365 Squarey Monsters: How Awareness Grows into Opportunity

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Many of the barriers people with developmental disabilities face are rooted in perception. When someone is seen primarily through a lens of limitation, it shapes who is trusted with responsibility, welcomed socially, and recognized as a full member of the community.

As a result, everyday experiences like having a job or even making friends are often limited — not by disability, but by preconceptions formed long before a person has the chance to demonstrate who they are and what they can do.

The impact is especially clear in the job market, where unemployment is more than twice that of the general population. That statistic represents millions of people who want to work and contribute. It also reflects a disconnect between ability and access that's shaped more by assumptions than a lack of talent or motivation.

March offers a reason to look more closely at that gap. Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month invites all of us to consider how preconceptions shape access and what we can do to expand opportunity.

For me, that reflection is personal.

From awareness to opportunity

I've written before about my brother Kevin, who was born with an intellectual disability. I saw early on qualities in him that others missed. He has a sharp sense of humor and a deep desire to connect with people. He brings energy into a room and cares deeply about belonging.

In 2015, I received a phone call from Walter Stockton, who runs Kevin's home at Independent Group Home Living (IGHL). Walter said Kevin would continue to grow and mature if he had meaningful work. He added that many others were seeking the same opportunity.

That conversation led to a dinner. The dinner led to an idea. The idea became a solution.

Working with Walter and my brother Chris, we acquired a property on Long Island with aging greenhouses and a farm stand. With the support of partners and volunteers, it became a working farm where Kevin and his friends could plant, grow, harvest, and contribute each day. We named the program Smile Farms.

Growing opportunity

Over the past decade, Smile Farms has expanded in both scope and reach. Today, it has 14 campuses across the New York metropolitan area.

In 2025 alone, more than 400 Smile Farmers were supported through meaningful work opportunities. Across the campuses, over 4,000 pounds of produce were grown, including more than 2,000 pounds of peppers that were used in Smile Farms' signature "Heat with Heart" hot sauce.

Restaurants on Long Island featured Smile Farms produce in seasonal dishes. Hospitality partners in New York City hired Smile Staffers. Farmers markets across Brooklyn, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and New Jersey welcomed the growers and their harvests.

And Kevin's specialty, spaghetti squash, has been featured in a dish at RUMBA Patchogue to great acclaim. David Hersh, the founder of Rooted Hospitality said: "We're always thrilled to serve local produce, but today, it's even more meaningful for us!"

At our urban garden with the League Education & Treatment Center (LETC) in Brooklyn, Alex thrives on having clear, meaningful tasks each day. From planting to harvesting, he takes pride in seeing his work through and values being part of a team that understands and supports him. The consistency of the work and the camaraderie of the group have strengthened his confidence and sense of belonging.

At Nassau Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), Davere has grown significantly in his communication skills. He now speaks up when he needs clarification, asks for additional responsibilities, and advocates for himself in ways he had not before. Staff have seen him become more engaged and collaborative through daily garden work.

Diana at Family Residences & Essential Enterprises (FREE) arrives each morning knowing what needs to be accomplished. Once her assignments are complete, she asks for more and has even requested additional hours. Her willingness to take on responsibility reflects pride in her work and a growing sense of ownership.

For Thomas, a greenhouse worker at IGHL, the impact was clear the day he used his paycheck to take a family member out for a birthday dinner. Anthony now contributes toward his own bills with his earnings. These moments represent more than income. They reflect participation, responsibility, and the dignity that comes with earning one's way.

How you can help

Smile Farms has grown through the commitment of people who choose to make a difference. Supporters attend our golf outings, join us at the annual gala in New York City, and purchase gifts from the 1-800-Flowers family of brands that give back to the program.

There are many other ways to build opportunities. If you make hiring decisions, widen the door. If you own or manage a business, explore partnerships that can create meaningful work. If you're active in your neighborhood or faith community, look for ways to include more voices.

