Recreational Therapy, also known as therapeutic recreation, is a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions as a means to psychological and physical health, recovery and well-being. The purpose of the recreational therapy process is to improve or maintain physical, cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual functioning in order to facilitate full participation in life.

Services are provided or directly supervised by a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). Recreational therapy includes, but is not limited to, providing treatment services and recreation activities to children, teens and adults by using a variety of techniques, including arts and crafts, animals, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music and community outings.

At Easterseals Crossroads, we have the best recreation therapists! Thanks to Kaylee Banco, Payton Chelmella, Michaele Gambrall, Gina Schulz and Jennifer Weber for providing such a vital service for our consumers.

Learn more about recreation therapy at Easterseals Crossroads.

contributed by Michael Ferron, Easterseals Crossroads Board Member

In 1921, a white supremacist mob violently attacked the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Greenwood—popularly called Black Wall Street—was a prosperous community replete with Black business owners, restaurateurs, lawyers, doctors, and other professionals.

The Tulsa Race Massacre left ten thousand people homeless, eight hundred injured, and at least three dozen dead—though many researchers estimate the death toll to be as high as three thousand. Additionally, the two-day race riot decimated decades of Black socioeconomic progress. It destroyed more than thirty city blocks in the Greenwood community, including more than two million dollars (approximately $33 million in 2020 dollars) in property damage.

John (The Baptist) Stradford

Among the wreckage and ruin was the Stradford Hotel, one of several Greenwood hotels J. B. Stradford and his wife Bertie Eleanor Wiley Stradford owned. At the time, Mr. Stradford was one of the wealthiest and most prominent Black entrepreneurs in the United States. He graduated from the Indianapolis College of Law, a predecessor to the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis. Mr. Stradford practiced law here and opened his first hotel in Alexandria, Indiana, in 1899. Later that year, he and his wife moved to Tulsa and began developing hotels and real estate. (portrait of JB Stadford at right by Jay Parnell).

The Stadfords purchased large tracts of land, developed them, and sold some of the properties exclusively to Black people for housing and the opportunity to start their own businesses. They believed that combining resources would give other Black people the same economic opportunities as white people. This ethos inspired other Black business owners to do the same and created immeasurable wealth during a period of pervasive racial segregation and discrimination.

During his first two decades in Tulsa, Mr. Stradford became a prolific business magnate: his home was worth $125,000 ($1.95M in 2020 dollars), and he owned two dozen rental houses, a 16-room brick apartment building, pool halls, shoeshine parlors, and spas. By the mid-1910s, Mr. Stradford earned over $8,500 (2020) per month in revenue. Then, in 1918, he purchased the crown jewel of his real estate portfolio at 301 North Greenwood Avenue.

The Stradford Hotel

Mr. Stradford founded his namesake hotel to give Black Tulsans access to the same amenities as segregated hotels. “The Stradford would be a monument to the thrift, energy, and business tact of the race in Tulsa [and] to the race in the state of Oklahoma,” he remarked during the hotel’s grand opening. At the time, the Stradford Hotel was the largest Black-owned and operated hotel in the country. It had 54 rooms, a casino, pool hall, bar, and restaurant. Along with the Commodore Cotton Club across the street, the hotel filled Greenwood Avenue with jazz music, giving Black residents the freedom to dance and commune without fear.

Civil Rights Activist

In addition to his business acumen, Mr. Stradford was a fervent advocate for racial and economic equality and a follower of W. E. B. Dubois, co-founder of the NAACP. He sponsored Mr. Dubois’s March 1921 visit to Tulsa as part of Dubois’s nationwide book tour.

Mr. Stradford’s activism included refusing to move to the back of a segregated train car resulting in his expulsion—he would later sue the rail company for discriminating against Black riders. He also fought against police brutality and corruption, championed women’s reproductive rights, and used his legal training to represent numerous Black men who would have faced certain death whether convicted or not. Moreover, Mr. Stradford often organized large groups to protest the lynchings of Black people.

On several occasions, Mr. Stradford’s army of protesters outnumbered the lynch mob saving many Black Tulsans from a horrific death. He collaborated with the editor of the Tulsa Star to write articles about his advocacy, including one entitled “Near Lynch Victim Proved to be an Innocent Man.” Following back-to-back lynchings and the arrest of a Black man—who surely would have been lynched—after winning a bar fight against a white man, Mr. Stradford became even more passionate about police accountability and the scourge of racial violence.

When the City of Tulsa enacted a law mandating housing segregation, Mr. Stradford unsuccessfully lobbied the mayor to veto it and Tulsa’s district attorney to condemn it to the ire of local segregationists. The Oklahoma Supreme Court later invalidated the ordinance, and the United States Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional. But the law remained on the books until the 1960s with police enforcement. Some historians believe Mr. Stradford’s remonstration precipitated the deadly attack a few years later.

