Every Friday morning at Aspire of WNY’s 7 Community Drive Day Habilitation, the cafeteria comes alive with something unexpected. People wander in early, chatting with friends, picking their favorite spots, and waiting for the familiar sound of music that signals the start of a weekly favorite: Happy Hour.
The moment the music kicks in, the energy shifts. Laughter rises. Feet tap. Wheelchairs sway. People move in whatever way feels natural to them. For many individuals supported by Day Hab, this hour is the highlight of their entire week.
Happy Hour began shortly after Resource Facilitator Alejandro Overton joined the team at Aspire of WNY. Wanting to create an activity that encouraged movement, expression, and a break from routine, he turned to something he knows well: music.
As a football coach at Erie County Community College, Alejandro has long understood the power of the right playlist. He brings his big party speaker to every practice and carefully curates tracks that motivate his team. No stranger to the ways in which music can boost morale, he decided to bring that same energy to the 7 Community Drive Day Hab.
Each Friday, before Happy Hour begins, he moves tables and chairs aside to create an open, welcoming dance floor. Then he wheels in the party speaker, turns it up, and the celebration begins.
His playlists are intentionally upbeat and familiar. He loves mixing in classics—Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, The Beatles—because they’re the songs that everyone will recognize. And he never misses an opportunity to take requests, making sure individuals hear the music they’re excited about that day.
“It just makes everything better,” he said. “We get to see the individuals we support dancing and shaking their heads. They really look forward to it. All week they’ll ask me if we’re doing music on Friday.”
Staff join in, too. They dance alongside the people they support, share laughs, and move together as a group. Alejandro says this simple hour has a way of breaking down barriers and helping staff bond.
“Normally, you might not see people talking and interacting—sometimes even staff. But for that one hour on Fridays, they do,” he said. “For one hour, we’re all getting along. That’s the goal.”
Alejandro sees the shift immediately: moods lift, faces brighten, and people open up. Many individuals spend the entire week anticipating it.
“It’s nice to give them an outlet to shake out whatever they might be bringing to program that day,” he shared. “Whatever’s going on in their personal lives, they get to come and dance it out. The Day Hab rooms aren’t big enough for this kind of movement, so it’s great to have a space where they can really spread out.”
And he’s already dreaming bigger. His next idea? A talent show.
“It’s the perfect space,” he said. “We could set up a backdrop and let folks perform. I know a lot of them would sign up. It would take some rehearsing, but I think we could make it really fun.”
For Alejandro, Happy Hour represents what meaningful, person-centered care should feel like.
“When they come to Day Hab, you want them to have fun and be active,” he said. “At the end of the day, this is supposed to be active treatment. You want them doing something and being engaged.”
He also hopes Happy Hour inspires other staff to bring forward their own ideas.
“It only takes one person to lead the way,” he said. “Hopefully it encourages others to come up with fun activities for the people we support, too.”
Above all, Happy Hour is something he truly enjoys. It’s the smiles, the movement, and the moments of joy shared across the room.
“I’m a people person, so I really look forward to it,” he said. “It puts a smile on their faces, and I love watching them move to the music and be engaged. Whether it’s one person or 15 that week, we’re going to dance and get it going.”
And every Friday at 7 Community Drive, that’s exactly what happens.