Welcome GiGi’s NYC 2024 Ambassador, Troy!

GiGi’s NYC is thrilled to introduce Troy as our 2024 Ambassador. He has been a dedicated member of the GiGi’s NYC community since we opened our doors in 2012, consistently attending various programs and events. Troy recently graduated from our GiGi Prep Career Development Program, and started his training as an employee of Café Joyeux. His other accomplishments include completing two years of college at Syracuse University’s InclusiveU Program, where he also worked as the Assistant Manager of their basketball team. Read below to learn more about Troy:

What does being a GiGi’s NYC Ambassador mean to you? Being the new GiGi’s NYC Ambassador means that I will need to be a good role model to everyone at the Playhouse so that I can set an example and be a leader for others. It is an important role that I will do my best to make everyone proud of me and to make a difference for GiGi’s NYC and help us grow and achieve.

What would you like to see from GiGi’s NYC in the future? Do you have any ideas for new programs or special events? In the future, I would like to create more programs with Ms. Megan (Special Educator of Adult Programs) so that more participants could learn and develop their career skills like I do. I would also like to add more dance classes like Unique Movers with Maggie and other volunteers because our community likes to dance and get exercise. I also want to make my own GiGi’s NYC band with our community including musicians, singers, dancers and stage crew. Another one of my ideas is to make a 20 minute long movie where participants at GiGi’s NYC are the actors. 

What do you want the GiGi’s NYC community to know? I want the GiGi’s NYC community to know that we are a very social group of people who have Down syndrome. We are a family and are best friends who support and love each other.  Everyone makes everyone else happy and we smile and laugh all the time. 

How do you enjoy spending your free time? I do a lot of things in my free time but one thing I like the most is hanging out with my friends from GiGi’s NYC and the volunteers and staff because we do fun things; we go out, we play games like bingo and we go to movies together. I also love making songs for my band in which I write lyrics and play musical instruments including the guitar, drums and keyboard.  

What does Down syndrome awareness and acceptance mean to you? Down syndrome means to me that it doesn’t matter who has Down syndrome or not, because everyone is important, special and should be respected.  

What achievements are you most proud of? I am very proud of myself because I am the new GiGi’s NYC Ambassador for 2024. Also, I am very proud of myself for getting a job at Café Joyeux because this is my first job in New York City and GiGi’s NYC helped me gain the skills needed to get hired. I am also very proud that I have learned to take the bus to GiGi’s NYC by myself and also take the subway to my job by myself. 

What are some of your goals? I have a lot of goals, but one of my biggest goals is to be more independent so that someday I can get my own apartment or house and I can live by myself or with my friends. Another goal is to keep learning how to travel on my own so I can be more independent.

GiGi’s NYC congratulates Troy on this amazing accomplishment!