Staff report

LIBERTY — Dylan’s House, a nonprofit organization devoted to empowering and enriching the lives of autistic individuals in the Mahoning Valley, and Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries have announced a new partnership.

The first collaboration includes Goodwill offering Dylan’s House a dedicated office space in their building located on Belmont Avenue. Looking forward, they also will collaborate on community events and offer joint services to adults with autism in the Mahoning Valley.

This collaboration came about with Shelley Murray, Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries CEO, and Amy Shope, Dylan’s House vice president and director, getting together multiple times over the past year. They realized they had a shared passion and common goals, and they thought “it would be amazing to work together in a more meaningful and collaborative way.”

“This partnership with Dylan’s House reflects our shared commitment to empowering individuals with barriers to live with dignity and independence,” Murray said. “By bringing Dylan’s House to the Goodwill Liberty campus, we are creating a space where support, education and opportunity are coordinated to make a lasting impact. This collaboration is the beginning of Goodwill’s broader effort to work side by side with the community’s nonprofits in an integrated approach.”

“Our partnership with Goodwill is a tremendous milestone for Dylan’s House and our community,” Amy Shope said. “Having a home base where we can meet with donors, connect with families and collaborate with other organizations allows us to expand our impact in ways we’ve only dreamed of. Together, we are building not just office space, but a stronger future for adults with autism in the Mahoning Valley.”

This new, private office space will be used to meet with potential donors and foundations and to hold board of directors’ meetings for Dylan’s House. The Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries offices are located at 2747 Belmont Avenue in Liberty.