CLUB 1111

“The one

thing that

can solve

most of our

problems is

dancing”

- James Brown

DanceEquality! The hardest working man in show business, Mr. James

Brown, is credited with introducing the world to dance

moves so full of life and explosive exuberance that the

world was transformed by the spectacle of his jubilance

translated into physical form. In the transcendent spirit

of that legendary performer, we invoke the words of the

“Godfather of Soul” in proudly introducing one of the

state’s most unique and visionary new entertainment concepts, Club 1111…

At its core a simple idea – Club 1111, a brainchild of one of the state’s oldest and most respected

Human Services agencies, The League for People with Disabilities, is a new adult nightspot – a

dance & social club located in Baltimore City, in which the region’s citizens with disabilities can enjoy

the same level of entertainment, hip amenities and sophistication found in the finest establishments

located anywhere in the state. Named for The League’s (and the Club’s) historic location at 1111

East Cold Spring Lane in Charm City, the Club will be held one Saturday night each month – year-

round. The League’s headquarters is perfectly suited venue for the numerous entertainment, games

and mingling space all good night-spots can boast of!

The League for People with Disabilities offers people the opportunity to gain independence, increase

self-sufficiency, and improve quality of life. The organization has been serving the Baltimore metro

region for nearly 100 years – aggressively fighting the crushing discrimination faced by people with

disabilities over many decades. Their courageous goal was simple – to transport those individuals

shuttered away in attics and basements “out of the shadows” and into the light of day, bucking the

prevailing opinion of the day. Currently, The League serves over 2,000 children & adults each year

with a zealous commitment to providing our extraordinary clients the opportunity to reach their high-

est level of independence through a continuum of therapeutic, rehabilitative, vocational, medical, well-

ness and social services.

Through the collaboration of disability experts: hospitality industry gurus, and countless passionate

volunteers, the Club 1111 experience will re-define opportunities for fun, adult social networking (for

friendship AND romance!), and a commitment to provide the single most safe, high energy, creative

outlet for our customers to find their inner party animal, ever offered to our friends with special needs

ANYWHERE on the planet. Yes – you read that correctly. This establishment will universally re-

define the simple concepts of FUN and CELEBRATION and COMMUNITY for our glorious guests,

right here in the heart of Charm City.

www.leaguehappy.org October 2014

One IS the Loneliest Number

Loneliness and isolation are dreaded by every person with a disa-bility, and by those who love them. Socialization is the antidote to isolation. Connectedness is the remedy for loneliness. The pro-cess of socialization – the creation of a vibrant network of poten-tially rewarding relationships and friendships -- can be daunting for both parties, but its end result – connectedness -- is worth every ounce of effort required to produce it. There are no shortcuts to socialization, it can take hard work and commitment, but can also be incredibly joyous and rewarding.

Club Philosophy

“Strangers are friends waiting to happen” . Re-lationships are ALL there is. Nothing healthy exists in isolation. We strive to be a solution – committed to obliterating obstacles to friendships. Few, if any, consistent opportunities ex-ist in our country, much less Maryland, for adults with different abilities to make lasting friendships, meet eligible singles, or enjoy an authentic “date night” with a significant other. Don’t be misled - our Club is not intended to be a social experiment – to the contra-ry, instead it’s a jumpin’ jive, slam dunk, boogie woogie wonder-land for adults of all ages. Our true, ultimate challenge will be to provide this amazing “Club” experience to as many of our ex-pected patrons as we possibly can each month.

DanceEquality @ The League

WHAT’S THIS FOCUS ON

DANCE? Dancing has often been

described as the rhythm of life,

and for people with disabilities

life’s rhythms are often complex

and hard to follow, as they struggle

to fit into a world that moves at a

different pace. Throughout the

ages, people of every culture have

used dance to express emotion,

tell stories, treat illness, celebrate

important events, and strengthen

human bonds. The experts tell us

that group dance movement brings

folks out from isolation, creating

powerful social and emotional

bonds. Physically rhythmic move-

ment eases muscular rigidity, di-

minishes anxiety, and increases

energy. Dance spontaneity helps

people learn to recognize and trust

their impulses, and act on or con-

tain them as they choose. Bottom

line – moving creatively encour-

ages self–expression and literally

opens up new ways of thinking

and doing; and here you just

thought you moved like a klutz!

