About Us
Mission
I Belong is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to create community for people with disabilities and their families.
Vision Statement
Through Creative Arts, I Belong will be the leading model in providing creative arts programming that fosters personal growth and a sense of belonging.
Our Story
I Belong has been steadily taking shape within the mind and heart of our founder, Witek Nowosiad, over many years. Witek is the proud parent of two grown daughters, the younger of whom has a disability. From early on, it became clear to Witek that his younger daughter's greatest challenge was forging meaningful connections and friendships with her peers.
Witek embarked on an initiative to establish a martial arts school specifically for individuals with disabilities. Alongside this, he concurrently developed a social extension, 'Social Connections,' which became an integral part of the martial arts classes. One Friday evening, after a rigorous class, an open invitation was extended to all to socialize at a nearby Chick-Fil-A. These were humble beginnings of creating community for individuals with disabilities, a place where everyone felt they belonged and was accepted the way they were. Throughout the years, after the class social outings grew into movie nights, game nights, picnics, bowling outings and more. However, the Mission has never changed to “to create
community for people with disabilities”.
Witek soon recognized that the realm of creative arts provided a powerful medium for individuals with disabilities to express themselves meaningfully. Beyond offering an avenue for expression, creative arts also yielded opportunities for joy, personal growth, and a sense of accomplishment. This insight affirmed Witek's belief that establishing a community of belonging for people with disabilities should revolve around offering them abundant opportunities to engage in a variety of creative arts. This could include visual arts, dance, poetry, culinary arts, martial arts, and beyond.
As John O’Donohue says in his poem For a New Beginning:
“This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge”
After years of thoughtful discussions, shared dreaming, and rallying passionate individuals to support its mission, I Belong has blossomed. Today, it stands as a vibrant entity, dedicated to passionately serving individuals with disabilities and their families.
Board of Directors
Witek Nowosiad, Founder, I belong
Witek Nowosiad, Founder, I belong
Witek Nowosiad, Founder, I belong
Witek is passionate about creating community for people with disabilities and their families. He is an advocate and a leader within disability community. He is a
compassionate human being called to serve as a mentor and spiritual leader. Witek cultivates his creativity and soulfulness through expressive arts.
Currently, Witek works as a ped
Witek is passionate about creating community for people with disabilities and their families. He is an advocate and a leader within disability community. He is a
compassionate human being called to serve as a mentor and spiritual leader. Witek cultivates his creativity and soulfulness through expressive arts.
Currently, Witek works as a pediatric chaplain and a Certified Educator of Clinical Pastoral Education at Children’s Health in the DFW area. In addition, Witek has established a martial arts school solely dedicated to teaching and empowering individuals with special needs and disabilities. Finally, Witek is a father to two adult daughters.
George Cattat, Treasurer
Witek Nowosiad, Founder, I belong
Witek Nowosiad, Founder, I belong
George is the founder and President of Four Oaks Financial. He has over 20 years experience as an Investment Strategist serving as his clients personal wealth manager, overseeing all of their financial affairs. George lives in the DFW area with his wife and 3 daughters. As a Dad of a daughter with different abilities, George believes s
George is the founder and President of Four Oaks Financial. He has over 20 years experience as an Investment Strategist serving as his clients personal wealth manager, overseeing all of their financial affairs. George lives in the DFW area with his wife and 3 daughters. As a Dad of a daughter with different abilities, George believes strongly in the I Belong vision and is excited to serve on the Board.
Heisha Freeman, Corporate Secretary
Witek Nowosiad, Founder, I belong
Heisha Freeman, Corporate Secretary
Heisha Freeman,CRP, GMS-T is EVP, Chief Customer Officer at MoveCenter. Her professional experience includes serving as a volunteer, steering committee and board member of numerous 501(c)(3) organizations. She is a Special Olympics coach and previous steering committee member. She’s served on the board of directors of The Arc of Texas
Heisha Freeman,CRP, GMS-T is EVP, Chief Customer Officer at MoveCenter. Her professional experience includes serving as a volunteer, steering committee and board member of numerous 501(c)(3) organizations. She is a Special Olympics coach and previous steering committee member. She’s served on the board of directors of The Arc of Texas DFW Area, Agape Resource and Assistance Center and is Secretary of the Board for the Texas State Independent Living Council. Heisha holds an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology.
