We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lindsay Richins a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lindsay, appreciate you joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

In the special populations world there are various non profits and programs that provide classes, throw events, etc. At Project SOAR we are similar to other groups based on the fact that we provide adaptive recreational and leisure type programming. Where we stand out as unique is the emphasis placed on the experience versus the product or goal of the event. For example, any person that signs up for a painting class goes to improve their skills and to have the final product of a completed painting they created. In our program we carve out time or throughout a class have guided social interactions to benefit our participants by helping them to build relationships. When they leave the class they will remember the feeling of belonging and kinship created by the interactions had and possible a new friend. I have also taken time to connect with various parents, guardians, group homes, social workers and more to learn what are current concerns, what do they want to see or what will best suit the need for the participants coming to Project SOAR. Then I take the knowledge gained to my team and we put into action the changes learned so that we can continue to help provide a great experience for all.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am the Program Manager for a non profit called Project SOAR. I have been in this position for over 4 years. Project SOAR is part of Community Education programming that spans across four school districts in the twin cities metro of Minnesota. Project SOAR is a place for adults 18 and older of all abilities to come and take recreational and leisure classes, activities and events that are adapted for all needs/abilities. I began working in special populations when I was 15 and have always worked or volunteered in some capacity within this community. I am proud of the way Project SOAR seeks to continually grow and change with the times and the reputation of a great program we have built in the local area and beyond because of the hard work of everyone at Project SOAR.
The main thing I want people to know about me and the population I serve is that my job is so much fun and anyone that assumes differently hasn’t interacted enough with individuals with disabilities.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me personally being a program manager affords me the opportunity to create all the marketing, social media campaigns and art work for my classes. It is a fun challenge to put together icons of classes, photo arrays of experiences to share and posters that will entice people to want to come to an event.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Special populations programming within a geographical space can rise and fall dependent on word of mouth. At Project SOAR its the continual strive on the emphasis of participant experience in all we do. It is not only listening but showing what we heard and acknowledging what we heard is being put into practice quickly. It is also the want to provide programs to help individuals grow to be the best versions of themselves they can be and encourage them in that journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.projectsoarmn.org