Our Defining Goal

at Club 1111 is to create a total

sensory experience devised to

produce a visual, audio, and inter-

active sanctuary for ALL our club-

goers, caregivers and volunteers.

Although anchored by the raw

energy of two unique dance ven-

ues – our main, electronic DJ

dance floor, and our mellower R&B

dance space, the Club features a

dizzying array of additional enter-

tainment options, opportunities to

mix, mingle, and melt into activities

uniquely designed to create

CONNECTIONS.

-Our Commitment-

Why is Club 1111 so unique?

We believe our Club is the first entertainment opportunity of its kind anywhere IN THE WORLD. What makes it so unique? It is not only the laser focus we will bring to producing the most cre-ative, energy filled “space” our club goers will find anywhere, not just the dizzying array of ac-tivities, or the commitment to blue ribbon customer service – it is our singular vision to create an environment that is inclusive, safe and boldly innovative. Our most important goal is to remedy the troubling reality that those in our community with special needs haven’t a single con-sistent opportunity or location to enjoy a professionally managed adult night/ dance club. We are propelled to action by the firsthand accounts of our own clients who lament the lack of supported social opportunities at which they can simply enjoy the company of a significant other, or mix with other singles also craving “connections” – be they romantic or platonic. Clearly – one of the indisputable reasons why a year-round enter-tainment club for people with disabilities exists nowhere in the US, is the eye opening chal-lenge of successfully marrying the unique needs of our clientele with the absolute best, most vi-sionary elements of a great dance club. We have addressed those chal-lenges head on, and with an or-ganizing committee consisting of highly regarded experts in the areas of security, entertainment, disability accommodation, hospi-tality, and transportation – we are confident ALL of our guests and volunteers will enjoy a sin-gularly unique evening of enter-tainment and companionship.

OK! Let’s get to the Fun stuff. . .tell me what to expect! The League’s entire, 43,000 square foot facility will be transformed to create a multimedia “house of wonders” for our guests. The Club will have a capacity of up to 300 guests. Club 1111 hours will be from 6:00 to 10:00 PM. Dedicated space will be devoted to a unique clus-ter (varies month to month) of entertainment options/ activities including, but not limited to: TWO uniquely programmed dance floors providing both a traditional DJ dance vibe and

a more laid back, intimate dance space Outdoor Carnival Courtyard with live entertainment and a county fair themed village

green (in season) Magic Club – live magical enchantment & wizardry Guest celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment The hippest local D.J.s and LIVE bands interspersed throughout the year Unique theme each month with complete corresponding re-design of Club interior A state-of-the-art karaoke lounge Table games – pool, foosball, shuffleboard, air hockey Live call bingo parlor w/ amazing prizes Carnival midway games Face painting Photo booths/ caricature and temporary tattoo artists Arts & Crafts loft Wide array of “snack bar” style foods and non-alcoholic beverages Therapeutic “sitting” massage studio Club merchandise store w/ wide variety of logoed wearables, keepsakes and souvenirs Relaxation lounge – low stimulation social space Sensory Tech lounge – featuring the latest in “hands on” interactive tech products and

games Club 1111 CONTESTS! – dance, lip synching, singing, costumes w/ crazy prizes Birthday Club – Host your party at Club 1111 and enjoy the COMPLETE VIP nightclub

experience In addition to an exciting new theme each month – we will also be reserving specific Club dates to play host to customers with unique needs and tailored activities/ entertainment: teens, individuals with autism, etc.

Admission Philosophy & Guest Supports

It’s already clear through early interest, that the Club will enjoy full capaci-ty from day one. We will be challenged each month with a capacity of just over 300 Club-goers to provide the 1111 experience to as many patrons as possible. In response – we have created a unique guest admissions plan that pro-vides what we consider to be the fairest system for our customers. We will focus on promoting and distributing tickets both online and through the mail and fax to a wide geographic area. We will also partner with several regional service agencies to promote the Club to their respective audienc-es, and establish an online reservation system each month in which pa-trons can register. The price of admission will be $5.00.

