By Kristen Baughman, CQL Quality Enhancement Specialist
The heart of the Old Salem, amidst the historic cobblestone roads and vibrant flowing gardens, is home to many cutting-edge curated museums and carefully crafted galleries. Visitors and tourists stroll the streets and flock to view and purchase unique artistic creations. One of these thriving locales is The Enrichment Center Gateway Gallery, a beautifully conceptualized art gallery.

The gallery features a variety of artwork created by local artists from all walks of life for purchase and perusal. Immediately attached to the gallery is a large, versatile, and accessible space with floating bars and tables to accommodate formal and informal community events. It also has multiple working kitchens for catering. You are immediately greeted with classical music; all the areas are very modern and have an artful aesthetic which creates a warm, welcoming ambiance.
The gallery is home to events, openings, and community celebrations of all kinds. This integrated space is home to The Enrichment Center Arts Based Day Program, which CQL had the chance to visit as part of the organization’s Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation process.
The Gateway Gallery upgrade took place in Spring and Summer of 2023, with the goal of making it a gallery that is in line with, or even better than, the trendy venues around the sought-after museum and garden area. Seventy artists participate in creating art in various mediums, as well giving tours and working at sales.

The core mission of The Enrichment Center was created around the arts as a cornerstone, and it is the center of all that they do. They have evolved a tremendous amount within the past two years and become an upscale gallery and hosting events to enhance a person-centered culture and bring awareness to inclusion and accessibility to the community. The Enrichment Center began giving tours to members of the community and this collaboration with the community has led to many innovative partnerships.
The program model uses a successful Pod structure, which is ever evolving from their previous traditional classroom structure. People choose two pods to attend for the quarter and spend time in other areas as well.
The Pods Include:
- Music: Includes an in-house rock band, drum circle, recording equipment, and multiple professional instruments.
- Culinary Arts: A creative space where people learn about shopping, budgeting, and the art and science of cooking.
- Painting: An elaborate art studio where people were constructing and painting a variety of colorful mediums, including canvas, fabric and upcycled materials.
- Pottery: The all-accessible pottery wheel creates a space for people to design, throw and glaze pottery items including ceramics and glass.
- Digital Art: An area bustling with technology and people creating digital art on a variety and were focused on a digital self-portrait project.
- Theater: A large performance space with mirrors, a barre and a great deal of areas to concentrate on dramatic and theater arts.
- Dance: A dynamic creative space where people link movement with music and performance.

In all of the spaces, people were actively creating art of their choosing and learning life skills which were naturally woven into the subject matter. Technology was being used everywhere and evident in all the Pods. This included a smart-board, interactive TVs, digital cameras, laptops, an accessible pottery glass and pottery kiln, music and recording equipment.
Pod leaders are experts in their field and bring a unique professional prospective. They were also able to create an immersive sensory patio through a grant, which is outside of the main area and provides even more space for people to spend time during the day.
The organization recently celebrated 40 years of providing art-based services and supports for people with IDD in the Winston-Salem community. CQL is excited to continue the accreditation partnership with the organization and commends them for their innovative person-centered approach to integration, community, accessibility, and creative arts.
About The Enrichment Center
Serving the Winston-Salem community since 1983, The Enrichment Center now serves over 140 people per day! As a group of parents, the founders envisioned creating a one-of-a kind learning opportunity for their adult children living with an intellectual or developmental disability. Their mission was for their adult children to have meaningful life experiences through art and in the community after graduating high school. Nestled on Marshall Street behind historic Old Salem, the 65,000 square foot building includes more than enough space to provide stimulating and quality learning opportunities for participants. The Gateway Gallery is open to the public and provides a space for artists to show and sell their work and the opportunity to earn a paycheck.

