WISDOM OF PARENTS * BOBFEST REDUX * SUMMER SATURDAYS * Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter * Vol. 14 * May 3, 2013

PARENTS' WISDOM BROUGHT CHANGES
FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

THERE were always parents who doubted the wisdom of separating individuals with disabilities from their families and communities. But it was not until the late 1950s that the voices of those who questioned institutions like Faribault State Hospital (Minnesota) were listened to in the state legislatures and meeting rooms of professional societies.

ARC was one of those voices. Originally, Association for Retarded Children, this group brought together parents and others who wanted services for children with disabilities provided in communities. Finally, in the 1960s, Minnesota and other states began changing their policies to encourage community-based programs. In addition, state hospitals started sending residents back to their communities.

Bill Sackter was sent back "home" to Minneapolis in 1964. He had been at the Faribault State Hospital since 1920.

In theory, returning "home" was a good idea. But Bill hadn't lived in Minneapolis in nearly half a century, and had neither family nor friends in the city. Resettling in the city was a struggle for Bill. (You can find some of the stories of this struggle in "The Unlikely Celebrity," a biography of Bill by Tom Walz.)

Eventually, Bill settled into a job at the Minikahda Country Club on the western edge of Minneapolis. That's where he met Barry and Bev Morrow. You know the story from there, particularly if you have seen the movie "Bill" or the more recent documentary "A Friend Indeed."

Bill and the Morrows became friends and eventually ended up in Iowa City, where Barry had been offered a job at the University of Iowa. The coffeeshop opened as a job for Bill.

But it quickly became much more. There was something about the spirit of Bill which filled the coffeeshop and the community. That same spirit still fills the original coffeeshop today -- along with its crosstown cousin Uptown Bill's and a host of other projects inspired by Bill's story.

BOB FEST RETURNS TO
THE COFFEE HOUSE
Bob Fest, a birthday tribute to singer/songwriter Bob Dylan, returns to Uptown Bill's on Thursday, May 23. The annual event features a variety of poets and musicians performing the songs of Dylan.

Each performer is invited to present two Bob Dylan tunes in song or spoken word. The event is open to all ages and abilities.

Bob Fest starts at 7 pm. Performers are invited to sign up at the coffee house anytime before May 23.

HERE'S A LOOK AT
COMING EVENTS

Tuesday, May 7
7 pm. Slices: Improv & Pie. New event at the coffee house. Looking for scenes, sketches and improv for two or more. Ten minutes onstage. Presented in cooperation with Combined Efforts Theatre.

Wednesday, May 8
3 pm. Recovery International Support Group
6 pm. Power and Privilege Film Series. This week. 'Promised Land'. Preview: http://www.pbs.org/pov/promisedland/#.UYKTu0ot22A6  Add'l films on May 15 and 22.
7 pm. Spoken Word. Ten minute presentations of poetry and other readings. Your own or a favorite author. Presented in cooperation with Little Village magazine.

Thursday, May 9
6 pm. Artvaark (art activities)
7 pm. Valaska, alternative folk/pop band from Chicago. Plus Open Mic!

Saturday, May 11
7 pm. Saturday Night Music: Slewgrass $5

Monday, May 13
6 pm. AA meeting (open)
7 pm. Brain Injury Support Group (Also caregivers support group).

Wednesday, May 15
3 pm. Recovery International Support Group
6 pm. Power and Privilege Film Series
7 pm. Spoken Word. Ten minute presentations of poetry and other readings. Your own or a favorite author. Presented in cooperation with Little Village magazine

Thursday, May 16
6 pm Artvaark (art activities)
7 pm. Open Mic. Ten minute performances of music and other arts. Open to all ages and abilities.

Saturday, May 18
7 pm. Saturday Night Music: Brad Pouleson. $5.

SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC
DURING THE SUMMER
Here's the schedule for Saturday night concerts planned during the summer at the coffee house:

May 25: Terrapin Isle

June 1: Mitch Gettman, singer/songwriter from Omaha, Nebraska
June 8: The Main Sequence, ambient rock from Iowa City
June 15: B. John Burns, singer/songwriter from Des Moines
June 22: Greg and Susan Dirks, Singer/songwriters from Iowa City
June 29: Pennies on the Rail, folk, pop, soft rock

July 6: Blue Midnight Trio, blues and jazz
July 13: Hannah Drollinger and friends
July 20: Nancita Wernett, singer/songwriter
July 27: Annual celebration of Americans with Disabilities Act.

Aug. 3: Angie Pierce Jennings & Drew Hayward
Aug. 10: Lewis Knudsen & The Bandits, alternative pop band from the Quad Cities
Aug. 17: TBA
Aug. 24: Erin Ebnet, singer/songwriter from Iowa City
Aug. 31: Jennifer Danielson, singer/songwriter from Iowa City.

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Bill's Coffeeshop Newsletter is a virtual extension of Wild Bill's Coffeeshop and Uptown Bill's Coffee House. Published since 2000, the Newsletter is written by Tom Gilsenan, a former manager of Wild Bill's and now director of Uptown Bill's. You can write to him at tomgilsenan@gmail.com

Wild Bill's Coffeeshop is a project of the School of Social Work at the University of Iowa. It has been a part of campus life in Iowa City for more than 35 years. Located in North Hall, the coffeeshop is open Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 8 pm. For more information, check the Wild Bill's Coffee Shop and Friends of Bill's Coffeeshop pages on Facebook. You can call the coffeeshop at (319) 335-1281. Donations to support the work of the coffeeshop may be sent to: Bill's Coffeeshop Fund, University of Iowa Foundation, P.O. Box 4550, Iowa City, IA 52244. Contributions are tax deductible.

Uptown Bill's is the crosstown cousin of Wild Bill's. Now in its 12th year, it includes a bookstore, performance venue and other businesses in addition to a coffeeshop. Located at 730 S. Dubuque, Uptown Bill's is open Monday through Saturday from 11 am. For more information, check the Uptown Bill's website or Facebook pages. You can call Uptown Bill's at (319) 339-0804. Donations to support the work of Uptown Bill's may be sent to: Extend the Dream Foundation, Uptown Bill's, 730 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, IA 52240. Contributions are tax deductible. You can also donate online at the Uptown Bill's website: www.uptownbills.org