Partnership eNewsletter August 2015

Partnership eNews For employees and partners of Community Action Partnership of North Alabama

Home In this issue:  50th Anniversary

Our Services

Employees

Aug 2015

Job Listings

Partnership’s Golden Anniversary Highlighted During Pre-Service at VBC

 Liz Huntley’s Story

Celebrating success stories was the theme of the day as Partnership employees were

 A Word From the CEO

reminded of their collective impact on customers over the past 50 years. Well wishes from

 Board Chair Notes  Staff Awards

national and local representatives, including U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt, National Head Start Deputy Director Ann Linehan, and National Community Action Partnership CEO Denise Harlow, congratulated the Partnership on not only exceptional customer service but

 Leadership Academy

also its commitment to growth through the challenges dealt through federal budgeting

 Our Mission

constraints. Former employees and partners encouraged current employees through

 Special 50th

recorded interviews to stay focused on the task at hand, look to the future for additional

Anniversary Section

service opportunities, and rely on one another for the extra support needed in an ever-

1909 Central Pkwy SW Decatur AL 35601 info@capna.org

changing industry. Attorney to the Board of Directors Bingham Edwards concluded the anniversary segment with high praise for both the Partnership as an agency and its leadership in the community.

MORE THAN A BIRD—Elizabeth Huntley, Esq.

Attorney Liz Huntley Credits Early Teachers for Success Addressing a silenced crowd of almost 600 Partnership employees, Elizabeth Huntley reminded every attendee of the power of intervention and the effects of high quality early childhood education. Born into a life of poverty and subjected to sexual abuse by a family member, Liz reflected on the efforts made on her behalf to create a foundation of success and self-worth that continues in her life as a successful Birmingham, Alabama, attorney. Huntley said to the group, “Preschool unlocked my potential that I didn’t even know I had,” crediting the commitment of her local Community Action agency with the intervention that ultimately changed

her life. Recognizing the impact of one agency on a child’s life, Huntley acknowledged that “the right program or the right teacher or the right community leader was there at the right time when I really needed guidance because I couldn’t get it from home.”

At the age of eight Huntley experienced her own ephiphany when she realized during a church sermon that she was “more than a bird,” a concept that she applied to the title of her personal memoir that recounts her experiences as a child of poverty in Clanton, Alabama.

In closing, Liz encouraged the audience by stating, “So as you celebrate your 50th Anniversary, I want you to know that there is no program that I could be more thankful for than Community Action, because had it not been for the foresight and fortuitousness in starting that preschool program then I might not be standing here today.”

Liz Huntley’s book More Than a Bird is available through Amazon.com and other local retailers.

“The right program or the right teacher or the right community leader was there at the right time when I really needed the guidance because I couldn’t get it from home.””

-Elizabeth Huntley Attorney at Lightfoot, Franklin and White, LLC in Birmingham, Alabama

PURPOSEFUL DISRUPTION—Michael Tubbs, CEO

Good to Great, Getting There and Staying There Chief Executive Officer Michael Tubbs began his pre-service address to some 600 employees with high praise for the level of service delivered regularly by all staff, but with such praise comes responsibility. Tubbs encouraged those in attendance to concentrate on not only the tasks at hand but also on helping to define trends in the industry before they become commonplace. One highlight that Tubbs eagerly pointed out that sets the Partnership apart from many other CAP agencies is the Partnership’s training system, a system Mike referred to as a “training machine” that is seldom seen at the national level. Such a standard sets the Partnership apart from others in the non-profit industry. Reminding the audience that changes in the agency may be seen as challenging, they are also the ‘purposeful disruption’ needed to forge ahead into uncharted territory.

Mike concluded with his personal perspective about growth and development at the corporate non-profit level: “If we don’t anticipate the future and change while we can we will be working for someone else who did.”

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A LOOK BACK AT THE 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION The Community Action Partnership of North Alabama celebrated 50 years as a Community Action Agency Thursday, August 20, 2015, at its Central Office location in Decatur, Alabama. The 50th Anniversary Celebration began with the arrival of distinguished guests from partners, affiliates and local officials.

Representatives

of

the

Jefferson

County

Committee

for

Economic

Opportunity (JCCEO), the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), United Way, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) in Montgomery and NeighborWorks were among those from various agencies in attendance.

Decatur City Mayor Don Kyle and the Decatur Chamber of

Commerce Commodores capped off the celebration with a ribbon cutting. Decatur Mayor Don Kyle leads Chamber of Local government officials Senator Arthur Orr, who was in attendance, and Commerce in ribbon cutting ceremony U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt, who was represented by Press Secretary Carson Clark, were recognized for their commitment to supporting the Partnership through their legislative leadership and investment of discretionary funds.

THE PARTNERSHIP RECEIVES COMMENDATION FROM GOVERNOR The centerpiece of the occasion began with a brief video of interviews by those closely affiliated with the agency.

Chief

Executive Officer Michael Tubbs recognized the federal, state and local officials who were in attendance, turning over the microphone to others for comment. In his remarks Jim Byard of ADECA pointed out that of the 21 Community Action Agencies, the Partnership is one that is characterized by forward thinking.

