Abigail Parrilla, CEO of The Arc of the South Shore, a family-oriented, community-based non-profit providing information, referrals, and community programs for individuals with disabilities, was a guest speaker at The Summer Leadership Institute held July 24-26 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Parrilla and co-presenter Maryann Hyatt, president and CEO of Berkshire County Arc, Massachusetts, delivered the hour-long session, “How to Win the Top Spot: Lessons on Changing Leadership,” at the three-day event, which was hosted by The Arc and its National Conference of Executives (NCE).
The address focused on the need to prepare for a new generation of leadership in the nonprofit sector – this as a result of a virtual mass retirement exodus. The co-presenters underscored the necessity for prospective new leaders to create both vision and strategy for their chosen agency, keeping in mind the importance of “branding yourself and establishing structure for long-term planning.”
“Know your CEO Superpower, what you do uniquely and better than anyone else that can catapult your organization to the next level,” said Parrilla. “Be strategic and create your strategic plan and value proposition for your organization. And don’t forget that you are already a CEO – the CEO of your own life!”
The goal of the Summer Leadership Institute is for industry professionals to work better and smarter towards a shared purpose: ensuring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) achieve their full civil and human rights and are fully included in their communities.
The annual event united executives, leaders, and professionals from across the disability sector in pursuit of a shared mission. This year’s program focused heavily on the most pressing issues in the disability community, including the intersection of students with IDD and the justice system, education, and employment; leadership training; delivering quality support services; the direct support professionals (DSP) workforce crisis; and breaking down silos between residential and day services.
About The Arc of the South Shore, Inc.
The Arc of the South Shore (The Arc) was founded in 1951 when a group of individuals created a school for children with disabilities. Then, in 1967, The Arc was deeded property at Webb State Park in Weymouth; the space gave the agency a permanent home and the opportunity to expand. By the end of the 1980s, The Arc became a multi-service agency. Today, The Arc is a family-oriented, community-based non-profit providing information, referrals, and community programs for individuals with disabilities.
These services include an Autism Resource Center, early intervention program, community supports, employment services, day supports and habilitation programs, in-home care, and residential services. All of their programs are based on their six core values of people first, community, transparency, self-determination, diversity, and respect. The Arc serves participants from communities throughout the South Shore, including Abington, Milton, Quincy, Randolph, Braintree, Weymouth, Hingham, Hull, Cohasset, Scituate, and Norwell. Through their 72-year history, they have helped more than 100,000 people.