Suzanne Finan, Visual Arts Director
Jennifer McKinney, Culinary Arts Director
Heisha Freeman, Corporate Secretary
Suzanne Finan is a visual arts instructor at at the Notre Dame School of Dallas, serving students ages 6-26 years old. She has spent the 25 years in the Visual Arts community both in Cleveland, Ohio and in Dallas, Texas. Her previous experience includes work at The Kimball Art Museum, The Cleveland Museum of Art and private studio work
Suzanne Finan is a visual arts instructor at at the Notre Dame School of Dallas, serving students ages 6-26 years old. She has spent the 25 years in the Visual Arts community both in Cleveland, Ohio and in Dallas, Texas. Her previous experience includes work at The Kimball Art Museum, The Cleveland Museum of Art and private studio work.She has served on several non-profit boards in the Dallas area and has a passion for giving back to the Dallas community.
Jennifer McKinney, Culinary Arts Director
Jennifer McKinney, Culinary Arts Director
Jennifer McKinney, Culinary Arts Director
Jennifer is a vibrant mother to a teen son on the Autism Spectrum who is passionate about providing culinary arts training to the special needs community through I Belong. Having transitioned from her career as a chef to becoming a dedicated real estate agent, she now combines her love for helping others with her expertise in cooking to p
Jennifer is a vibrant mother to a teen son on the Autism Spectrum who is passionate about providing culinary arts training to the special needs community through I Belong. Having transitioned from her career as a chef to becoming a dedicated real estate agent, she now combines her love for helping others with her expertise in cooking to provide fun opportunities in the kitchen where students can learn, build self-esteem, and explore their creativity. Jennifer’s unique blend of skills creates a supportive environment in which special needs individuals can develop their culinary talents while gaining invaluable life skills.
Adam Lubbers, Spirituality Director
Jennifer McKinney, Culinary Arts Director
Jennifer McKinney, Culinary Arts Director
Adam Lubbers (MDiv, MA) is a United Methodist minister and interfaith chaplain. He enjoys reading, being outside, playing pickleball, travelling, and spending time with friends and his wife, Courtney. Adam is on the board of I Belong because all people, especially people with disabilities, deserve to belong to an authentic and loving community.
Emily Just, Board Secretary
Melissa Borchers, Board Director
Melissa Borchers, Board Director
Emily an avid volunteer, having served on several boards including Methodist Richardson Hospital Auxiliary, school PTA President, and as a Girl Scout leader. Emily is wife to Joel, and mother of two teens, Owen and Julia. She looks forward to using her time and energy to help bring the I Belong vision and mission to life!
Melissa Borchers, Board Director
Melissa Borchers, Board Director
Melissa Borchers, Board Director
Melissa is a Marketing Manager, having served in various marketing roles in the health care and government services industries. She is active in the community as the Secretary of a local PTA board and as a coach for Miracle League of North Texas baseball. She believes in the I Belong mission because everyone deserves to have an opportun
Melissa is a Marketing Manager, having served in various marketing roles in the health care and government services industries. She is active in the community as the Secretary of a local PTA board and as a coach for Miracle League of North Texas baseball. She believes in the I Belong mission because everyone deserves to have an opportunity to be part of a community where they can be themselves and have an outlet for self expression.
Nicole Wallace, Board Director
Melissa Borchers, Board Director
Nicole Wallace, Board Director
Nicole is a dedicated mother and wife, and has worked a variety of corporate positions utilizing her degrees in computer science as well as her master of business administration. She is has an extensive background serving the special needs community through functional medicine and in a school setting. I Belong's mission is near and dear
Nicole is a dedicated mother and wife, and has worked a variety of corporate positions utilizing her degrees in computer science as well as her master of business administration. She is has an extensive background serving the special needs community through functional medicine and in a school setting. I Belong's mission is near and dear to her as she strives to provide her son with Autism and others in the community with a sense of belonging through meaningful activities that provide a fulfilling life.