For Tracy T., being a JEVS Direct Support Professional (DSP) is more than a job. It is work so meaningful that he says he sometimes forgets he’s earning money.
That sense of purpose did not come easily. Before becoming a DSP, Tracy worked for a public corporation in Philadelphia. After both of his sons were killed by gun violence, he says he lost the will to go on. Though his former employer tried to support him, he could not continue in that role.
During that difficult time, a lifelong friend encouraged him to apply to JEVS. What began as a new opportunity became something much deeper: a way for Tracy to channel his grief into supporting others in need.
Becoming a DSP
As a DSP, Tracy supports individuals in their everyday lives, helping them navigate challenges, build independence, and feel respected. For him, the work is rooted in trust, patience, and showing up consistently for the people he supports.
What stands out most to Tracy is the way that individuals open up to him. They come to him for advice, share problems, ask questions, and confide in him. To Tracy, that trust is a sign that he is making a difference.
“It amazes me that they reach out to me,” Tracy says. Their trust, he adds, makes him feel like he is doing something right.
Building Trust Through Respect
Tracy currently supports two men who live together and has worked with both of them in different homes during his time at JEVS. Because of that history, he understands their personalities, routines, and needs. He also understands the importance of treating them with dignity.
“They’re both grown men, so I treat them like men,” Tracy said.
That respect shows up in everyday moments: helping with daily living, offering guidance, redirecting when needed, and encouraging communication. Tracy said communication is key, especially when helping someone work through frustration, conflict, or personal challenges.
Supporting Growth and Independence
One of the individuals Tracy supports is preparing to move out and become more independent. Even as he takes that next step, Tracy said the individual still wants his support, which is a sign of the strong relationship they have built.
“That says a lot,” Tracy said. “I’m proud of him. He’s come a long way.”
For Tracy, supporting independence is not only about daily routines. It is also about sharing life lessons, encouraging respect for family, and helping individuals recognize their own growth. He often draws from his own experiences when offering guidance.
Finding Purpose Through Service
After losing his sons, Tracy said he made a decision to speak honestly and lead with purpose. He also thought about what they would want for him.
“They wouldn’t want to see me like that,” he said. “If they were around, they would be so proud of me.”
The work has also helped Tracy grow. Through Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training, he learned skills that he says have helped him both on and off the job, including how to de-escalate difficult situations, control his temper, and think before reacting. He is now a certified CPI instructor, giving him the opportunity to teach those skills to others.
That opportunity for growth is one of the things that attracted him to the DSP role. “I see growth here,” Tracy said. “That’s why I put my all into it.”
Going Beyond the Job Description
Tracy’s support often extends beyond what is expected. As a former barber, he has used that skill to help individuals feel clean, cared for, and confident. He recalled going to another site to cut someone’s hair and help him get cleaned up.
Not everyone can get to a barber or afford one, Tracy said, so if someone needs him, he is willing to help. It is another way he shows care, compassion, and respect for the people he supports.
Advice for Future DSPs
When asked what advice he would give to someone considering becoming a DSP, Tracy does not hesitate.
“It’s the best job in the world to me,” he said. “I should have done this when I was 18.”
But he is also honest about what the work requires. A good DSP, Tracy said, needs patience, humility, compassion, and a heart for serving others. The role is not about pride or ego—it is about the person being supported.
“If your heart’s not into it, it’s not for you,” he said. “I think it’s a calling.”
A Job That Feels Like Purpose
Today, Tracy says he wakes up with a smile because he is going to work. For someone who has endured profound loss, the role has become a way to serve, grow, and give back to the community.
The only two jobs Tracy says he truly enjoyed were being a barber and being a DSP. Both, in their own way, allowed him to care for people. And at JEVS, he has found something especially meaningful: a role where compassion, trust, and everyday support change lives.
