V!VA Award Winners
Photo credit: Rotary Club of Muncie
Two Open Door staff members are V!VA Award winners! The Very Important Volunteer Awards (V!VA) are given by the Rotary Club of Muncie each year to recognize the exemplary volunteer efforts of up to four individuals and one organization in our community.
Jamie Tweedy, Open Door finance administrator, and Dorica Watson, Open Door director of community engagement, were honored during the V!VA luncheon on April 16, 2024 at the Horizon Convention Center.
Jamie was recognized for her commitment and leadership in Muncie’s special needs community. She and Jana Melton run Muncie’s Baseball Buddies program, a special needs sports league with two teams and more than 60 players. The teams go head-to-head every Saturday in May and June. All players get a chance to bat, go around the bases, and feel part of a team. Jamie coaches one of the teams and helps with all behind-the-scenes planning.
As a dedicated mom of an adult son with special needs, Jamie has a deep understanding of the emotional and social needs of individuals and families who deal with physical and mental disabilities. She is tireless and compassionate in accommodating the needs and behaviors of her players, many of whom call her “momma.” She knows they count on her to show up every Saturday, every season.
“Caring for a child with a traumatic brain injury is a hard, often lonely journey,” said Jamie. “Baseball Buddies, the special needs prom, and other events are healing for me. I need to be surrounded by other parents who are also going through this hard journey. I need to be reminded of what Kalab and I have, not just what we’ve lost. These events, and this community, have become a regular part of our lives.”
Dorica was honored for her creation of the Representation Matters initiative, a program that encourages young people, particularly youth of color, to dream about their futures, see themselves achieving their goals, and commit to forward progress. In addition, she serves as co-chair of Juneteenth Muncie, member of the Women In Business Unlimited Leadership Committee, and organizer of various youth-oriented events like Easter egg hunts and back-to-school parties.
Dorica sees all people as creative, resourceful, and whole, and has dedicated her life to helping people believe this about themselves. She leads a small committee of five individuals who share her vision to plan and facilitate the five phases of Representation Matters, including:
a goal-setting workshop for middle and high school students;
the “I Am” photoshoot where students dress up as their dream occupations;
a career options expo;
an incentive program that provides free tickets to movies or theatre performances with a black or brown lead; and
an essay and creative endeavor competition challenging students to identify the steps needed to reach their personal goals.
She also established the Devin Carter Jr. Youth Innovation Award, in partnership with his parents, to recognize a young person who has applied initiative, leadership, and creativity to benefit others. A self-described kid at heart, Dorica is passionate about pouring joy, encouragement, and positivity into other people’s lives.