2016 Vocational Achievement Awards an Awesome Celebration
Community Access prides itself on being more than just a housing provider; it is a place for people to enrich their lives and find satisfaction in the things that they do. With that in mind, Community Access hosted its first Vocational Achievement Awards this past Friday.
Organized by the Work and Learning Liaisons - a group of Service Coordinators representing housing programs from across the agency - the ceremony honored twelve individuals for their outstanding vocational achievements over the past year. During the ceremony, the honorees were introduced by the nominating staff, after which honorees were given the opportunity to say a few words.
One honoree, Sufi David described his thoughts after moving into Community Access several years prior. "I didn’t know where I was headed, I just knew I didn’t want to be still. Because I know what that looks like." Mr. David now works in a peer role with Visiting Nurse Services.
Barbara Smith, who recently received completed seminary school, also talked about getting a fresh start when moving into her home in Brooklyn. "At Community Access, you get a chance to be your old self. And a new self, too."
Gerald Jenkins, working as a peer specialist for the Jewish Board of Family and Children Services, talked about recovery, providing some poetic flair to boot. "For those of us that choose to recover, we uncover to discover ourselves," he told the crowd during his acceptance speech.
"The very things that marginalized me, rejected me, are now what motivate me in my poetry and art," said Marty Strohm, who in addition to writing, volunteers at the National Poetry Club. "What was once a devil is now a God."
To close the ceremony, Steve Coe talked about the various jobs and volunteer positions he held that led him to become a part of Community Access. "Not all rewarding or valuable experiences come with a paycheck; sometimes it's just about reaching out and getting involved."
PHOTO ALBUM:
2016 Vocational Achievement Awards
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