By Chris Chica, Residential Services Coordinator

Each month, we will recognize two DSPs of the Month as well as a Program Manager of the Month. We are thankful for all the ways they bring the best of themselves to those they support and their colleagues. Please join us in celebrating them:

February DSPs of the Month: Twahirwa Annicet & Zakiy Mohamud

Annicet

Twahirwa Annicet [5th Street] – Annicet is a DSP who not only does exemplary work in their role at 5th Street, but also does fantastic work at other homes as well! One of Annicet’s biggest strengths is their strong work ethic, and they consistently go above-and-beyond – while maintaining a positive, respectful attitude at all times. In addition to these aforementioned qualities, Annicet excels at working with the people we serve, whether at 5th Street or another one of our homes – Annicet exhibits patience, compassion, and person-centeredness while also ensuring the safety and dignity of those we support. Annicet genuinely cares for the people that we serve, and that is made evident every single time that they work. Annicet’s impact does not stop at those we support, as their contributions also lend to a high degree of teamwork and reliability, which is such a benefit for the staff team(s) as a whole! Annicet’s hard work and dedication has led to such a positive impact on those supported at our programs and the respective staff teams at every home they work at, and they wholeheartedly deserve to be one of the DSPs of the Month for February – congratulations, Annicet!

Zakiy

Zakiy Mohamud [Wentworth] – Zakiy represents countless admirable characteristics in a great DSP, and he has become a very important member of the Wentworth staff team (currently in the role of Lead DSP), along with making quite a positive impact when picking-up at other programs as well! Zakiy is known for going the extra mile wherever he is working, and he works incredibly well with the men at Wentworth (as well as the folks at any other program that he works shifts at!). Zakiy is someone who always asks what he can do next to help, and he is eager to learn how to do new and additional tasks. Not only does Zakiy excel at completing routine assignments such as keeping the home clean and tidy, he keeps the men at Wentworth engaged in fun things – including games and other preferred activities! As noted previously, along with Zakiy’s consistent awesomeness at Wentworth, he has done a great job at other programs as well – one shining example is when he has picked-up at our ReNew apartment program, when his 1:1 shift working with one of the people at ReNew did not go according to plan, he took it upon himself to seek-out other items he can help with and keep busy throughout that shift, where he still made an undoubtedly positive impact during that shift at ReNew. With all of this being said, it is not surprise that Zakiy is one of our DSPs of the Month for February – congratulations, Zakiy!

February Program Manager of the Month: Saffrona (Soffi) Carlson

Soffi

Being a Program Manager requires a varied and extensive skillset, and Soffi Carlson (Program Manager at Lee Avenue) is someone who fits this bill (and more)! Soffi is lauded for her creativity and the way she facilitates stellar teamwork – additionally, Soffi supports her fellow Program Managers in a variety of ways, including assisting her peers with organization and increasing their confidence in their roles, while also contributing to them feeling as supported as possible. The men and women supported Lee Ave have various health/medical needs – in which Soffi excels at advocating for their respective needs, as well as doing research and educating herself so she has ample knowledge on their individual diagnoses. Soffi is always striving for improvement wherever/whenever possible, and she succeeds at communicating with her staff team (who appreciate & have plenty of positive things to say about their leader!), along with communicating with the families whose loved ones reside at Lee Ave. With all of these special things about Soffi, it is no wonder why she is our ‘PM of the Month’ for February – congratulations, Soffi!