Meet Kurt! Kurt Lofton is a Service Coordinator on our Adult Day Services team and has been a part of our Goodwill Columbus team for 27 years this August!
Before joining Goodwill Columbus, Kurt was working second shift for a grant funded ADS agency. Suspecting the grant wouldn’t be renewed, Kurt was eager to find a new agency that was stable and aligned with his vision of how an ADS program should operate.
“I’ve always had a passion for individuals who are self-advocates and/or advocates for others,” said Kurt. “Goodwill ADS has been at the forefront of Person-Centered Planning and Advocacy for many years.”
At the start of his career at Goodwill Columbus, Kurt was an Activity Specialist, and was able to provide individuals opportunities to work on advocacy and Person-Centered planning. Kurt expanded his vision when Goodwill began “The Community Experience,” which allowed Kurt to work with small groups of individuals.
Right before the pandemic, Kurt took the position as manager of our Gahanna Hub.
“While I enjoyed the role, I missed the real-time interaction with the individuals we serve,” explained Kurt. “The Service Coordinator position came open at our Berwick Hub, I applied and interviewed for it, the rest is history. I am where I belong!”
In his current position, Kurt has a caseload of nearly 60 individuals between our Berwick and Art Studio locations. He coordinates services between home, county, and ADS for the individuals we serve.
“My favorite part of my position is identifying, coaching, and seeing an individual blossom because they were given the opportunity to do something they wanted but didn’t know how to accomplish it,” said Kurt.
Just this past year, Kurt assisted individuals presenting at the Innovation Summit and the Ohio Speech & Debate Association meetings – statewide events that promote self-advocacy and self-determination!
“I will second that Kurt is great at finding opportunities for our individuals to learn and grow, especially in the advocacy areas. He also organized a Goodwill Columbus ADS presentation at a Department of Developmental Disabilities Innovation Summit for individuals to present and put our services in the spotlight,” said ADS Director, Kathy Ramey.
Kurt plans to continue to encourage individuals to stretch their comfort zones and he looks forward to more people participating in ADS seminars, programs, and activities!
“I hope to arrange some type of advocacy event with individuals within ADS so others can learn and participate.”
Amazing work, Kurt!
