Sharing the Journey – May 2024
Check out the May edition of Sharing the Journey View the May Edition of Sharing the Journey Missed previous editions? Check out our Agency News page to see all editions from this past year!
CareerNext Diplomas and Degrees
Our CareerNext program is celebrating its Class of 2024! Through hard work and determination, four graduates have earned their degrees and are now embarking on new, exciting opportunities. Their CareerNext academic coordinators were instrumental in supporting them as they stayed on top of assignments, studied for exams, and advocated for themselves. Jordyn (top) and Antonio (bottom) celebrate their graduation from HVCC On Saturday, May 11, Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) seniors Antonio and Jordyn each accepted their diplomas! They represent our very first class of CareerNext HVCC graduates and have each decided to continue their education with support from [...]
518 Day Spring Spruce-Up
In honor of 518 Day, Living Resources executives and other office staff members spent a morning working outside at some of our residences in Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, and Saratoga counties. The beautiful spring weather cooperated beautifully as everyone rolled up their sleeves and picked up brushes to apply a fresh coat of protective paint to ramps, railings, spindles, and decks. Everyone’s hard work went a long way! By the end of the four hour effort, six residences were spruced up and teams were left feeling satisfied by a job well done. The individuals who call our residences home deserve to [...]
College Experience Commencement
Anticipation, excitement, and happiness were in full effect among our 18 College Experience (CEP) seniors, all dressed up in their caps and gowns at their graduation ceremony inside Albany’s MVP Arena. Throughout commencement on Saturday, May 11, they participated right alongside their peers at The College of Saint Rose. Each of their achievements in the program led to these moments of celebration. Our seniors learned invaluable skills through their classes and internships, growing more independent with each passing semester. They learned to cook their own meals, plan social events, do their own laundry, and succeed in the workplace. While this graduation [...]
Fowl Fun
Saratoga County participants in the Day Community Opportunities Program (DCOP) are birds of a feather, in more ways than one! Two activities planned in recent weeks were each based around different kinds of fowl. First, they gathered at Gavin Park in Wilton with bird seed, peanut butter, and the cardboard rolls for a simple, sustainable craft project. They spread the peanut butter onto the roll, then coated it with seeds. An attached string allowed them to hang these handcrafted bird feeders from trees, offering up a scrumptious meal in exchange for a chance to do a little bird-watching. Everyone enjoyed [...]
Sharing the Journey – April 2024
Check out the April edition of Sharing the Journey View the April Edition of Sharing the Journey Missed previous editions? Check out our Agency News page to see all editions from this past year!
Celebrating Spring
Camaraderie, cuisine, and celebration were found in abundance at our Brain Injury Program’s annual Spring Fling! On Friday, April 26, program participants, staff, and family members gathered at Harmony Hall in Schenectady to spend an elegant evening together. The room was decorated beautifully, music was played, and a full three course dinner was shared among friends, many of whom say the program has become like a second family. Party-goers talked, laughed, and danced the night away in each other’s company! Our Brain Injury Program supports survivors as they navigate their lives post-injury, finding community, happiness, and new purpose. To learn more, [...]
A True Blessing
We are deeply grateful to Grace Episcopal Church, St. Paul’s Campus, in Ossining, New York for the generosity and support recently gifted to our Day Community Opportunities Program (DCOP). Boxes of materials, ready to be used in craft projects, which were being stored on the church’s second floor, are being donated for use by our participants. “We are happy to support you as you support others,” writes the Rev. Hal Roark. Assistant Director of Day Services for the Southern Region Donna King, calls the donation “a true blessing.” The church is also providing DCOP with access of its building and grounds, [...]
Meet Abby! College Experience Grad Reflects on Triumphs and Challenges during Autism Acceptance Month
“If you feel like you need to fight for something, absolutely fight for it. You don’t have to back down.” That’s the message 22-year-old Abby Censabella has for those still working to find out who they really are and where they truly belong. Abby was diagnosed with Autism just a few years ago, and she had to move from Rhode Island to New York in order to get her diagnosis fully recognized. She found community, direction, and purpose as a student in The College Experience, entering the program in 2020 and graduating two years later. “It’s hard to get diagnosed,” Abby [...]
Fun on the Farm
Our Day Community Opportunities Program (DCOP) recently ventured out to Indian Ladder Farms in Altamont to explore everything agricultural! The farm is currently hosting its highly-anticipated Baby Animal Days, where young goats, rabbits, chicks and other barnyard animals are proudly showed off to adoring crowds. Program participants from Saratoga County made their way through the many exhibits, petting the animals’ soft fur and feathers as they learned all about them from Indian Ladder staff members. These pictures show just how much fun everyone had! After all of the exhibits were fully enjoyed, participants stepped into Indian Ladder’s country store, where they [...]