Bringing inclusivity home

GREEN BAY – You Belong is a non-profit organization that provides services and programs to families, people with disabilities and their caregivers.

It values inclusion, empowerment, accessibility, partnerships, building relationships and loving one another.

The organization was co-founded by husband and wife Greg and Amy Behrend when they got the idea while living in Minnesota.

Amy has always been surrounded by those with disabilities, having family members with disabilities and being co-director of Wisconsin Miss Amazing.

Greg used to be a paramedic, but wanting to do more.

He became ordained in the Moravian Church, working part-time as a pastor of the Freedom Moravian Church.

Initially, the idea was to make church services more accessible and accepting to those with disabilities, but realizing how challenging that might be, they decided to instead open an area where people of all abilities could play, spend time and support one another.

And both being from the Brown Country area, they knew they had to bring this organization back to their home, so they moved back to Green Bay, where they started You Belong.

Greg said that You Belong isn’t just a place for people with disabilities, it is a place for people with all abilities.

The organization offers many programs for children and adults, the most popular being Adventure Zone — an indoor play area open to the public unless closed for private events.

The Adventure Zone is the first thing you see when walking into the building.
This play area is accessible to all, with a small cubby for younger infants, and a huge ramp to get to the top half of the play area.

There is even a corner of the play area that is more sensory-friendly.

Surrounding the Adventure Zone is a mural of different animals, all representing different disabilities.

Some of these characters include “Rolan the Triceratops” who uses a wheelchair to move around, “Bartholomew the Lion” who struggles with anxiety and “Starry the Sloth” who has a prosthetic leg, just to name a few.

There is also a separate sensory room for anyone who needs to get away from others and have quiet time to themselves.

They also have a family and recreational area where they provide some of their other programs and activities.

This is where they provide family classes, caregiver classes and support groups, such as their mom-to-mom program, which helps newer mothers deal with postpartum depression.

You Belong is also looking to provide a similar class for dads.

Laura Krull, an assistant professor of sociology at St. Norbert College and grant writer for You Belong, shared how she became involved with the program.

“I first got connected with You Belong in spring of 2023, when I was on parental leave. I felt pretty isolated as I figured out how to be a mom, and when I saw that You Belong offered a baby and me class, I decided to try it out, and I’m glad I did. My son and I continue to go to You Belong weekly for their family classes, where he and I have both made meaningful connections,” she said.

“I love all of the work that You Belong does as they strive to care for families with young children, folks of all ages with disabilities, and caregivers. I was looking for ways to use my background in qualitative research and sociology to help advance You Belong’s cause, so when I had the opportunity to join their team as a grant writer, it was easy to say yes.”

You Belong provides not only support to families but also vocational training for those with disabilities.

They currently employ two individuals with disabilities; G. Behrend stated how it was important for these kids to see people like them being in leadership roles.

You Belong is located at 2960 Allies St., Suite 103 & 104, Green Bay, and is open every weekday with hours varying around the holidays.

They also offer a five-and-a-half respite event one Saturday a month, where caregivers and family members of those with disabilities can drop their children off and take care of other things in life.

All ages and disabilities are welcome to the respite event.

“I also have been excited to partner with You Belong for a service-learning opportunity embedded in my Intersections of Privilege class,” Krull said. “This semester, 12 students volunteered during a Saturday respite event, and they then submitted a reflection connecting their experiences to broader observations about the construction of (dis)ability in our society, access to respite care, and more.”

You Belong is not a licensed daycare, and the respite event, with trained officials, is the only time parents can drop off their children and leave them with staff.

Parents must be in attendance with their child at other times.

To learn more, visit www.youbelongwi.org.