At the spring dance, students, residents, and staff alike came together to dance to and sing along with the hits of the 80s and 90s. The event showcases our community shining brightly together, highlighted by moments of joy, independence and empowerment. The Guild has held an annual formal dance for students for more than 40 years. When the adult program began 10 years ago, the residents were invited to attend as well. The dance has been a staple of The Guild culture and an event everyone looks forward to each year. All departments within The Guild are involved in some capacity, through the planning committee, volunteering to decorate or cleanup, coordinating transportation, and chaperoning the event. For many who have been with The Guild for years, they get to see friends from other houses and programs that they don’t get to spend time with otherwise.
The dance is a special night that empowers individuals to fully be themselves and hang out with their friends outside of the school day. It promotes a sense of belonging, encourages individuals to grow their social skills, and allows everyone to enjoy an event that’s purely a celebration of our community. The essence of the event is to bring individuals together at an event just for them. It’s not about their parents or family or caregivers, but them and their friends.
The Westin Hotel has hosted the event since it grew to include adult residents in 2014. They have come to know The Guild and are able to make accommodations, like sensory break rooms, and customize the menu to each year’s theme and dietary restrictions. The crowd is always hyped up by New Image, another long-time partner of the event, who does the sound setup and curates a DJ set.
This year, we were accompanied by special guests from The Boston Globe. They captured the lively event through a series of photos and a written story. A multimedia journalism team has also published a video following the story of one mother and daughter at the Billerica house through the events of the evening.
“It’s an event where all the houses come together,” adult resident Ryan said in the article. “It’s a chance to see everyone you know, who you were in school with… And it’s a place to come and not be judged for the way you are.”
The spring dance looks different every year, with different themed-decorations and different guests. These media stories capture a small sliver of what it means to folks. It’s great to see an outlet like the Globe sharing the stories of these individuals. Help spread the word and encourage more reporting like this by engaging on social media and sharing widely!