Today, I was asked to join a non-profit board.
A few months ago, Pat Culley, whom I used to know as Mrs. Culley, at St. Xavier High School, crossed paths with my wife, Jessie, and was thrilled to discover that I was at Cincinnati State. Pat told Jess that she was interested in asking me to serve with her on the board of VISIONS Community Services. The organization is located in the West End and serves young parents and their children from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. She shared that VISIONS has some great ties to Cincinnati State, through the College's Early Childhood Care and Education Program, and many of the mothers served by VISIONS enroll in Cincinnati State.
For starters, it was a real honor simply to be thought of by Mrs. Culley. While I never took her English classes in high school, I have gotten to know her since returning to Cincinnati through political causes and King Records efforts (Pat worked for King Records while attending XU and has told me stories of taking dictation from Syd Nathan. She also confirmed my suspicion that Mr. Nathan and former Congressman Tom Luken, whom I have had the privilege to know, share a lot of the same personality traits…maybe a blog for another day?)
Anyway, after a few phone conversations with Pat about VISIONS, she arranged for me to have a tour of the organization and facilities, led by their Executive Director. It was great! The children were smiling. They were well-behaved. Whether they were having lunch, reading a book, or getting ready to nap, they were clearly happy. And it was very apparent that the staff was dedicated and cared.
After the tour, we had lunch and were joined by another board member and talked more about the organization and some of the ways in which I might be able to help. Like many organizations and agencies in the helping industry, they have been met with significant cuts in funding sources, and need some more assistance in reaching new supporters. They could also use some help in getting their story told.
This is an organization who successfully works with mothers and their children to receive education in the face of real poverty. The board is dedicated to making this happen. I want to help. So, consider this blog my first effort for
VISIONS Community Services.