“The single worst incident of racial violence in American history.”

On May 31, 1921, police arrested a young Black man who became at risk of being lynched by a white mob. Mr. Stradford had no confidence that the police chief would protect the young man, so he a group and went to the courthouse. Violence broke out, and Mr. Stradford fled to his hotel to protect it. Machine gun fire destroyed the hotel’s windows and façade, and Mr. Stradford fought to fend off the rabid crowd throughout the night. Eventually, the National Guard arrived and attempted to evacuate the Greenwood District. However, Mr. Stradford and other hotel owners refused to abandon their property. The National Guard promised them that their properties would not sustain further damage if they surrendered.

Mr. Stradford and the others sheltering at the Stradford Hotel agreed, but the National Guard confiscated all the money in his hotel and burned it to the ground. A few days later, Mr. Stradford was the first person charged with inciting a riot, for which the penalty was life in prison or death. Well aware of his fate, Mr. Stradford gathered his remaining cash and escaped on a train to his brother’s home in Independence, Kansas.

Shortly after his arrival, the local police showed up at Mr. Stradford’s brother’s house. They asked him to turn himself in, to which Mr. Stradford replied, “Hell no!” Nevertheless, police arrested and booked him in the local jail. While out on bail, the police told Mr. Stradford to appear for court about a week later. Instead, Mr. Stradford and his son Cornelius Francis Stradford, also an attorney, fled to Chicago. He fought extradition to Tulsa and settled in the Windy City, where he remained branded a fugitive from justice for the rest of his life.

Resilience and Remembrance

Mr. Stradford was born into a formerly enslaved family in Kentucky on September 10, 1861. After a lifetime of building the kind of wealth and social status that Black people in that era could only dream of, Mr. Stradford lost everything during those two days in Tulsa. Like all the other Black property owners in Greenwood, insurance companies refused to pay any claims. In the end, Mr. Stradford lost his hard-earned fortune and reputation.

Always a shrewd businessman, Mr. Stradford rebuilt his life and started new businesses in Chicago. While he never regained his former affluence, Mr. Stradford opened a candy store, barbershop, and a small pool hall. His descendants said the injustice Mr. Stradford endured during the Tulsa Massacre always affected him. Mr. Stradford died in Chicago on December 22, 1935.

In 1996, with the help of an Oklahoma legislator, Mr. Stradford’s great-grandson fought to clear his name. The Tulsa district attorney re-examined the case, determined that Mr. Stradford and several other Black were wrongly charged with rioting, and exonerated all of them 75 years after the infamous bloodbath.

Last year, the I.U. McKinney School of Law held a ceremony to honor Mr. Stradford’s legacy. His family members attended the event, where the law school unveiled a portrait of Mr. Stradford that commissioned Indianapolis artist Jay Parnell to paint. Students and visitors can see the portrait on display on the second floor of the law school.

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Michael Ferron joined the Easterseals Crossroads board of directors in 2016 and has served as ESC’s development committee chair for the past three years. In addition to being a disability advocate, Mr. Ferron is a real estate broker and instructor. His professional and research interests focus on the intersection of race, housing, and poverty. In May 2022, Mr. Ferron will earn a law degree and graduate certificate in civil and human rights law from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law—Mr. Stradford’s alma mater.

No Label at the Table is a gluten and dairy free food company located in Carmel’s Arts and Design District on Main Street. In their dedicated gluten and dairy free facility, employees make everything from wedding cakes to casseroles. Shelly Henley, owner and founder, started the company five years ago when her son who has autism was transitioning to adulthood. When looking to hire, Shelly has focused on employing individuals who have autism.

When Rhonda Wood, an internship development specialist at Easterseals Crossroads, saw the bakery highlighted on the local news one morning, she contacted Shelly. Rhonda has been involved with the College InternXperience program at Easterseals Crossroads since its creation in 2016. The program relies on partnerships with participating area colleges and universities to provide paid internship opportunities for college students who have been diagnosed with autism. The program is designed to provide hands-on experiences for students within their chosen fields of studies.

After the success of her first placement from the program, Shelly has since been a huge supporter and has hosted many culinary interns through the years from Ivy Tech and Ball State.

The employees gain valuable work experience in the kitchen and front of house. The most popular item they make is an oatmeal dream sandwich, but they are busy gearing up for the holidays. They offer allergen free pies and sides for holiday meals that allow everyone to be included at the table.

“Working at No Label at The Table has been a great learning experience for me! I’m getting an associate degree in baking and pastry arts from Ivy Tech and I have been able to get real world experience on how to bake different types of pastries and work around the kitchen. I have also learned about greeting and serving our customers with the delicious pastries we make,” said intern Jose (photo at right).

