Our Story
Founded in 2014 as a social enterprise of The Kennedy Collective, the Maggie Daly Arts Cooperative has a rich history of fostering artistic expression and empowerment for individuals with disabilities.
The Kennedy Collective
MDAC is a social enterprise of The Kennedy Collective, an organization that creates pathways for people to flourish and thrive.
That has been the unwavering mission of The Kennedy Collective since 1951. Our Support Services and Social Enterprises offer environments where everyone is valued, and individuals can reach their fullest potential. We move to the center of communities that give in order to gain, where collective impact is the goal. After all, when we transform lives together—by empowering and employing—it is the most magical of things.
Challenge The Status Quo.
Evelyn Kennedy Did, In A Big Way.
Imagine you have a young son who you adore. But, you’ve been told by your doctor that you should institutionalize him. Then, you should forget you ever had him. And it’s not just the opinion of that one doctor. It’s the general view of society. In 1951, Evelyn Kennedy thought this was ridiculous, and believed that there must be others out there who agreed. That’s where our story begins.
The Kennedy Collective Model
The Kennedy Collective is made up of two parts: Support Services, including day programs, activities and group homes; and Social Enterprises, which employ people with disabilities who in turn bring tangible value to local organizations. The two parts are completely connected – as proceeds from the Social Enterprises are used to expand the Support Services.
Our Core Beliefs
The Kennedy Collective values are derived from two core beliefs that bonded Evelyn Kennedy and a group of 12 parents back in 1951, and that guides our team of staff members, supports and community partners in our collaborations to support people with disabilities:
Every person deserves to be recognized, and every person deserves to feel equal to others.
How Our Four Values Create Collective Impact.
We’ve been working on this since 1951, and yet, people with disabilities are still being overlooked. Together, let’s do something about it.