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Living, loving, working, and learning. YAI's mission to create opportunities for individuals to live, love and work as valued members of their communities is coming to life in many ways throughout our organization.  One creative outlet for staff has been to share their ideas on how to enhance services, supports and the lives of the people involved in YAI programs through innovation.

Through a series of innovation fairs throughout YAI locations, 120 ideas, developed by more than 200 staff members were featured.

"The energy and collaboration among different departments and regions was incredible," said Cameo Todd, Queens Region Support Residential Supervisor, who suggested an Innovation Fair for Queens during a Living, Loving, Working Committee meeting earlier this year. The idea took off from there.

"This is by no means the beginning or end of innovation throughout our organization," said Cheryl Oliver, Residential Senior Supervisor at our Kew Gardens residence. “The fairs highlighted all the passion, dedication and creativity that YAI staff bring to work every single day. As our field is rapidly changing, it is the Direct Support Professionals with their talent and never-ending innovative ideas to improve the lives of the people we support who will carry us as strong as ever into the future.”