Living Resources is honored to announce that CEO Elizabeth Martin has been recognized by City & State as a 2025 Above & Beyond: Social Services honoree, a distinction awarded to leaders making transformative impacts in human services across New York. Click here for a complete list of honorees.

When Elizabeth Martin took the helm at Living Resources in 2020, she brought with her a bold vision for change. “I wanted to take what I had learned about disability rights and the right to live with dignity, independence, purpose and bring it to Living Resources,” she said. “When you see a social problem and you’re helping to change it, there’s nothing more exciting than being part of that.”

With more than 50 years of service, Living Resources supports nearly 2,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and individuals with brain injuries across New York’s Capital Region within our many programs, including residential programs, day services, employment supports, self-direction options, and even college-based programs that build independence and career readiness.

Among Martin’s proudest accomplishments is helping individuals who had lived in fully staffed group homes for decades transition to more independent, supportive apartments. With targeted state grants and a focus on enabling technology, her team has shown what’s possible when traditional approaches are reimagined. “They’re happier now and they’re doing great,” she says. “We’re showing what’s possible when you try something different.”

Martin’s journey into disability services was shaped by mentorship and the example of a strong leader who demonstrated how to lead with integrity and purpose. That influence continues to guide her today. Her advice to future leaders in the field: “Follow your heart and your passion, because that will always lead you down the right path.”

This honor comes at a critical time: across New York, poverty and homelessness are rising, Medicaid enrollment is at an all-time high, and many vulnerable residents are at risk of losing support. Leaders like Elizabeth Martin, and organizations like Living Resources, are working every day to ensure that no one is left behind.

We are proud to see her recognized among the visionaries who are going above and beyond in building a more inclusive, compassionate New York.