--- title: Marian Mulbah-Poquee believes empowering individuals is transformative | Aspire Living & Learning description: Aspire Living & Learning is a private, non-profit human service organization with a mission is to build strong communities by empowering individuals. image: https://blog.allinc.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/2019-05-08-Marian-Mulbah-Poquee-ANCOR-DSP-of-the-Year-2019-11_25x6-No-Border-1024x546-1.jpg --- Aug 23, 2020 1:06:00 PM # Marian Mulbah-Poquee believes empowering individuals is transformative [ Susan Frederickson ](https://blog.allinc.org/author/susan-frederickson) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.allinc.org/blog/marian-mulbah-poquee-believes-empowering-individuals-is-transformative) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.allinc.org/blog/marian-mulbah-poquee-believes-empowering-individuals-is-transformative) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.allinc.org/blog/marian-mulbah-poquee-believes-empowering-individuals-is-transformative) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://blog.allinc.org/blog/marian-mulbah-poquee-believes-empowering-individuals-is-transformative) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://blog.allinc.org/blog/marian-mulbah-poquee-believes-empowering-individuals-is-transformative) Described as a “role model for other DSPs in the agency,” Marian Mulbah-Poquee, named  Maryland’s DSP of the Year 2019 by ANCOR, is a strong and silent supporter for the individuals she serves. She lets them take the lead and “dictate what they want for themselves,” then figures out how she can assist them. A critical part of facilitating independence is supporting individual choice. Marian encourages the women she serves to pay for their own purchases and handle their own money. In this way, they not only exercise agency over their shopping choices, but also learn about financial responsibility. Marian also supports autonomy inside the home, where she teaches them safety skills, gardening and basic home care so that they can spend more time living independently. These skills for self-advocacy and autonomy translate into civic participation in the public sphere: each of these women is an active participant in a local advocacy group. The group provides the women with an opportunity to learn about issues affecting their community and provide their opinions. The women have become so active in the group that Marian supported their efforts to attend Developmental Disability Day in Annapolis, so that they could advocate for themselves with lawmakers. Marian wants the individuals that she supports to be involved in their community in as many different ways as possible. As a tireless advocate for “her ladies,” Marian provides them with the space and choice to lead full and independent lives. [News](https://blog.allinc.org/tag/news) ## Related posts [News](https://blog.allinc.org/tag/news) ## [IPPI Connecticut’s Self-Advocacy Group Members Share Important Message](https://blog.allinc.org/blog/ippi-connecticuts-self-advocacy-group-members-share-important-message) [aspire49](https://blog.allinc.org/author/aspire49) Jun 14, 2018 8:00:00 PM We’re proud to support these self-advocates in sharing this important message about who they are,... [ Read more ](https://blog.allinc.org/blog/ippi-connecticuts-self-advocacy-group-members-share-important-message) [News](https://blog.allinc.org/tag/news) ## [IPPI/MAHSC’s Parnell Barmer is a guest speaker on WHGM’s popular “Mallow in the Morning” radio show](https://blog.allinc.org/blog/ippi-mahscs-parnell-barmer-is-a-guest-speaker-on-whgms-popular-mallow-in-the-morning-radio-show) [aspire49](https://blog.allinc.org/author/aspire49) Jan 14, 2017 7:00:00 PM Parnell Barmer, Day Options Director, in Maryland was a guest speaker on WHGM 107.5FM Smash Hits... [ Read more ](https://blog.allinc.org/blog/ippi-mahscs-parnell-barmer-is-a-guest-speaker-on-whgms-popular-mallow-in-the-morning-radio-show) [News](https://blog.allinc.org/tag/news) ## [May is National Foster Care Awareness Month](https://blog.allinc.org/blog/may-is-national-foster-care-awareness-month) [aspire49](https://blog.allinc.org/author/aspire49) May 1, 2017 8:00:00 PM Every May the National Foster Care Awareness Month campaign works to raise awareness about the... [ Read more ](https://blog.allinc.org/blog/may-is-national-foster-care-awareness-month) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=7154114&fmt=gif)