On Tuesday evening, April 15th, about 100 people gathered at the Rodeo Theater in Stockyards City, Oklahoma City, for the premiere of the documentary People Like Us. This film tells the story of the residents of the Center of Family Love in Okarche, primarily through their own words, sharing their lives and their unique perspectives on the world.
The evening began with a meet-and-mingle event that included the Center’s employees, supporters, families, and, of course, the stars and VIPs of the night — the residents and cast members. After plenty of photos, attendees made their way into the theater, where the cast members participated in a Q&A session with the audience.
As the lights dimmed, the documentary opened with a historic clip of President George H. W. Bush signing the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. The story then moved forward to show that, 35 years later, not much has changed.
In the film, Debbie Espinosa, President and CEO of the Center of Family Love and Executive Producer of People Like Us, challenged the use of the term “disabled.” “Can’t we remove the ‘dis’? How pathetic that we define a population by what they supposedly can’t do,” she said.
Daisy stole the show. A resident and cast member, Daisy shared some of the most profound life experiences and insights, blending humor with heartbreak in a way that left a lasting impact.
The producers did an excellent job of addressing a complex topic in an accessible, heartfelt way — telling the story through those who live it, in their own voices.
Vision for the New Campus
The Center of Family Love is expanding its services with the launch of a second campus — a bold step toward building a new platform for its residents. This future includes growing the Center’s capacity to serve more individuals with disabilities and learning differences.
As part of this initiative, the Center has launched a capital campaign to raise $40 million for the construction of the Oklahoma Institute for Cognitive Development. This 70,000-square-foot training and education facility will allow the Center to provide programming services to an additional 500 individuals with developmental disabilities.
For more information about the Center of Family Love, visit centeroffamilylove.org.
