At the 3rd Annual Direct Support Professional of the Year (DSPY) Awards, Angela Rivera won the advocacy award for her support of our residents.
Her nomination rose to the top out of 32 DSPY award nominations from local service providers like Gabriel Homes. As a residential counselor, Angela has championed the residents’ abilities to speak up for themselves and feel empowered.
Angela (left) joined Gabriel Homes in 2024 to gain more experience while studying social work. She previously worked as a behavioral technician for kids with autism. When Angela joined Gabriel Homes, the residents welcomed her with open arms and trusted her to help them achieve their goals in independence.
“The DSPY award is a great honor because I never thought I would receive recognition for helping others. I am always motivated to work with the residents, so the award adds to the joy I feel every time I see them.”
Angela was happy just to be nominated for the award. Her friend, fellow residential counselor Victor Guzman, joined her at the ceremony. Executive director Lynn Davis, whom Angela credits for her win, said that her smile turned into utter shock and joy when the advocacy award revealed her name. When Angela got up for her award, she immediately ran to hug her mentor.
Angela’s history of advocacy goes beyond Gabriel Homes.
In high school, she served as class president and was a leader in student engagement. She helped organize school events and spoke up for her classmates at school board meetings.
“Being a leader helped me better understand different people and communities,” Angela said. “I learned that I had a big heart for others and wanted to make them happy.”
Her willingness to challenge herself and make a difference carried over into her work at Gabriel Homes. Angela caught the staff’s attention early on for her ability to connect with the residents and address their needs. One resident, Rich (behind), looked back fondly on performing karaoke duets with her during the Boo Bash and Spring Fling. When nominations opened for the 3rd Annual DSPY Awards, Gabriel Homes’ leadership had no hesitation in nominating Angela for the advocacy award.
Providers nominated direct support professionals who best represented each category’s prompt.
A diverse group of volunteers selected by the Northern Virginia Coalition of Providers reviewed submissions for the DSPY categories. The nominees’ 1,000-character submissions highlighted the aspects of their exceptional work as DSPs.
Gabriel Homes submitted the following nomination for Angela:
I enthusiastically nominate Angela for her tireless advocacy and remarkable ability to recognize and nurture the strengths of every resident. Her dedication is not just a duty but a passion. She says, “I always wanted to help others and speak up when their voices weren’t heard.” As a DSP, Angela is relentless in empowering residents to make positive and healthy choices. Among her teammates, she’s clear in her communication: Angela always ensures everyone is informed of any needs residents may have. She makes it a priority to ensure everyone receives the care they need.
One evening, a resident wasn’t confident speaking up for themselves. Noticing their shyness, Angela worked with the resident and became their coach. Through role play, the resident acted out scenarios where they could better advocate for themselves under Angela’s scenarios. The resident learned how to speak up politely, and they became more self-assured when voicing they had disagreements or uncertainties with others.