When it comes to fulfilling The Arc’s mission, Jaquiah Garvin is quick to remind people about the importance of self-care, whether she’s advising the residents in an Arc group home or the staff she now guides as Quality Improvement Manager at The Arc of Essex County’s main office. “When we take care of ourselves, we can better take care of others,” she says. 

Jaquiah, also known as Jae, has always wanted to help people, and was often the friend people would go to for advice, a laugh, or a listening ear when she was growing up. After graduating with a Psychology degree, she ended up working at a bank near a program that served people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Jae knew she wanted to find a career path that used more of her skill set, and she was already getting her master’s degree in Developmental Psychology. So, when she found herself helping non-verbal customers and others with IDD do their banking, she saw a future career path in the disability field that would eventually take her to The Arc.

First hired as a Direct-Support Professional at the Bridges Day Program in 2019, Jae pivoted to Residential Services during the pandemic, working at the West Caldwell Group Home. “I absolutely loved those guys, and I really felt like I was making a difference,” she says. As someone who has always practiced self-care through positive affirmations, aromatherapy, and other practices, she was happy to have the opportunity to teach residents how to best care for themselves and to give such close attention to the needs of each person she served.

In 2022, Jae felt the pull to take on a new role and was promoted to Operations Coordinator for the Quality Management and Compliance department at The Arc’s main office. While in her new role, she not only performed clerical duties and helped her team in a variety of ways, but she also carried a light that uplifted others. Since then, she has moved up to her current role as Quality Improvement Manager. “My team saw something in me; I appreciate how they continue to encourage me,” she says. “I love feeling like I’m growing here.” Jae has grown rapidly in her role and taken on a lot of responsibilities for the agency, becoming a helpful resource to many programs. “I went from hands-on to behind-the-scenes,” she says. She has expanded her comfort zone and taken on challenges with a willingness and desire to keep learning.

As a single mom, Jae has been particularly proud that her daughter has watched her continue to work to improve herself, her organization, and the wider community. “I just want her to be proud of the hard work I put in and the sacrifices I’ve made. I want to demonstrate what it means to never give up! I want her to manifest everything she desires, refrain from staying stagnant, and to better herself and the people around her every day. I want her to always strive for more because she’s more than capable.”

And if there’s one thing that guides her through every step at The Arc, it’s this: “No matter where you go, you should always try to be an agent of positive change. And that’s all I’m trying to do.”