During 2024, The Enrichment Center embarked on a 40 year anniversary journey celebrating the milestone with 40 unique events, taking place in conjunction with the greater Winston-Salem community. The events were each unique, art focused, and highlighted the accomplishments and history of The Enrichment Center. The Enrichment Center is credited for this tremendous effort in community engagement and enhancing public knowledge of what they do and the importance of the people they support.
The Enrichment Center, which had previously achieved Quality Assurances Accreditation, sought Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation during this cycle, which they achieved! They were transparent and committed to continuous improvement as part of the quality growth journey. CQL is thrilled to continue the partnership with The Enrichment Center for the next four years and see how they grow in the future.
Additional Insights Into The Enrichment Center
We asked Melissa Wilson, The Enrichment Center Director of Development, a series of questions about who they are as an organization, as well as their experience throughout their CQL Accreditation Journey.
What are some notable changes in your organization over recent years?

We have fully embraced and celebrated individual needs and wants to help support adults so that they can live their best lives. We have worked to engage the community in our mission by creating inclusive events and established programs designed to offer empowering experiences through specialty clubs and exploratory activities outside of the Day Programs and focused on individual interests and hobbies. We are thinking “outside of the box” by offering people the opportunities to experience life in new and exciting ways.
What organizational values or practices are you most proud of?
Our person-centered focus has become the baseline for the entire agency and our best practices. We have worked to create a culture that is inclusive for all and strive for efficient processes and outcomes that are reflective of a positive, understanding, and motivating work culture. We are most proud of our staff who work tirelessly every day to support people in ways that bring meaning into their lives – a rarity for many adults with an IDD. We are a community of different stakeholders on all levels: from leadership, to staff, to the Pod Leaders who fine-tune the talents of the artists and encourage their understanding of their basic human rights.

“I am so proud to serve on the Board for The Enrichment Center because I get to know the clients and staff, and see first-hand the difference the program makes for the participants. I also have learned that The Center enriches the lives of families as well.
– Nancy Young, The Enrichment Center Board Member
Why did you decide to pursue CQL Accreditation?
CQL Accreditation aligns to the mission, vision, and values of The Enrichment Center and was a natural fit for the organization. The Personal Outcome Measures® allow us to identify the needs of each person in a measurable way and provide valuable information that helps leadership identify the quality of support that we provide.
How did you prepare for your CQL Accreditation?
The Leadership Team held a series of meetings to assess our current practices and procedures. The Qualified Professionals assisted in the process of collecting the data. A review and update to the handbook was essential to keep staff and families informed of changes and are in alignment with the mission, vision, and values of The Enrichment Center.
What is the impact of accreditation on your organization as a whole?
Meeting the criteria to achieve this level of CQL Accreditation gives us the validation to move forward with offering opportunities that challenge the “norm.” The Enrichment Center uses the Personal Outcome Measures® as a compass for guiding us in the process of meeting those receiving services.

“I like all of the staff and students. Everybody is so nice.”
– Andy Ball, The Enrichment Center Participant
What is the impact of accreditation on your employees?
Staff have a better understanding of the significance of CQL Accreditation after experiencing the process. It has strengthened their perspective of the Personal Outcome Measures® and the importance of choice and advocacy. CQL Accreditation brings clarity to the reason why the Personal Outcome Measures® are the focus of our daily activities.
What is the impact of accreditation on people you support?
Participants are excited to experience more life events in new settings that challenge the status quo and empower them to make choices outside of their typical environments. We encourage them to dream big! This newly acquired level of CQL Accreditation helps provide the foundation for The Enrichment Center to empower people in new and different ways.
How have the Personal Outcome Measures® affected person-centeredness at your organization?
By focusing on Personal Outcome Measures® and individual goal-setting, people are encouraged to express their own ideas about what it means to live a fulfilling life. We do our best to meet those needs. Because POM aligns with our mission, vision, and values, it provides a baseline for meaningful and creative programs.

“I love the art. Painting flowers. I love all of the pods. They make me feel supported.”
– Cindy Waddell, The Enrichment Center Participant
Have questions about CQL Accreditation?
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Since 1969, CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership has been a leader in working with human service organizations and systems to continuously define, measure, and improve quality of life and quality of services for youth, adults, and older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and psychiatric disabilities. CQL offers accreditation, training, certification, research, and consultation services to agencies that share our vision of dignity, opportunity, and community for all people.
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The Enrichment Center: Arts As A Cornerstone