Rhonda Wood and Suzanne McVey are both college intern development specialists for the College InternXperience progam. Since the program began in 2016, it has provided 93 intern experiences for individuals who attend Ball State, IUPUI, IvyTech, Purdue or UIndy.

Contact us to learn more about our College InternXperience program.

The Sertoma Club of North Downtown Indianapolis is once again holding a Valentine’s Day Rose Sale to benefit Easterseals Crossroads.

The club is now taking orders for their beautiful, florist-quality roses. You can place your order online or you can call the Sertoma Club of North Downtown Indianapolis and speak with president Brad Polo at 317.446.6760.

The roses sell out quickly, so plan to place your order soon!

Prices:
One Dozen (boxed with greenery): $50
1/2 Dozen (vase with greenery): $30
Spray of 3 roses (vase with greenery): $20

Pickup Location (date and time):
4740 Kingsway Drive, Indianapolis, IN  46205
February 14, 2022 (12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., local time)

Click here to order

Olivia and Sophia are twins (Olivia left and Sophia right in above photo) who attend the Indiana School for the Deaf. Like many 16-year-olds, they want to learn to drive. The written test to gain a learner’s permit is now accessible for Deaf people in Indiana because Easterseals Crossroads worked with the BMV to make the computerized tests available in American Sign Language.

“ASL is my first language; I don’t understand written English all the time. Having the questions signed was the only way to make the test accessible for me,” said Sophia. Olivia thought some of the wording was tricky. “I would not have understood the questions without the videos,” said Olivia.

Easterseals Crossroads realized the tremendous need for ASL test options and Stephanie Ritchie and Jennifer Alka from our Deaf services team worked diligently during the past year to make this need a reality. The computerized versions of the tests now provide video links of ASL interpreters signing the questions. “ASL is a visual language; it is definitely different than written English and some words do not transfer well,” said Jennifer.

“A huge barrier for Deaf people no longer exists. An entire new generation of drivers will never realize that there were struggles with testing accessibility. It has been amazing to be part of something this big. We made a change that can benefit every Deaf driver in Indiana,” said Stephanie.

Lucas was diagnosed with autism before his second birthday and has been working with autism specialists for three years. Now five, he is learning to communicate and make friends in addition to learning his colors, numbers and letters – all amazing things according to his mom Mary.

Mary is a social worker, but still learns more about autism and available services every day since both of her children have autism. “I have a lot of knowledge, but it isn’t the same when you apply it to your own kids. Reading the books about autism is one thing, but having someone with experience guide you is best. Easterseals Crossroads helps our family every step of the way,” said Mary.

Learn about autism services for children and young adults at Easterseals Crossroads.

Crossroads Industrial Services is an ISO 9001:2015 contract manufacturing plant within the Indianapolis area that offers high quality solutions for businesses that include assembly, supply chain management, fulfillment, product packaging, document scanning and more. “What makes us unique is our mission – we employ people with disabilities and the work we perform generates income for programs for people with disabilities at Easterseals Crossroads,” said Jeff Gore, General Manager, Administration.

“We have been in business for many years because of the reliability and accountability of our workforce. The bottom line is that our customers want quality products delivered on time. That is always number one to us,” said Greg Roberts, General Manager, Operations.

There is great accountability and responsibility in working at Industrial Services. So much so that many of the employees have 20+ years of tenure. “This speaks to the value of the staff and the benefits of working at Industrial Services, but it also speaks to the fact that the employees are working to create better opportunities for others by being part of something bigger,” said Greg.

I have been part of making products that are shipped all over the country, all over the world. This has made me realize that I am doing something very important, said John, Industrial Services employee, 27 years.

Learn more about Crossroads Industrial Services.

You can be part of something bigger on Giving Tuesday this year for children with disabilities at Easterseals Crossroads. Through children’s therapy and autism programs, we provided over 21,191 service appointments for families who count on us to meet their needs. In turn, we count on our community to help us cover the 25% of our operating budget that relies on philanthropy. There has never been a better time to be a part of something bigger for people with disabilities and veterans at Easterseals Crossroads.

All gifts to up to $50,000 will be matched through the end of the year.

Meet Fenton

“Five-year-old Fenton is the gift that our family never thought of asking for,” said mom Erin. With four older brothers and one older sister, he is surrounded by a protective, loving sibling team.

Fenton was born with Down syndrome and his mom Erin, a speech pathologist at Easterseals Crossroads years ago, knew where she wanted Fenton to receive therapy. “I trust the people and the mission at Easterseals Crossroads. I knew this would be a long-term journey for our family, so I wanted him to be in a place where he is loved, taken care of and treated like family,” said Erin.

Learn more about children’s services.