If you have an opportunity to visit Advocates Liverpool office, be sure to check out our art gallery, which is located in the main hallway! Six talented artists who are part of the Advocates family will be featured each quarter, each displaying two works of art and a short bio on the artist. |
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Kayla Trimm
Kayla Trimm enjoys using colored pencils, paint, and markers to draw and create her artwork. She has not taken art classes, but continues to learn from experience and practice. She has been creating art since she was in kindergarten, but her passion really began at ESM High School.
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The first piece of artwork Kayla submitted was inspired by her favorite holiday, Halloween.
The other piece was inspired by her dreams and the love she has for the unicorn girl.
We thank Kayla for her participation in our Art Gallery.
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Monica Dominguez
Monica Dominguez is a talented artist who enjoys creating acrylic and watercolor art. She has been creating for about 16 years and prefers mixed media the most. Monica studied art in school and has taken classes on and off for the past few years. She truly enjoys art and learning new and different techniques.
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Monica shared with us these two beautiful paintings, which both feature flowers and butterflies.
We thank Monica for helping to brighten the hallway of our Liverpool office with her stunning artwork.
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Advocates Stroll & Roll 5K Walk | Run |
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Advocates 4th Annual Stroll & Roll 5K Walk | Run was held on May 7th at Onondaga Lake Park. In total, 258 participants ran, walked, strolled, and rolled to the finish line!
To view photos from the fun-filled day, please visit our Facebook page. Also, be sure to check out this video, produced by CST Media Productions. Their spectacular footage makes you feel like you're part of the action!
The event would not have been possible without the following sponsors, whose support is truly appreciated: KeyBank, Cathedral Candle Company, Delmonico Insurance Agency, CST Media Productions, LLC, Todd Luchsinger, Price Chopper, Wegmans, SIGMA THETA TAU, Heather Galko, Todd Luchsinger, Griswold Foundation - Assimon Family, Dr. Patrick & Kuni Riccardi, Edward J Ryan Funeral Home, Marsh & McLennan Co., Paladin Restoration, Toomey Residential & Community Services, CNY Premier/CNY Soccer Tots, and Murrays.
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On behalf of Advocates, we send our heartfelt thanks to our many families, friends, supporters and employees who made our 4th Annual Stroll and Roll a wonderful event! Your support is integral to our ability to serve people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in our community and to improve the quality of life for all.
Mark your calendars for Advocates 5th Annual Stroll & Roll | Auction. We hope to see you on Saturday, May 13, 2023!
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Advocates Community Meetings |
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Advocates Partners with American Red Cross |
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Advocates is sponsoring an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Tuesday, June 28th from 1-6pm. The event will take place at Advocates office in Liverpool.
We thank you in advance for considering participating in this critical mission.
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Advocates Virtual Trainings |
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Presented by:
Susan Scharoun, Ph.D.,
Professor, Psychology Department, Le Moyne College
June 22nd @ 6pm
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People who have positive social relationships report greater happiness, fewer health problems, and live longer. Positive social connections are a great source of pleasure and when we need it most, they buffer us against the stresses of everyday life and crises. This webinar will focus on helping participants to understand the elements of social relationships and address ways to overcome obstacles to forming them. |
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Communication Exists in Various Forms: Learn about a journey to communication for those who do not speak |
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Presented by:
Sherylanne Burke & Srilata Saroja |
Inclusion and Communication Initiatives (ICI)
June 28th @ 6pm
This presentation will address the connection between communication, movement, initiation, sensory and the key elements of support; all grounded in a presumption of competence. We will provide an overview of supported typing, communication applications, and assistive technology.
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To register for Advocates trainings,
Please include in your email:
Name of person receiving services
Name/s of person attending
Name of Care Manager
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Save the date!
Emotion into Art™ is a unique speed painting and motivational speaking performance, presented by nationally acclaimed artist Tom Varano. Tom uses his fingertips, palms, and brushes to paint custom portraits and famous faces on a 4-foot x 5-foot canvas in just a matter of minutes. His creations are choreographed to powerful music that draws his audience into what is being created.
The show is sure to capture your attention and entertain like no other. Advocates will be hosting this exciting fundraising event on Friday, July 29th from 5:30pm-8pm at the Palace Theater in Syracuse.