The Club is passionately dedicated to providing a singularly unique expe-rience to our guests and their companions. The League headquarters is a state of the art facility designed and engineered specifically for the unique needs of our incredible participants, who require a wide range of accom-modation. It is important to recognize though that we are unable to pro-vide specialized individual support services to our guests. If a club-goer requires “care giver” support those services must be arranged by each guest. We will make every possible accommodation for the needs of our guests, but specific “individual” support is the sole responsibility of each club-goer.

The security of our venue and our customers is of paramount importance to The League. Through an innovative partnership with local police agen-cies, fire & EMT, a private security firm, and a host of volunteers, (many being plain clothes “off-duty” or retired police officers), Club 1111 may be the safest place in Maryland on that particular Saturday night! Our club-goers (and their loved ones) can rest assured that their 1111 experi-ence will be SAFE!

Transportation—

Parking

In collaboration with our trans-portation partners, (especially MTA – Mobility), Club 1111 will have a standing committee dedi-cated solely to coordinating the most customer friendly, safe and convenient transport plan possi-ble. Recognizing the importance of a reliable “drop off” and “departure” system for our Mobil-ity patrons, the Club will employ a unique notification system for those scheduling rides at the end of the night. Club goers will be notified of their ride’s arrival by transportation volunteers who will then escort them to our “departure lounge”. Club 1111 staff will remain onsite until our last guest has departed the complex.

The Club will have several self-park options within a safe, easy walking distance of the Club. Spaces will be available on a first-come-first serve basis. All our lots will be well lit and have radio dis-patched security personnel at each parking location.

Volunteers—The Darlings of

the Disco The life blood of this Boogie Woogie wonderland will be our precious volunteers. We will utilize an average of over 100 volunteers for each Club date! Whether you simply want to serve refreshments, Chair one of our dynamic Club committees, or come as a member of a “corporate team” – Club 1111 will be, hands down, the most excit-ing, entertaining and most inspiring volunteer investment an individu-al or a group can make of their valuable time. As an 1111 volunteer, one not only provides critical services to the overall operation of the evening – they are also immersed in an environment of human con-nection and shared joy. These Club walls will not simply resonate with the echoes of laughter, camaraderie and companionship, they will also become a sanctuary of acceptance and diversity. Our vol-unteers play a vital role in successfully helping deliver these cher-ished goals.

Community Support – Event Sponsorship –

How Can We Afford This? The League’s long term commitment to this project and its essential mis-sion is unwavering. Practically speaking though – this social enterprise will require a significant financial commitment by The League to under-write its success. We believe the halo effect of “transforming” our facility into this magical space will cultivate financial support from enlightened souls who quickly understand the return on an investment in the indomita-ble power of the human spirit. We also know though that the Club is a cause marketer’s dream. The Club 1111 message of shared opportunity, connectedness, and the cele-bration of differences – provides an amazing vehicle for corporations/ groups to promote their commitment to enhancing the lives of ALL our region’s citizens, especially those with special needs. Additionally – for those businesses that produce products or provide services for the disa-bility community – this is an unprecedented opportunity to reach new cus-tomers through this high profile, 12 month event. Married with our cus-tomized volunteer program, we are able to create fully integrated partner-ships with our friends in the corporate community. We will be featuring several companies and their products as integral parts of the Club’s amenities offered our Club-goers and their families and/ or affiliated ser-vice provider/ agency. Whether it’s a cutting edge new adaptive technolo-gy, a life enhancing service, or entertainment product, we intend the Club to be the ideal platform to reach into the hearts and minds of our custom-ers and those that love them. Our goal is to create a true non-profit “incubator” for cutting edge things & thought. Much more than just a series of “events”, Club 1111 is truly a year-round EXPERIENCE. It’s the ideal stage to creatively reach out to thousands and thousands of consumers through our media partnerships, social me-dia platforms and extensive industry collaborations. It’s guaranteed expo-sure for sponsors through a comprehensive campaign that combines tra-ditional print, radio, outdoor ads, with online exposure and video content for a truly integrated messaging/ branding platform. Combined with our custom corporate volunteer program, Club 1111 is a totally unique statewide vehicle for corporate citizenship.

www.leagueforpeople.org 410-323-0500 ext.311

“A Sanctuary

of acceptance

and diversity”