imeetswe (I Meets We) is soon to be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to meeting the sensory, cognitive, and behavioral needs of a neurodiverse community centered in the San Francisco East Bay Area of California through recognition of the existence and value of neurodiversity spectrums; cultivation of welcoming gathering spaces; advocacy and co-advocacy for access, understanding, and celebration; and creation of forums for active community engagement and discussion.
- We create and disseminate language that acknowledges: a) that every person has a unique set of sensory, cognitive, and behavioral specialties; and b) that the health of a community rests in recognizing and celebrating these differences as they become apparent. We hold as true that there is a place for everyone, and that we are richer and more adaptable when we accept, include, and connect our differences. Rather than uphold the traditional neurotypical <-> neurodivergent binary, we use language that implies that there is a 3-dimensional spectrum where we are all included;
- We create and cultivate spaces for people with sensory differences to connect and be who they are, without an expectation of masking or ‘fitting in’ to an environment not designed to recognize these differences. These opportunities include various art spaces (music, movement, visual and tactile arts); intersectional social focus groups (mixed-cohort educational environments, area-of-interest meetups, parenting support groups, et al); and facilitated experiential encounters (walking groups, nature hikes, urban exploration, et al);
- We provide advocacy and negotiate co-advocacy for people with sensory, cognitive, and behavioral differences in educational, working, habitational, and social environments, with particular focus on youth in our community.
- We provide forums for community engagement and discussion around meeting the needs of a neurodiverse citizenry, amplifying emerging wisdom and novel solutions for navigating a neurocentric infrastructure.
imeetswe aims to make its programs accessible to all, regardless of income or social sphere. To this end we employ a variety of avenues to fiscal engagement, including micro-giving, donation at events, fee-for-service, subscription, and institutional sponsorship of various kinds. Consider learning more about our programs and giving at whatever level meets your interest and ability.