Roberta McKenna: Two Year Work Anniversary!
Quality in human services has a direct correlation to quality humans delivering those services, and experienced, committed staff who stay in their jobs over the long term are critical to a strong workplace culture. They serve as mentors to new staff, and establish a consistent trusted presence with individuals supported by LiveWorkPlay and their families. We are now celebrating annual workplace anniversaries to help highlight these important contributors to the organization.
May 14 is a second anniversary for Roberta McKenna!
What is a favourite memory of your most recent year at LiveWorkPlay?
Some of the people I am involved in supporting moved out to homes of their own this year, and it’s been a privilege to see them respond to that change.
No matter how much preparation is involved, life is a journey full of surprises, and for me one of the real pleasures of my job is to see other people identify their own ability to take on challenges and experience success in ways they had never anticipated.
What is a favorite memory of your time at LiveWorkPlay in your first year?
Attending the Welcome Back Family Feast in September 2016. I work directly with a relatively small number of people, so that was my first opportunity to see over 100 other members, family, LiveWorkPlay volunteers and supporters I’d never met before. It was such a warm and welcoming environment, and confirmed all the good things I had heard about but hadn’t yet experienced.
What are you looking forward to in the future at LiveWorkPlay?
I don’t have too many specific thoughts about that, I really enjoy the ride, not only seeing people I support going after what they want in life and getting it, but also when they change their minds because they have discovered something new. I get surprised from time to time but it’s my job to roll with it, and I enjoy that, as well as thinking about how I might help or who else might have some of the answers!
What do others have to say about Roberta? We asked some of her co-workers and people she supports!
She’s not going to be shocked by much, I will tell you that. Sometimes she will be telling a story, and it’s very funny and whatnot, but she will skip through some sort of outrageous situation like it is just a walk in the park!
Roberta is great to talk with about any problem at all I can trust her.
She’s just really fun but at the same time, she has very serious empathy for other people, it’s a good combination if someone can laugh with you or cry with you or do both at the same time.