Honoring Our Team, Celebrating Culture and Paying It Forward

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKvw7d5k2m8&t=1s

The Arc Mercer recently celebrated Liberia’s 179th Independence Day with its annual flag raising ceremony, bringing together employees, board members, community leaders, and members of the Liberian community for a celebration of culture, service, and shared purpose.

For The Arc Mercer, the event represents more than an annual cultural tradition. It is also an opportunity to recognize the extraordinary employees who care for the individuals we serve and to celebrate the diversity that strengthens our agency.

“Our team is our strength,” said Executive Director Steve Cook, reflecting on the compassion, family values, and commitment to service that employees bring to their work each day.

That spirit is at the heart of The Arc Mercer’s Team Atmosphere Committee (TAC), an employee-driven initiative focused on strengthening workplace culture, celebrating staff, and creating opportunities for employees to share and celebrate the many cultures represented across the organization.

Paying It Forward Through Project 601

TAC’s commitment to employees and community extends well beyond The Arc Mercer through Project 601, the agency’s Pay It Forward initiative supporting organizations serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Liberia.

Project 601 grew from a desire to honor the many Liberian employees who have helped shape The Arc Mercer by extending the agency’s mission of dignity, opportunity, and inclusion to communities that hold special meaning for members of our workforce.

Through partnerships and ongoing investment, The Arc Mercer is helping strengthen services, resources, and infrastructure for people with disabilities in Liberia. The initiative reflects a simple idea at the center of TAC’s work: when employees give so much of themselves to the people we serve, the agency should look for meaningful ways to give back to them and the communities they care about.

That connection was reinforced by keynote speaker Albert Giple, President of the Liberia Community Association of Central New Jersey, who spoke about the meaning of Liberia’s independence and the importance of extending dignity, support, and opportunity to people with disabilities. Giple also praised The Arc Mercer’s commitment to Project 601 and described the initiative as a shared mission for everyone who believes in creating stronger, more inclusive communities.

The celebration concluded with the raising of the Liberian flag, an authentic Liberian lunch, and an opportunity for employees and guests to come together in fellowship.

Through cultural celebrations, employee-led initiatives, and programs like Project 601, The Arc Mercer continues working to build a workplace where employees feel recognized, valued, and connected to something larger than their day-to-day responsibilities.

It is one more way we can pay it forward to the dedicated staff whose compassion and commitment make our mission possible every day.