Before joining The Arc of Essex County, Dacia King-Sarkodie had a variety of jobs, but most recently had spent six years working in the banking industry. “I wanted a change and an opportunity to do something different and more fulfilling with my time,” she says.
Having grown up as the niece of a primary school headmistress, Dacia has strong memories of her aunt providing a listening ear and loving care to students, which was an inspiration to her. “I was brought up with that nurturing spirit, and I knew I was destined to be in a field where I could give back and make a positive impact in the lives of others.”
When she saw an ad for an opening as an Operations Coordinator in The Arc’s Children & Family Community Services department in 2008, Dacia jumped at the opportunity to apply. Soon enough, she was at the main office in Livingston and instantly felt the difference in her career path. “Working here has been a very rewarding experience from the moment I started,” she says. “Right away, I had a good team of people who were guiding me, and a lot of effort and dedication was put into understanding my new role. [Before long] I was connecting with families and learning about participants and prospective ones and how we can make a difference in their lives with our programs.”
Dacia progressed through the positions of Manager, Senior Manager, and now is Assistant Director of Creative Services in Adult Day Services. Through the years, she has found herself involved in a little bit of everything The Arc offers, from children’s services to adult programs, from pitching in at Camp Hope to covering shifts in residential homes during the Covid-19 pandemic—during which time she also pivoted to help manage virtual programming for consumers who were home and eager to reconnect with their peers. “I’ve learned so much and grown so much in these 16 years,” she says. “And I still look forward to gaining more knowledge in areas I haven’t yet explored.”
In her current role, Dacia aims to “create a variety of unique programs to keep participants focused, engaged, and happy.” She manages Community Inclusion activities, Group Respite special events, Saturday Respite, Hotel Respite, the After-Work Program, and Community-Based Supports. She also represents The Arc at transition fairs and other public-facing events and organizes The Arc’s “Meet the Support Coordinator” nights, where the focus is assisting families navigating through the process of transitioning their loved ones into the adult world. Her work involves a lot of behind-the-scenes coordination and creativity, from planning the activities and developing the calendar to staffing the programs and ensuring they have the necessary supplies, while also networking with families and outside organizations. It’s a lot to juggle, but she is regularly bolstered when she sees the smiles on the consumers’ faces or hears gratitude from them or their families.
Something as simple as watching a Hotel Respite participant independently purchase an item at Wal-Mart, answering a question about DDD services for a family, or witnessing a feel-good peer moment where participants go above and beyond for one another can make Dacia’s day. Most recently, she recalls the sibling of a participant in the Tasty Treats Cooking Class telling her about what a difference the lessons have made for his brother, providing increased independence at home. “It’s nice to know we don’t just provide fun activities, we also offer opportunities to learn new skills that they can take home with them,” she says. “And hearing we are meeting the needs of our families keeps us motivated to continue providing exciting services to enhance the lives of the people we care so much about.”
She says when she finally meets a family member in person, it feels like connecting with someone she’s known forever. “There’s so much joy,” she says. “It’s been an inspiring and amazing journey. I’ve definitely found my fulfillment.”