Justin Hendersen

Mar 15, 2016

March 15, 2016

Dear Justin,

One of the things that I never get tired of and continues to inspire me is hearing the personal stories of how our staff journey to SPIN.  Each story is unique, important, wonderful and clearly creates the family community that forwards SPIN”s mission and connects us all to one another in supporting a life of possibilities for everyone.

I remember hearing a great story about someone who worked at one of SPIN’s partners, J & C Sunoco. He would talk with the people we support and the Direct Support Professionals when they would pull in to “fill up” for gas for our vehicles all the while asking questions, and developing relationships.  His interactions led him to follow his career goals and seek a position at SPIN.

Luckily, on April 20, 2015, Justin Hendersen started his career at SPIN as a substitute Direct Support Professional in Home and Community Services, and Justin, how very fortunate we are!

Justin, very quickly we were able to see your incredible gifts and talents.  You immediately demonstrated SPIN’s Pillars in all your actions and interactions. And you had joined us at the perfect time, when we needed you most! Luckily, In July, Home and Community Services in Philadelphia was getting ready to launch the Group model, a new service that would allow those we support to gain skills and independence while building peer relationships.  Starting a new service can be very challenging and the most important factor for success is hiring the right team!  We were looking for employees with abundance of positivism and energy, great communication skills, committed to people, innovative ideas, ability to develop connections, results oriented, critical decision maker, ability to make things happen!  Now that is a tall order!  And Justin, guess what, you answered the call! Not only did you show that you were ready, willing and able but you delivered huge results as you pioneered this new opportunity.

And Tom, Michael, Kevin, Ebuka and DJ couldn’t be happier!  Justin, your innovative, inclusive strategies are supporting these three men to learn to support each other in achieving their personal goals by teaching them compromise, compassion and decision making skills. Very successfully you are able to fade your formal supports and prompts as you build their natural supports providing them greater opportunity to grow and succeed. IN addition, you have also helped other people and families see the benefit of SPIN’s H & C supports, a service that teaches real life skills in the community while developing critical relationships. You have helped families feel comfortable and hopeful about the benefits of this inclusive service.

Laura Parisi and Christina Kreckmann, your supervisors and nominators stated in your nomination that “When considering SPIN’s pillars, Justin goes above and beyond to demonstrate them every day.  He is the perfect model of what people first looks like in action.  First and foremost, Justin is dedicated and engaged with everyone he supports.  So often, people look to Home and Community services to connect them with their community and their peers. Justin is able to see the unique interests and skills of those he supports and connects them with the many interesting events and activities in Philadelphia. Justin has the amazing skills of blending learning and skill building into fun and creative activities.  He has collaborated with other Home and Community employees to help those we support find more connections.

Justin, your humble, quiet leadership is producing loud results! And your personal story stands out as special because you are special! A year ago people pulled in to see you to fill up with gas, now you are filling up people‘s lives with hopes, dreams, opportunities and a whole lot of believing!

Justin, on behalf of the SPIN Corporate Board, SPIN Management Team, your colleagues, and most importantly Tom, Michael, Kevin, Ebuka, DJ and so many other lucky people in Home and Community Services and their families, we congratulate you, on this very deserving Employee of the Month Award for February, 2016. Thank you for filling up our world with a life of possibilities!

With Deepest Congratulations and Appreciation,

Judith Dotzman
Executive Director