Aspire Announces Appointment of Chairperson to Quality Partnership on Diversity & Inclusion

Demetrius Brooks, Associate Director of Residential Opportunities

Demetrius BrooksDemetrius began his career at Aspire in 2011 as a Direct Support Professional in residential.  Demetrius joined Aspire while he was pursuing a Master’s Degree of Science and Criminal Justice from Buffalo State College.  He felt Aspire’s Mission aligned with his own, protecting and serving people who have been marginalized.  In 2012, he was promoted to Team Coordinator at the Borden IRA.  He was promoted again to Program Coordinator in 2015.  When the Agency reorganized in 2018, he was promoted once again to his current position, Associate Director of Residential Opportunities.  Demetrius also graduated from Leadership Buffalo’s Rising Leader Program in 2018, where he made community connections and developed his leadership skills.

In addition to the positive contributions Demetrius lends every day to his division, he is an agency investigator and Co-chairs a Quality Partnership focused on program planning and implementation. Demetrius exemplifies the best of us by supporting and empowering our workforce and the individuals we support to create opportunities for success.  He listens, values, and respects others and through his actions and communications, we are a better organization.

When asked why the Quality Partnership on Diversity and Inclusion was important to him, Demetrius shared “I have been discriminated against and judged for the color of my skin and other personal traits/characteristics on countless occasions, yet I have not let that stop me from trying to overcome obstacles and work towards success. My personal experience has only heightened my passion to fight against social and racial injustice, whenever and wherever I may. Change is needed and I want to be a part of that change here at Aspire – no matter how big or small.”