Dashia

Most of the staff who have worked in our organization love their job. They work with our members to establish trust and build meaningful positive relationships. They get to know the members and help them through their day-to-day challenges. They spend extra time and put in extra effort to let members know that they are valued. Very few have done it quite the same way as this nominee. Fewer still have done it with her particular brand of enthusiasm and energy, to say the least.

This staff member has continuously exceeded all expectations to ensure Club members have fun. Whether it is has been shopping for her own supplies with her own money, even though she has been discouraged and asked to save her receipts, her response has been “If I have to get approval, I don’t get all the candy I want to give out and if I buy it, then you can’t tell me what to do with it.” While frustrating at times, this mentality is routed in the passion and love this staff has for the Club. They do this so when the days are rough, long, and stressful they can add a little bit of sweetness to someone’s day. It is always a meaningful moment to see the look on someone’s face – whether it is a staff, volunteer, or member when a piece of candy comes literally flying in their direction out of nowhere. Anyone who has worked with this staff member knows that it is not done to “shut you up,” it is done because they care and hope that even a small gesture can make a difference.

Energy, especially positive energy, often describes this staff member. Driving a coworker to work multiple times a week so they don’t have to walk miles to work, starting impromptu dance parties with anyone who enters their space, or creating unique high fives with people to let them know they matter– you never know what she is going to do or say next.

You can teach people the ins and outs of a job, but you can’t teach passion. You can’t teach someone to bring up others with live beatboxing or random animal noises. When someone loves what they do and where they are, it shows through their actions. While you will be hard pressed to say anything positive about this staff member without them running screaming from the room in discomfort, they show up every day looking to make a meaningful impact for everyone that comes their way.

In the Heights, we are blessed and honored to get to work with such an amazing individual. In our organization, we are blessed to have had the honor of watching this fun-loving girl turn into a whirlwind of creativity and mischievousness.  Someone who shows everyone not to care what people think if you are doing what is right by helping others. Dashia imbodies Loving it, Living it, and Giving it every day – in her own unique way.