Who’s Who
COMMUNITY
“We have to be intentional about the role models that influence our children.” In addition to education, Price believes that another strong predictor of success is having strong role models, especially for young children. Price said, “we have to be intentional about the role models that influence our children. I wanted my children to see and interact with people of color in professional positions, such as healthcare providers, so I made sure that they had that exposure.” When asked about her own personal role models, she points to her six sisters. As the youngest sibling, Price said, “They’re not afraid of telling me the truth, even if it’s something I don’t want to hear. They’re strong in their conviction and what it means to make people feel like they belong. Respecting the dignity and value of all people was always reinforced.” And today, Price is standing on these principles as she works to help families recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic amid a local and national outcry for racial justice. As executive director, Price actively works for equality most often by working to eliminate barriers for individuals and families living in poverty. When she first became the executive director eight months ago, she could not have predicted the road just ahead. As she continues to navigate these rough waters, Price plans to implement more efficient and innovative initiatives that help strengthen the community for everyone. Said Price, “We will double-down on effective programs that are working and, as demonstrated recently, turn toward grassroots efforts that ensure that the voice of people with low income are heard as we work to address infrastructural policy changes that are costly or damaging to the working poor. Community Action will be more visible in our community addressing the complexities of poverty in whatever form they present themselves.” Whether it’s connecting people to resources or simply just sharing what you have, perhaps we can all embody the spirit of lagniappe and be a little bonus gift to someone else. •
July 2020 | TOPSinLex.com
31