Liberty ARC: Where Your Biggest Fans are Your Greatest Friends

“You owe me another Uno rematch,” Kenny Hotaling said with a smile. “I need another chance to be champion – you won’t beat me this time.”

“We’ll have to wait and see who wins,” Leila Green, Liberty ARC Assistant Hab Specialist 1, replied.

Leila and Kenny play the card game, Uno, every day – it’s one of Kenny’s favorite activities to do with her.

“I’ve been hanging out with Leila for a long time,” Kenny said. “She’s very nice and we’re always together. We play Uno and we always deliver meals for Meals on Wheels. I always like doing that with her.”

Leila has worked for Liberty ARC for three and a half years, and she’s been supporting Kenny ever since.

She said she’s learned a lot from Kenny during her time with him.

“Kenny’s taught me to not take life so seriously all the time,” she said. “I’m a stickler when it comes to everything, but Kenny’s taught me to roll with the punches and let things play out; you can’t control everything all of the time and Kenny’s helped me realize that.”

She said she has a lot of great memories with him from over the years, but one memory in particular stands out.

“One time we went to one of the locks on the Mohawk River and we watched a boat pass through the lock,” she said. “It was amazing to watch the water let out and the boat go through. We just stood there in awe as it was happening and then Kenny had a ton of questions after the boat was back on its way. It’s a day that just stands out in my mind.”

Leila also said she’s Kenny’s “biggest fan” when it comes to his musical performances with his guitar.

“I’ll never forget the first time I saw him perform,” she said. “He was doing a Bon Jovi song and I loved it. I watch him perform every Tuesday during karaoke at the Day Hab and I always love when he performs in Liberty ARC’s Follies Show. He’s awesome and I’m one of his biggest fans.”

Leila said there are a lot of great aspects to her job that make her love what she does.

“This position allows me a lot of flexibility for starters,” she said. “I started working here when I was new to the area – working for this agency has given me the opportunity to explore and learn about my new home.”

Leila said the most important part of her position at Liberty ARC is the fulfillment she gets from developing strong bonds with Kenny and the other individuals she supports.

“I came to this position not knowing what to expect,” she said, “but once I started working with Kenny and the other individuals, they quickly became an important part of my life. I’ve learned so much from them and they make my life feel much more complete. It’s a wonderful agency to work for and a great career because I get the opportunity to see the people I support thrive and grow.”

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