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At Ablr, we believe success isn’t just measured by what you achieve — it’s measured by the opportunities you create for others along the way. That belief is at the heart of the Spirit of Ablr Award, a new honor created to recognize alumni who embody service, resilience, and leadership in action.
The Spirit of Ablr Award celebrates individuals who use their journey not as a finish line, but as a doorway for others to walk through. These are people who lead by example, lift as they climb, and demonstrate the values that shape our community — Growth Mindset, Relationships, Initiative, and Trust.
This year, we are proud to present the inaugural Spirit of Ablr Award to Marqui Johnson, a shining example of what it looks like to turn lived experience into leadership.
Marqui joined Ablr’s Workforce Development Program in 2023 as part of our second cohort. Like so many of our Candidates, he came into the program with both potential and purpose, but it was his combination of perseverance, humility, and generosity that distinguished him early on.
After completing the program, Marqui not only entered the workforce in 2024 as a Web Accessibility Tester for Verizon — he thrived. His strong analytical mind, discipline, and work ethic quickly made him a standout on the team. But what impressed his colleagues most wasn’t just his technical skills, it was his willingness to help others succeed alongside him.
At Verizon, he informally took on the role of mentor, helping other blind accessibility analysts who were struggling in the role gain confidence and competency. He didn’t just master the work, he raised the bar for what support and collaboration can look like inside a corporate team.
Even after graduating, Marqui never disconnected from the Ablr community. He continued to show up, quietly, consistently, and impactfully.
He served as a mentor to current Candidates. He coached participants who previously did not pass the CPACC certification, helping them prepare and succeed on their next attempt. He volunteered as a guest speaker and panelist whenever the program needed a voice of representation and encouragement. And he modeled resilience, not by talking about it, but by living it.
This award exists because alumni like Marqui remind us that the greatest strength of our program is community, not curriculum. Ablr doesn’t just prepare people for employment, we’re building a network of leaders who create better pathways for others to follow.
The Spirit of Ablr Award represents:
- The courage to keep going when the path is unclear.
- The generosity to guide someone else once you’ve walked it.
- The belief that success is multiplied when it is shared.
Marqui embodies all of these, and he does so with humility, kindness, and an unwavering commitment to inclusion.
As our first honoree, Marqui sets the tone for what this award will stand for in the years ahead. He is proof that one person’s resilience can become another person’s permission to try again. And that is exactly how real change spreads, not through systems alone, but through people!
“Marqui represents everything we are looking to build at Ablr, and I’m honored and humbled that he chose to join our program, and allow us to be part of his journey. I have no doubt that he will continue to make a positive and lasting impact on the Ablr community, and even more important, the disability community at large.” – John Samuel, CEO of Ablr.
We are proud to honor Marqui Johnson as the very first recipient of the Spirit of Ablr Award!