Congratulations, Jenn!

ACVA's first 'Staff Support Advocate of the Year' goes to Jennifer!

To this award, Jenn had this to say: "Its humbling that you allow me to spend my time with you, and to support you. I get just as much benefit out of it from a personal level as you do. I would do it all again for all my career."

Here is a piece of Jenn's shining nomination:

"Jenn is a strong advocate in terms of encouraging the people she supports in being involved in community initiatives and self-advocacy. Jenn played a strong role in generating volunteers to help create decorations for the tree entry in the ARCH Illuminate the Season event. She encouraged people of every skill level, and those new to crafting, to participate. She developed an approach that saw participants create an ornament for the tree; one for the person to add to their own tree; and, an ornament they could gift to someone else, if they wished. The volunteer composition, at the table, reflected people supported, frontline staff and other community members who either also created or provided encouragement.

Jennifer often is the first to volunteer and assist with people she supports at Culture days, Chuck-a-puck, conferences and other community events. The people she supports grow in confidence and always show their joy in being included.

Jenn is a strong advocate and strives to find, and promote, engaging and compassionate ways to encourage people to have 'new' experiences."