The Caring Force is pleased to announce the April Member Spotlight honoree is Tanisha Y. Harris-Yeboah, the Assistant Site Manager of College Highway at Berkshire County Arc.
Tanisha is known at Berkshire County Arc for her infectious smile and positive attitude. Everyone around her appreciates that she brings her best self to work every day. Tanisha is not only a dedicated worker at BC Arc but she also uses her skills and passion in her day to day life to care for loved ones.
Here’s what Tanisha had to say about working in human services:
Years in Human Services: 20
Best professional memory: It was the moment when we brought all the ladies back home from the hotel after a fire here at the College Highway location. I had spearheaded the transition; being the assistant manager of the program, I had been there from the time they entered the hotel. I just wanted to make sure everyone was comfortable and content with the circumstances ahead. We had just had some volunteers from other houses help with transports and things and the house was still a mess at this point, but I went and picked up Chinese food for all, staff included. There was a brief moment before I left the house where I looked around at everyone’s face and realized how comfortable and peaceful everyone was for that moment. We all know that there is no place like home. Even though hotels are normally where people like to run to get a break from home, the week there had been rough on everyone – staff and residents alike. The entire experience had been a rough one, especially thinking back at why they were in the hotel in the first place and what could have happened in a worst case scenario. It was stressful, but at that moment there was nothing but peace and respect on everyone’s face. At the end of the day everyone was content with being “home” and back into their normal routines.
Who has inspired you to do your best at what you do? (Question from Jennifer Zuniga from Vinfen): My grandmother inspired me. When I first finished my initial training and certification into this field, my grandmother was dying of cancer. I worked two jobs, would bring her to her appointments and relieve my mother from caring for her in between jobs. I was also pregnant. It seemed that I could never spend enough time with her. My grandmother lived about two weeks past her 56th birthday.
I spent the next 10 years of my life taking care of people, four years in which they were in their final days. It was very tedious. I was always extremely dedicated to my work and clientele. Looking back I realized one day that I had spent those years trying to make up for whatever I supposedly didn’t do for my grandmother. It wasn’t the right type of thinking, but it was what it was. I had to then learn how to separate work from home because there was an obvious disconnect there. I vowed that I would ALWAYS treat people that way, with the same care, patience and tenderness as we did my own grandmother.
Question for the next member spotlight honoree: I firmly believe that when it comes to this field of work, you either have it in you or you DON’T. Do you remember that moment when you realized that this type of work was what you were destined to do?
P.S. If you know someone who inspires clients and embodies the spirit of The Caring Force, please nominate them on our website or email Christine Batista at christine@providers.org for more information about our Spotlight program.
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