Beth Gallagher is the founder, owner and Director of Life Works. Life Works was founded in 2004 after Beth moved to San Diego from Chico, CA. Her work with people with developmental disabilities began just weeks after graduating from California State University, Chico in 1986 with degrees in Child Development and Psychology. While for over 2 decades her emphasis has been on creating personalized services, she began her career operating group homes for persons with behavioral support needs and/or medical concerns. The vast majority of her career has been focused on creating unique support situations for individuals with severe reputations. Because Beth has chosen to work with people that have been historically under-served, she has spent a great deal of time studying person centered planning methods that allow people to be heard and understood as individuals.
Collaboration is entrenched in the Beth's personal philosophy as well as the philosophy of Life Works. She has helped coordinate a strong local collaboration between Life Works and two other support agencies, Creative Support Alternatives and Networx. Beth also works in partnership with other leaders in the state of California to strengthen and enrich community living services state wide while serving on the Board of Directors of the California Supported Living Network . When asked what her mission is Beth says, “My hope for Life Works is that we can team with people to achieve unique, customized and fully realized lives. We want to do this one person at a time in a way that makes particular sense to that person.”
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Kirk Hinkleman is the Associate Director of Life Works. He has been working in the human services field since 1998. His venture into the field came as a part-time gig while attending UCSB, but quickly it became evident that a career was unfolding. Having experience that spans from residential facilities, to education, job development and then into Supported Living, Kirk has had an evolution in mission and philosophy that can be attributed to his experiences at every step along his journey. "We need to shatter labels and erase lines that have been separating people from making simple human connections with each other in the community. It starts from within ourselves and moving forward, the mission is clear...we are building sustainable, inclusive communities for all."
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Joy Boe has worked since 2005 encouraging people with disabilities to live full and independent lives. Originally introduced to the movement through a friend who brought her to an art reception at a gallery supporting adults with developmental disabilities, she immediately started working as a volunteer. Her experience with Visual Merchandising and Retail Management lead her to an entry-level position at a day program, where she worked as a buyer and part time Job Coach teaching clerical skills. Her interest in advocacy fueled her to develop and implement a new program, giving participants of the day program a chance to work alongside her in the Gift Shop and Gallery. Since then, she has successfully transitioned several people (once labeled "unqualified") into Supported Employment jobs of their liking in the community. Concurrently, she continues to work independently on organizing integrated social events locally with hopes of dismissing stereotypes and providing equal opportunities for people of all abilities. She believes Life Works' commitment to people through the high and lows of their lives is the highest form of service to be achieved.
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Lamika Winfree has had a passion for helping others since she was two years old. She graduated from Earlham College with a Bachelor's of Art in Psychology in 2003 and graduated with her Master's of Social Work from The Ohio State University in 2005. Her journey started in her master's degree program, where she was provided an opportunity to intern in a residential treatment facility. From that internship, developed a career. For the last 8 years she has worked at a non-profit organization that served people whom were behaviorally, psychologically, physically, and/or mentally impaired. Her biggest joy was changing the lives of individuals; supporting families and individuals to live effective and healthy lives in the community. Many of the people she served would characterize her as dedicated, sympathetic, great personality, but most of all committed. Through the trials and tribulations that any career brings, 100% was always given because her journey was not considered a career, but a part of her life.
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