Dear Friend of Kerr,
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a time to recognize that awareness isn’t limited to just one month—it’s something we champion all year. Every day, we amplify voices, break barriers, and create opportunities. We all deserve to live full lives that include access to competitive, integrated employment, safe and accessible housing, meaningful relationships, and physical and mental health care.
Saturday, March 22, I had the honor of testifying alongside our Chief Human Resources Officer, Cari Bacon Flick, at the Oregon Legislature’s Budget Roadshow in Gresham. We were joined by members of our Kerr team, the Oregon Resource Association, and provider partners from across the state—all united in supporting increased wages for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). Together, we delivered a clear message: DSPs are the backbone of Oregon’s disability services system and deserve fair, sustainable compensation. If you’d like to hear our testimony, you can listen here.
A special thank you to our Governing Board of Directors for their thoughtful leadership during our recent two-day retreat. Their dedication ensures that every person we support has the opportunity to lead a self-determined life.
It was an honor to join fellow mental health leaders at Mahonia Hall, where Governor Tina Kotek and First Lady Aimee Kotek recognized the vital work happening across Oregon. Events like these strengthen our collective commitment to advancing mental health services.
Thanks to the generosity of the Braemar Charitable Trust, one of our group homes will soon receive much-needed flooring upgrades—helping create an even more welcoming and comfortable space for the individuals we support.
March is also Women’s History Month, which makes me reflect on Albertina Sechtem Kerr’s remarkable legacy. At just 21, Albertina’s life was cut short by typhoid. Her final wish—”Look after other motherless babies”—sparked a movement that continues today. Her values live on in every service we provide, shaping the work we do every day. Read more here.
Your support makes all of this possible. Thank you for being part of the Kerr community.
Warmly,
Allison Stark
CEO, Albertina Kerr
Pictured Top Photo Collage: Kerr team, the Oregon Resource Association, and provider partners from across the state—all united in supporting increased wages for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs).
Pictured Bottom Photo Collage: Individuals Kerr supports share their “I am/can always” story (above and bottom left); Our namesake Albertina Sechtem Kerr (top right), Oregon Governor Tina Kotek with Kerr CEO Allison Stark (bottom right); Albertina Kerr’s Governing Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team (top left).Â