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When Yvonne Patrick, Regional Director of the Bronx, started at YAI back in 1987, she had no plans to stay at YAI long term. “In the Bronx, I didn’t see people who looked like me in leadership positions,” said Patrick. Then she met Alice Hairston, an Assistant Director in Manhattan and one of the agency’s first Black women in a supervisory role. Once Patrick connected with Hairston, she saw the potential to build her future at YAI. Although Hairston retired in 2012, her 35-year career at YAI saw great changes at the agency.
“Alice inspired many of us,” Patrick said.
After doing a field placement at YAI, Hairston began as a counselor at Ames North in 1977. At that time, everyone in Ames North had recently come from the infamous Willowbrook. “There weren’t a lot of materials or guides,” said Hairston. “So I worked with the psychologist to develop different groups. And I also saw how excited the individuals were when they learned something. I always believed that our people could go and do anything, as long as they had the support and the courage they needed to be successful.”
By 1979, Hairston became the first Supervisor of Lakeview, which was YAI’s first residence for people with multiple disabilities. Many of the residents also came from Willowbrook, which, Hairston noted, meant they had to work through many institutional behaviors. “One of the major accomplishments was just to have them be together. Just for another person to sit next to them. Because Willowbrook wasn’t a very pleasant place and they had to learn to trust.”
In the early 1990s, Hairston went on to open 35th Street, YAI's first 24-hour nursing facility, alongside Patrick. Hairston considers the opening of 35th Street to be a career highlight, especially since it was one of New York’s first programs to allow people to age in place and avoid going to nursing homes.
“You have to have it in yourself that you want to do good,” Hairston said. “I’ve been blessed with having a lot of support in my career journey. Work very hard knowing that the individuals we serve come first and give the people around you the tools to be successful. Be in the position to let people know when they’re doing good. And let them know when they need to improve and set up goals with them.”
For Patrick and countless others at YAI, Hairston’s leadership opened doors. “I see her as paving the way. I can be an Alice and I can aspire to that.”