The evening's schedule of events:
- Art Exhibit: 5:30pm - 7:00pm
- Patron Party: 5:30pm - 7:00pm, $125 per person
(Includes wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, desserts)
- Emotion into Art™: 7:00 - 8:00pm, $25 per person
This event is open to all families, employees, and the general public.
You won't want to miss Tom's amazing performance!
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All proceeds from Emotion into Art™ benefit children and adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. |
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The year 2011 was a special one for Steve Boudreau. In addition to marrying his best friend, Tracey, he joined the Advocates team as a Mentor. Eleven years later, Steve says he doesn’t know what he’d do without either fundamental part of his life.
Prior to entering the disability service field nearly 30 years ago, Steve lacked direction when it came to what he wanted to do professionally. He had worked part time jobs through high school and afterward, most notably as a restaurant prep cook. Because he didn’t consider himself a people person, he enjoyed the ability to perform his job with no customer interaction. Ultimately, though, Steve felt something was missing. That something was a yearning to be of greater service to people in his community.
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While Steve was contemplating his next move, a friend casually mentioned that she thought Steve would be great at what she did – acting as a Direct Support Professional for someone with a disability. Steve was admittedly apprehensive about the thought of working with people in that capacity. Due to his tendency to keep to himself and the fact that he hadn’t any experience with people with disabilities, he almost passed on the opportunity. Looking back, Steve is glad he set his fears aside and gave the profession a chance. |
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“I made the jump and immediately fell in love with the job because of the people we support,” he said. “It really did fill the void because our people have a great outlook on life and provide a different perspective.” The positive role Steve has played in the lives of several people he’s supported over the years at Advocates has left him with a true sense of pride and accomplishment. He can recall multiple people who have taken great strides in their independence and have grown in other ways under his tutelage. |
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One such example is a young man Steve has now supported for years. When the two had first met, the young man expressed that he’d always wanted to swim with his friends but was terrified of the water – so much so that he would barely get his feet wet. Before a swimming goal could be established, Steve realized that he first needed to establish something greater – a solid relationship built on trust. Before long, a rapport was developed and with it came the setting of the new goal for the young man.
Each week, Steve would take his friend to the YMCA to get more comfortable in and around the water. Steve exercised much patience in the process when building a routine and allowing him to proceed at his own pace. Through Steve’s admirable approach and steady doses of encouragement, the young man went from taking baby steps with swimming to being an accomplished swimmer in a matter of months.
“He now swims like a fish and it’s his main source of exercise these days,” Steve said with a giant smile on his face. “It’s rewarding, seeing his growth and accomplishing his goals…all because we developed that trusting relationship.”
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It’s stories similar to this that Steve can share that make him appreciate his job and the agency as much as he does the people he supports. “I could talk all day about everything I like about Advocates,” Steve said. “I particularly like how we support the entire family through the process, and not just the person receiving services.” What Steve also likes about Advocates and his role here is that he feels valued – both in the small circles of those he supports and as part of a much larger team of Advocates employees. “It’s nice having other Mentors respect my opinion and advice because of my experience,” he told us. “It’s great to have the support from the Advocates team when you need it, too.” |
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When Steve isn’t making a positive impact on people’s lives while on the clock with Advocates, he does so as a husband, father, and friend. As much as he loves his job with Advocates, he says the best job of all is being a dad. “Being a dad is such a privilege, and I’m so lucky to have them,” Steve said, referring to his two children, Grace and Fletcher. “I mostly have great days at work, and afterward, I get to go home to my beautiful wife and kids,” he continued. “I really have the best of both worlds.”
For those of us who know Steve, it’s hard to believe there was a time when he wasn’t a people person. It’s also hard to believe that he got introduced to the field in his 20s, because as he acknowledged himself, he feels he was born to serve people in the way he does today. “I just try hard to treat people the way I would want to be treated,” he said. It’s this philosophy that has governed how he performs his jobs as both a Mentor and a father. We are truly grateful to have dedicated people like Steve on our team, and we thank him for the critical supports he provides people every day.
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Do you have a friend or family member who possesses many of Steve's great qualities and would make a great Mentor?
We look forward to meeting them!
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ADVANCING INCLUSION | EMPOWERING FAMILIES | CREATING COMMUNITY |
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