What does the next chapter of Handicapped Development Center look like?

This is a bold question that requires forward thinking, and our entire team has worked tirelessly to find the right answers. Our strategic planning process included digging into our organization’s brand within the community. We knew our existing name and look wasn’t illustrative of our capabilities and mission today; however, the respect the agency has […]

This is a bold question that requires forward thinking, and our entire team has worked tirelessly to find the right answers. Our strategic planning process included digging into our organization’s brand within the community. We knew our existing name and look wasn’t illustrative of our capabilities and mission today; however, the respect the agency has garnered over nearly 55 years could not be discounted.  So, the question evolved. How do we tell the story of HDC and position our organization for success for years to come? 

It’s no small task, and we began by asking those who know us best — our employees, families, friends and participants. Equipped with research, we were able to pinpoint what makes our organization so essential to the community, and then began crafting our brand around those elements.  We rallied around the fact that there’s no other organization in the Iowa Quad Cities that provides such a broad array of services quite like ours. HDC delivers vital community services and programs and fills a void by showing up for individuals with special needs, helping them achieve their best life. We’re innovative, welcoming, and ready to serve our participants in the best way possible. Not only do we provide essential community services, but we’re innovative experts in our field, and bring a one-stop shop to our menu of services. Our compassionate staff is dedicated to creating opportunities for participants and are inspired by the resilience and potential of those we serve. By merging these elements and injecting a fresh new energy into our brand, we’re proud of our past, appreciative of our present, and are excited to introduce the evolution of who we are today by unveiling our new name: Empowering Abilities.  Complementing our new name is a symbolic new logo that illustrates the potential and resilience of our participants. We’re proud that our brand’s refresh evokes positivity — a key tenet of our organization’s overarching outlook and attitude. We look forward to this new chapter as Empowering Abilities by continuing to be the standalone leader in creating opportunities and changing the lives of individuals with special needs and empowering participants to achieve their individual best. However, rest assured, we may have a new name, but our mission remains the same. Here’s to a renewed spirit and a recharged brand, ready to make a greater impact than ever before by changing the lives of individuals with special needs. Together, we create opportunities and change lives.    Jeff Ashcraft is the president & CEO of Empowering Abilities. He can be reached at jeffashcraft@empoweringabilities.org.