Byard expanded his thoughts by saying, “You cannot do today’s job with yesterday’s thinking. Fifty years is a big deal. They care about the people they serve and they are working to do things differently.” Byard then read a Proclamation by Alabama Governor Robert Bentley that underscored not only the efforts of

the Partnership but also those partners that have helped to have a measurable impact in the lives of the people who have been served for the past 50 years. Decatur Mayor Don Kyle praised the

Partnership’s

ongoing

efforts

to

address

poverty

acknowledging, “When a need is presented they figure out how to solve it.” Kyle expressed his personal appreciation for Tubbs ADECA’s Jim Byard presents CEO Michael Tubbs with

and concluded by saying, “Keep doing what you’re doing.”

Commendation from Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley

FORMER EMPLOYEES, PARTNERS LEND TIME TO VIDEO ARCHIVES

Interviews Provide Personal Perspective of Partnership’s Service History Former employees, partners, and volunteers offered their time to recall their personal experiences with the Partnership by participating in recorded interviews at the Central Office location. Individuals were interviewed representing all programs of the agency for the purpose of preserving the Partnership’s history for the next 50

years. Participants dating back to the mid-1960s shared their memories of carrying out the agency’s mission while navigating through the usual mire of funding hurdles, budget cuts, and staffing shortages.

Although the

challenges were many, nary a subject could drudge up a negative memory. The fondest of memories recounted included those in which employees supported one another, where staff improvised operating procedures to accommodate unexpected barriers, and employee encounters with clients that resulted in unforeseen outcomes.

From making a Meals on Wheels delivery to the wrong house to transporting a client found unresponsive in his back yard to the hospital, not a single utterance was made of regret for the work that had been done. Regardless of the role, the program, or the length of service, the overall sentiment was simple: the Partnership has done good work over the last 50 years and will continue to do great work with the dedicated staff currently at the helm.

Partnership

anniversary videos may be found on its YouTube channel throughout the year. Click on the icon to the right and hear firsthand how Community Action Partnership of North Alabama has been serving clients, and one another, for 50 years.

50 years and counting

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A WORD FROM THE BOARD CHAIR—Paul Lott The annual Partnership Pre-Service event at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville was kicked off with a welcome from Board Chair Paul Lott. Paul spoke to Partnership employees about the agency’s growth and reflected on the past 50 years of service, crediting “the mission, values, and highquality employees” for the current level of success. “We try to do the right things and try to get continually better.” Noting that the Board Chair Paul Lott Partnership is on the leading edge of meeting speaks at annual the new standards of 2016, Paul closed his Partnership Pre-Service at VBC in Huntsville. greeting by acknowledging, “Our agency is recognized as an industry leader.”

CHILDREN’S SERVICES · Early Head Start

2015 Board of Directors Community Sector Barbara Sittason Cassandra Lee Leigh Frances

Jackie Peek

Dawn Owens Tim Thrasher Bruce Jones Private Sector Darris Frost Heath Meherg David Mathews Kyle Buchanan Pat Gilbert Public Sector Sheryl Marsh

Earlene Johnson

Allen Stover

Paul Lott (Chair)

Jennifer Taylor

Bruce Gordon

· Head Start · Pre-K

Awards and Achievements Unveiled at Annual Pre-Service Pre-service is a time that the Partnership can spend some quality time and recognized those who have set the bar a little higher and give a little more of themselves, all for the sake of those they serve. Although some of the roles have changed in name the level of service remains the same among those honored with FAMILY AND COMMUNTY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST

Terri Jones

DATA OUTCOMES TEAM SPECIALIST

Carolyn Orr

AREA TEAM LEADER

Melissa Montgomery

EDUCATION RESOURCE SPECIALIST

Rena Terry

RESOURCE SPECIALIST, OTHER

Bobbie Clopton

TEACHER (PRESCHOOL HEAD START, PRE-K)

Amy Frazier

TEACHER (EARLY HEAD START)

Virginia Covey

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY CLASS OF 2015 REVEALED Name Change Reflects Inclusive Membership in Leadership Opportunity A new class of leaders was introduced to Partnership employees during the annual Pre-Service announcement of Leadership Academy participants. Formerly dubbed “Teacher’s Academy” the group has evolved from its inception in 2013 from a group comprised largely of classroom teachers to include employees of various levels of service and leadership roles. This newest additions to the Academy alumni are part of a select group of 27 Partnership employees encompassing the widest variety of roles to date, including Children’s Services Classroom Specialists (CSCS), Classroom Staff, ERSEA, Family Engagement Specialists (FES), General Services (GS), Home Visitors (HV), Human Resources, Licensing, and Parents as Teachers (PAT). Participants will engage in multiple days of intensive leadership training based on Dr. Stephen R. Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People that is designed to bring out the best in both their professional and personal lives. Each year those who have had the privilege of the experience have encouraged others to attend, pointing out the benefits of getting to know themselves better, becoming better at relationships, and learning how to cope with the day-to-day struggles many of us face regularly.

Click to view the Leadership class of 2015

Our Mission The Community Action Partnership of North Alabama, a results-driven, non-profit business, is committed to reducing or eliminating the causes and consequences of poverty for families and communities.