When you let your children chase their dreams, you and your kids can feel a greater sense of purpose within yourselves.
You should help your children experience as many opportunities as possible. But when you show your kids know and see what you do, especially if you make a difference helping others, they may want to follow in your footsteps.
One father-daughter duo at Gabriel Homes, Inc. (GHI)...
Reuben (front row, center) and Pierrein (back row, second from the left) are residential counselors. Reuben has worked with the residents for almost two-thirds of GHI’s lifetime, joining the team in 1997.
“I’m learning from the residents to this day,” Reuben says. “Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have different learning processes, so I can help them best when I understand their communication styles and feedback.”
Reuben and his family fled from Liberia during the country’s civil war.
At a gathering of Liberian immigrants, he was introduced to GHI by someone who worked there as a house supervisor at the time.
Reuben’s background showed his commitment to helping others. He worked with the United Nations’ Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration program. His responsibilities included rehabilitating paramilitary soldiers so they could thrive in society.
Decades of Leadership
Working with the residents, Reuben likes to lead by example. He helps them prepare for difficult situations by doing role-play scenarios, and he shows how residents can have fun by taking them to lots of different activities.
“I want them to see what I do so they can best reflect that,” Reuben says. “The residents are successful adults today because Gabriel Homes shows them how to succeed.”
Looking Back
Some of Reuben’s favorite memories with GHI included when he took the residents on trips. During one adventure, he took a group of residents to Miami, where they boarded a ship to the Bahamas; in another, he and some residents went up to Wisconsin because one resident, Shelby, was obsessed with cows. Reuben said he liked breaking up routines so everyone could see something new.
Shelby was also the first GHI resident Pierrein met in the 1990s. Pierrein joined GHI and followed in her father’s footsteps when COVID limited work for instructors in 2020. Separate from her dad, Pierrein works at Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) as an instructional assistant (IA).
Pierrein said her father showed how gentle and warm he was with the residents, so he partially inspired her to help others
“Respect is the center of how I want to lead,” Pierrein said. “Adults with IDD need to be respected and heard because they still have concerns. I want to be able to address each resident’s problems and meet their needs.”
Wednesday Specials
Residents light up around Pierrein when they know it’s Wednesday evening. To spice up the week, Pierrein cooks chicken meals with various sides and sauces. Sara, one resident Pierrein works with, especially lights up when she sees her plate.
“What Pierrein makes – that's dinner!” Sara exclaims. “Everything she makes on Wednesdays always sounds good to me.”
Great Memories
Pierrein often plays music around the house, especially because Shelby and Sara love singing. One evening, Pierrein played John Denver’s “Country Roads” per Shelby’s request, and their housemate Caryn fell in love with Pierrein’s voice. The folk song became their personal song because they loved singing it together.
“I love what I do at Gabriel Homes,” Pierrein says. “I could not ask for a better job.”
Her dad has also been proud of his decades of work with the residents.
“There are times where I spend more time with the residents than anywhere else. I’ll miss them when I retire because Gabriel Homes is like a second home to me.”