How NPower Services Improved My Life

By Josh Schoenbrun

NPower Services is a local nonprofit organization founded by a remarkable woman by the name of Lori Weber. The organization was founded to support adults with developmental and intellectual differences in their desires to make friends, get in shape, jam out to incredible music, and even find a romantic partner. In this blog, I will share how NPower Services has impacted my life in a positive way for two years now.

I Made Friends

After coming home from college in Florida, my social life was pretty much down the drain. All my friends from school were scattered across the nation and my K-12 high acquaintances weren’t enough for me. I needed local, neurodivergent friends. That is where NPower Services came in and saved my extroverted personality. Starting on July 15 2025, when there was an event called speed dating and friending on the spectrum. This was a concept of being paired with a partner and having four minutes to talk. After speed dating, I started to really get involved with the group whose Winter Ball on March 9 of 2024 kicked off my neurodivergent social life in Ohio. Speed Dating would set the tone for monthly gatherings called Next Level Social. I have attended all sessions except for February. I also attended one event of NPower’s Project Kindness where we placed supplies into huge boxes for transportation to downtown Cleveland.

NPower Services’ first “Paint & Sip” event was held in March, and allowed everyone to create a lucky shamrock hat with a professional instructor. We all enjoyed talking with people like ourselves and made some new friends.

Boosted Love for Music

I attended the MUMS Formal Winter Ball where RockAbility performed a full concert. I got to hang out with my friend Emma, who I’ve gotten to know at other NPower “Next Level Social” events like the Paint & Sip evening.

Aside from providing social activities, I learned to love NPower from a standpoint of music. I’m a drummer and I love hearing live music at any chance I get. NPower Services has a large band called Rockability with over twenty talented members (a perfect mix of mentors and extraordinarily neurodivergent musicians). There is a folk spinoff and there is a second rock group being formed that I am auditioning to be a drummer for. In just a few days, I get to rehearse with Rockability for a few weeks before I move back to Virginia in the middle of May. I sure hope I can find another opportunity as special as this.

Improved Health and Fitness

I may be smiling here, but I mostly sweat at Power Ups Plus workouts! We go hard and get the energy moving!

NPower Services also provides fitness opportunities. There are two indoor fitness classes, Power Ups and Power Ups Plus, as well as Cardio Drumming and TNT at the Geauga Family YMCA (and Geauga Joggers & Walkers – the lone outdoor fitness class). For Winter and Spring 2026, I am involved with the Power Ups Plus group which is a real butt-kicking workout. At first, I found it really intense and wanted to not finish but unlike other fitness opportunities in the past, I was motivated by the strength of the group.

To close, I want to say this, NPower Services changed my life for the better by introducing me to new people, reigniting my love for music, and helping me get more fit. If people in the Cleveland area have a neurodivergent family member, I really recommend this organization.