Aeternus Umbra at OutsideIn 51 - Mike Sweeney
Aeternus Umbra = Watch Forever
I adopted the Latin phrase “Aeternus Umbra” from a United States Marine friend who defended and watched over our Country for 25+ years. Our goal at OutsideIn 51 is to build an “Integrated Community” that will allow Dustin Sweeney, our son with Autism, and his friends to fully participate in the world, while also protecting them in real time.
Communities & Housing - The Self-Directed Model
My personal belief is Communities > Housing, and Communities are much harder to build. Housing for Special Needs/Autistics/DD may need some architectural nuances, but houses, and apartment buildings have been done forever. Yes, the Capital is a REAL issue for most families to purchase housing, but I remain optimistic that some new options will appear. As a strong supporter of the Self-Direction movement in New York State, we are still at the early stages of organizing Communities and Housing.
The best models in New York State to watch are:
Luv Michael Southampton - Run by our friend Lisa Liberatore, here is the Luv Michael Conference in September 2024. Lisa is setting the standard for all of us to follow.
Endeavor 21+ Foundation - Founded in 2019 by a group of Founding Families including The Sweeney’s, the E21+ housing today is mainly 10+ families that have purchased homes near the Threefold Community campus in Rockland County, NY. More to come as the Self-Direction model evolves.
ArchCare @ Saint Teresa - I served on the parents committee as it was being built out. All reports are the Residents are doing well.
SNACK NYC 21+ - Early stages of NYC apartments models.
A Home of My Own - Binghamton, NY
Other:
I am a “Housing Navigator” in New York State, but that was done for the education of understanding the OPWDD system, rather than a functional job.
In my previous life, I worked on Wall Street including many start-ups. Some of my biggest failures put me in this position now to execute on my REAl purpose in life - Building Integrated Special Needs Communities.
M.B.A. at Cornell University, and I married a Classmate!!
Fitness Hiking Classes for Adventurers of All Abilities
“Hike with Mike” keeps me in direct touch with our Special Needs population, and it provides adults of all ages and abilities guided fitness hikes, fitness training, classes, and excursions throughout the extended New York City area. We explore the great outdoors through rigorous fitness hiking which synchronizes mind, body and spirit, fostering health, well-being, socialization, and independence.
Our training sessions combine stamina building and fitness training with the ultimate goal of hiking 4-8 mile trails with roughly 800-1000 feet of vertical at Harriman or Fahnestock State Parks. To accomplish this goal, we start with easier and shorter hikes and build throughout the program. We mix in fitness drills such as upper body (push ups, pull ups, light weights, etc.), lower body (squats, burpees, lunges, etc), core strengthening (sit-ups, planks, super-humans, etc.), and stretching (incorporating classic yoga poses) to prepare the entire body (not just the legs!) to take on our hiking challenges.
In my other life, I volunteer as a Blue & Gold Officer for the United States Naval Academy, and I run Midshipmen candidates through the Candidate Fitness Assessment. The program consists of six physical and motor fitness events that are designed to measure muscular strength and endurance, cardio-respiratory endurance, power, balance, and agility. We customize these drills to each participant’s abilities (don’t worry, it’s fun!!). We also run a VERY modified version of "The Murph” made famous by the LT Michael Murphy, US Navy SEAL Foundation.
We offer 1:1 and 1:2 personal classes and trainings. All of our classes are completely customized for each participant and open to all individuals regardless of abilities. Participants develop hiking skills and build strength and stamina in each session to achieve independence and the ability to participate in community hikes, adventures, and excursions with bigger groups.
Michael Sweeney - Father to Dustin
Michael Sweeney has been an athlete and fitness advocate for his entire life. Mike hikes most weekends, and has summited multiple mountains, most recently 4 of the Saranac Lake 6-ers in the Adirondack Mountains…with 2 more to go. In an earlier life, Mike played basketball for Boston College as a walk-on, was a Triathlete competing in many Sprint and Olympic competitions in the Northeast, and completed Outward Bound - Hurricane Island Maine Expedition School with a Cornell University Outdoor Education team.
Mike is a Hiking Leader at Endeavor 21+ in Rockland County, NY., where he has led roughly 250 hikes around the 200+ acre campus.
As parents of Dustin Sweeney, our son with Autism, Mike and Katie Sweeney are building a community with the spirit of #AeternusUmbra, which translates to a lasting and purposeful life for Dustin and friends. The Sweeney’s are very active in a number of Autism causes and charities including Luv Michael-Southampton, CO/LAB Theater Group, Invictus Enterprises, SNACK, and Surfers Healing. Mike is also in the early stages of exploring Psychedelics for Autism, Crypto for Special Needs, and exploring how Material Science is moving to the “Science of the Intangible”
Contacts:
917-497-0850
mws13@me.com
Alliances & Memberships:
Trailbound Project - NY/NJ Hiking Coalition
Friends of Acadia National Park - Bar Harbor, Maine
United States Naval Institute - Annapolis, MD
Travis Manson Foundation - “If Not Me, Then Who?”