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month invites reflection and decision. When awareness turns into action, opportunity grows — and communities are stronger for it.

All the best,

Cesar Millan has spent decades working with dogs. What he's really learned is how humans behave.

In this episode of Celebrate Your Story, Cesar shares why dogs reflect our emotional state, why leadership begins with calm confidence, and why loyalty is stronger than love. We discuss the hidden hierarchy inside every pack, the mistake families make when they lead with affection, and how discipline and trust create freedom — on and off the leash.

From his early years in Sinaloa to walking dogs through South Central Los Angeles, Cesar's story is about more than animal behavior. It's about education, responsibility, and becoming the kind of person others — human or canine — want to follow.

If you've ever owned a dog, raised a child, or tried to lead a team, you'll recognize yourself in this conversation. And you may never look at your dog the same way again.

AI is changing how we create.

In this week's episode of Power & Impact, I sit down with Elley Cheng, CEO and co-founder of Useful Arts, to examine what happens to creativity when intelligence becomes programmable. Trained as an engineer, Elley now focuses on advancing creative rights in a world where generative AI is built on the work of artists, writers, and musicians.

We discuss how intelligence reflects the systems behind it, shaping whose work is elevated and how value is assigned. As AI shifts from assisting creators to generating content at scale, the stakes center on authorship, ownership, and the future of creative labor.

Co-hosted by my Worth Media Group colleague Eva Crouse, this conversation looks past the tools to the larger responsibility we carry: to protect human originality and ensure creativity remains grounded in judgment and intention in an AI-native world.

50 Years In: Another voice at the table

As 1-800-Flowers.com marks its 50th anniversary, I've found myself thinking less about milestones and more about moments — the human ones that explain why our story is still being written. Here's a story about Smile Farms — and when my brother Kevin started talking shop.

For most of my career, our family gatherings have followed a familiar rhythm.

At Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, or Mother's Day, once the plates were cleared and everyone had settled in, the conversation would inevitably turn to the business. We'd talk about what was selling, what wasn't, and which holiday was coming next.

For years, my brother Kevin listened quietly. That changed when he started working at Smile Farms. He had no trouble talking shop.

He now goes to work each day planting and growing alongside more than 35 other Smile Farmers. He talks about the spring bulbs coming in strong. He asks how the growing season is shaping up and compares notes about weather and timing.

It may seem like a small shift, though I don't think it is. Work has given him something he knows well and takes pride in. When the conversation turns to spring inventory or growing conditions, he has his own updates to offer. It changes the dynamic in ways that are hard to quantify but easy to feel.

The real secret to business longevity

When people ask what allows a company to last, they usually point to strategy, capital, or timing. Those things matter. But in my experience, they're not the deciding factor.

Recently, I shared a perspective in Fast Company about what sustains a business over time. It's something less visible and harder to measure than quarterly results: the quality of the relationships you build along the way.

From the earliest days in that small flower shop, I saw that customers weren't just buying a product. They were trusting us with moments that mattered — celebrations, reconciliations, and expressions of love and sympathy. That trust extends to the florists, growers, makers, and partners who bring care to their craft each day, and to the people inside the company whose judgment and pride shape what we become.

If you're building something — a business, a team, or a career — I hope this perspective is helpful.

Written by our Founder and Chairman, our Celebrations Pulse letters aim to engage with our community. From sharing stories to welcoming your ideas, we want to help you to express, connect, and celebrate the important people in your life.

*"Net proceeds" is defined as the gross sales price of the product less any and all taxes, service charges, shipping and handling charges, discounts, gift certificates, promotional gift certificates, promotional offers (e.g., airline miles, points, e-money, etc.) credits, rebates, chargebacks, refunds, credit card processing fees and gift certificate cancellations. © 2026 Smile Farms Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN˜: 46-5360466.

Sunday, March 1, 2026

How Awareness Grows into Opportunity

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