the Convention Center where Lucy was, all we heard was music, the beat, and the laughter and paraphilia of a hearty party going on. When we finally walked into the room it was packed with people dancing, bobbing, laughing and talking. It was like a picture out of a Harlem night scene. The men were suited down in all colors some with matching ties, hats, and they all must have gone to get their shoes shined because they were all shining. The women had dresses on, high heels, sparkling jewelry and the like. I share this memory because as I became a light in the Village, I can remember MHFH hosted some of the best recovery parties and had quite a reputation for those parties as well. I started officially working
Also, during my initial hire at MHFH the agency was preparing for its first national accreditation, and I was assigned to Health & Safety team. I learned a lot in a short amount of time on the importance of health & safety of the agency but also the importance of compliance, compliance, and more compliance as it relates to all MHFV programs and services and the participants we serve. It was learning curve for me, and I did embrace it. Today, I am still a part of the Health & Safety team. As I reflect on my tenure here at the Village, I can describe it like being a checker on a checkerboard, being
move to different departments where needed. I had my first experience in the housing department as Supervisor/Case Manager in our Reaching New Heights Transitional Housing Program. Another teaching curve for me. In this new position I was introduced to Housing and Urban Development grants (HUD). I learned about grant requirements, program reports and data entry. Moreover, assisting both single women and women with children to achieve their goals, which in turn helped us to meet the program
at MHFV in about 2003 as The Afterschool Program Coordinator. This position afforded me the opportunity to work with the youth who were at MHFV at the time. There were about 10-12 youth who attended ASP daily. A part of that responsibility was to ensure homework was completed daily, school projects were done and handed in on time. I also served as an advocate for the mothers and children who were attending the schools in the Sandy Springs area,
from elementary to high school. Having fun was just as important as schoolwork. Both social and cultural encounters were a part of the ASP agenda. We planned field trips to some of the local sites like the zoo, botanical gardens, we got tickets to sports events for family nights, the Fox Theater and puppetry for the Arts. Culturally, we did Black History programs, and traveled to the Black Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham Alabama, that the furthest I would take them. Once the children were stabilized with a routine and consistency, we witnessed grades soar and behaviors diminish. Once the children began to sense we cared, they stared to trust more.
outcomes as well. More importantly, I begin to learn and understand about the impact of homelessness. I was then transferred back to Family & Children Services for a time and now currently serving as Housing Director, which allows me to utilize the skills, knowledge and information gained from the different positions to lead in a more informed manner. As MHFV grows and continues to evolve, I continue to grow and evolve both professionally and personally with the agency.
53
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker