Performing Art Center of Northport thrives under leadership of “Champion of Diversity” honoree

On a mission to create more inclusive, community-driven environments where individuals of all ages and abilities can enjoy life to its fullest, People’s Arc of Suffolk launched the Northport Performing Arts Center on Scudder Avenue in Northport Village late last year. 

This past week, Victoria (Vicky) Graham, senior assistant director of the People’s Arc of Suffolk Adult Day Services program, was recognized by Legislator Stephanie Bontempi as the 2025 18th Legislative District’s “Champion of Diversity.”

The Performing Arts Center of Northport, home to the new Program Without Walls (PWW), which Graham oversees, opened in October 2024. The center offers a unique approach to services for people with autism and other developmental disabilities: by using performing arts disciplines, including music, theater, dance and digital arts, community teaching artists, clinicians, and direct support professionals work collaboratively to guide people in exploring what matters most to them. 

The PWW program also provides a wide range of innovative services aimed at fostering community engagement, as described on the People’s Arc website.

The center features a state-of-the-art Arc-TV broadcast studio, as well as theater, dance, and music classes, providing outlets for creative self-expression and inclusion. Graham has been with People’s Arc for over eight years and has played a crucial role in various programs.

“...Under the leadership of Victoria Graham, the Performing Art Center of Northport has created a welcoming space where artistic expression serves as a powerful tool for uniting communities and celebrating diverse voices,” reads a People’s Arc Facebook post thanking Bontempi for acknowledging and honoring Graham. “Victoria has demonstrated an above and beyond excellence in fostering appreciation for diversity, inclusion, and cultural competence and promotes this diversity through education and community involvement with all our programs.”

The legislator credited Graham’s leadership skills to helping create a fun and motivating PWW program for all participants, noting Graham’s commitment to the program, high expectations for herself and those she supports, and her kind and generous spirit as contributors to the program’s success. 

“Congratulations to Victoria on this well-deserved honor. I know I speak for many individuals who attend the programs, along with their families – including my own staff member Tyler’s younger sister, Lexi, who loves the program – when I say thank you for all that you do to enrich the lives of those with diverse abilities,” stated Legislator Bontempi.

The Northport Performing Arts Center is located at 51 Scudder Ave in Northport. For more information, including on how to enroll, click here.