Welcoming Kupenda to Duxbury: Advancing Inclusion & Accessibility Together

by Rebecca Heidorn

Last week, I had the honor of hosting a Kupenda gathering at my home in Duxbury. Having moved to this community just four years ago, it has been an incredible privilege to become part of a town so welcoming to efforts that advance inclusion and accessibility.

The evening enabled me to introduce Kupenda’s CEO and founder, Cynthia Bauer, to the community. Cynthia has lived with a disability her whole life and has spent the past 25 years advocating for children with disabilities in low-income countries through her leadership with Kupenda. Cynthia has also been my personal mentor for the past nine years, teaching me what it means to be inclusive and how to advocate effectively. 

I was thrilled that so many members of my local community were eager to learn about this work, meet Cynthia, and join me at my home. I look forward to learning more from—and with—these neighbors as we continue to work together to make Duxbury more inclusive through my involvement with Duxbury for All as a Steering Committee member, and to advance inclusion globally through Kupenda for the Children.

Cynthia shared her inspiring story and even played the guitar for our guests—15 Duxbury residents and a few special visitors from beyond. Four of our generous donors also spoke about why they have chosen to support Kupenda—through child sponsorship, monthly gifts, donor-advised funds, and even trips to visit our programs in Kenya.

We were especially honored to be welcomed into the Duxbury community in partnership with Duxbury for All, following the community listening session Cynthia led earlier that day. It was such a joy to connect with all of the Duxbury community groups represented at the host party, including the Interfaith Council, Duxbury Rotary Club, First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, Friends of the Duxbury Council on Aging, the Duxbury Senior Center, Bay Farm Montessori, and many others.

Thanks to the generosity and participation of everyone who attended, we have already raised hundreds of dollars in support of impoverished and excluded children with disabilities in Kenya. I can’t thank them enough for their presence, encouragement, thoughtful questions, and meaningful comments.

The evening reminded me that building an inclusive community—locally in Duxbury and globally—is possible when neighbors, advocates, and organizations come together with generosity and shared purpose. 


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