Unless U
Unless U is a non-profit organization which assists adults with developmental disabilities with a variety of educational and social programs. It was founded in 2014 and is located at 737 Chestnut Street in Vestavia Hills
Lindy Cleveland is the founder and executive director. She was inspired to create the program after seeing the disappointment and isolation experienced by her older brother, Jordan, who has Down syndrome, in contrast to her experience leaving home for college. She changed her major to human development and family life education and began planning to create a non-profit that would provide a type of college experience for people with developmental disabilities. The name was inspired by a line from Dr Seuss' The Lorax, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not."
Unless U got its start at Shades Mountain Baptist Church in November 2014. Its present property was donated by Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church and Jerry and Karen Duncan. After a fund-raising campaign and delays attributable to the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, Unless U opened its new facility on May 14, 2021.
References
- Rebman, Stephanie (November 8, 2018) "Birmingham nonprofit breaks ground on Vestavia Hills headquarters." Birmingham Business Journal
- Holton, Bill (February 8, 2019) "Lindy wanted to help her brother, so she started a college for adults with special needs." Woman's World
- Rebman, Stephanie (May 11, 2021) "Unless U opening new headquarters." Birmingham Business Journal
External links
- Unless U website