Police Department is again hosting Coffee with a Cop on Tuesday at Circle of Friends Coffee Shop. The men and women of the Woodstock Police Department will be having coffee at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 21 at Friends Coffee Shop, 1 Innovation Way, located inside the Circuit at Chattahoochee Tech.
Circle of Friends aims for inclusion through fellowship
Communities are part of the glue that helps you feel connected. Diane Keen and her son, Haden, were involved at Hickory Flat United Methodist Church in Canton. Diane spent time in the church’s community garden and as a congregational health nurse. Haden was in the youth group. Despite Haden’s diagnosis in the autism spectrum, the youth pastor made sure he was able to participate and if needed, the support of an older adult was arranged.
Circle of Friends Offers Safe Community, Job Opportunities
Circle of Friends (COF) exists to transform environments of isolation into communities of inclusion by creating opportunities for connection, purpose and belonging in three ways:
1. Social engagement (visit circleoffriendsinc.org for bi-monthly meeting details)
2. Supportive employment
3. Affordable community housing
“These days the world needs a community like Mayberry,” said Stephen Taylor, executive director of COF. “A return to simpler times, where everyone is included, cares for each other and has their place.” Stephen, born profoundly deaf, understands the daily challenges of living with a disability. He has dedicated his life to bridging the gaps between the disabilities community, the church, and the world. Building a modern day Mayberry through COF, where people like Alex can flourish, fuels his passion to keep serving.
Effort to create community for disabled accepts 262-acre land donation
HICKORY FLAT — An effort to build an affordable community for people with disabilities got a boost Thursday when the Circle of Friends advocacy group announced it has accepted a donation of 262 acres of land near Ball Ground. Circle of Friends founders Diane and Glenn Keen and Stephen Taylor said at their group’s meeting Thursday that they secured land in Ball Ground for their proposed community.
