Planning for the Future

As CANI's Executive Director, there are a lot of great activities that I get to participate in. But one of my favorite events took place last week - our Board of Directors' strategic planning retreat.(No, I'm serious!) And since my blog actually came up in conversation during the retreat a couple of times, I thought it perfect to talk about it here.

The strategic planning retreat is one of my favorite events because it is the major step of a long and detailed process that sets CANI’s direction for the subsequent three years. Before the retreat we spend time and resources studying the needs of our clients and community and gathering input from those we serve. And after the retreat, we spend time fleshing out ideas and developing steps that will put our ideas into action. But it is at the retreat that our board discusses in detail what our broad strategies for the next three years will be.

It is exciting to me to bring together our group of dedicated, volunteer leaders to determine ways to better meet our mission. Our board already dedicates a great deal of time to CANI throughout the year, and yet they carve out a large chunk of time for this very important retreat. I was really proud to be among this group of people.

I can’t get into any specifics yet, as there is more work to be done over the next three months before we formally adopt a new strategic plan. But I can tell you a few things about the retreat. For one, the consensus of the group was greater than I would have normally expected. Most of the ideas that were put forth were universally agreed upon as key strategies for us to pursue. While every retreat inevitably leads to consensus to a degree, this retreat generated more than I have seen in the past. This level of support for our goals and objectives will invariably help us down the road as we work on implementation.

I can also say with pretty strong confidence that when our new strategic plan is released, you will see CANI continuing to work on goals and objectives that we have initiated in the past, as well as some brand new items that will enhance the work that we do. This has me particularly excited, because for one, we have more work to do on initiatives that we have started, despite making great strides on many of them. And I am also excited about the prospect of exploring new things as we work to become an even more effective organization at accomplishing our mission.

The new plan will be complete in January, 2013. I look forward to sharing it with you then. Now, back to work!

It's That Time of Year Again!

If you have kids, you know what time it is – it’s back to school time! Most kids are not that happy to be ending their summer vacation and getting back to “work”. Many parents, on the other hand, are just a little happy to get their kids out of their hair for a while each day. (It is no different in my household!) But all kidding aside, I am also excited that my kids get to go back to school to continue their education.

We all know the importance of education. Studies show that children develop 85% of their intellect, personality, and skills by age 5. Early childhood education has a profound impact on the development of children and who they will become as adults.

This is why I’m so proud of CANI’s Head Start program. Because each and every year, we are working with about 800 children between 3 and 5 years old, setting them on the path of lifelong learning.

Head Start is a truly comprehensive preschool program. Our teachers do an excellent job preparing children for kindergarten and the years beyond. But we also focus on the health and nutrition of the children, which are important factors in their early formation. Likewise, we work closely with the families of our children, because we know that a child’s most important teacher is his or her parents.

Besides early childhood education, decisions that young people make in high school have a profound impact on their adulthood. The two most important indicators of poverty among those that CANI serves are education level and single parenthood. Those with a college degree or equivalent credential earn about twice as much annually as those with only a high school diploma. The gap only widens for those without a high school education. And while single parenthood occurs for a number of reasons, one reason is young women having children while still in high school.

Working with youth is critical to CANI’s mission, which is why I’m so pleased that CANI now has the JAG program (Jobs for America’s Graduates.) This year we will work with approximately 350 youth in 9 high schools throughout our region. The goal of the program is to work with students to help them stay in school, access post-secondary education, and secure quality entry-level jobs that lead to career opportunities.

So as our community goes back to school, CANI is going back to school as well. I love that we can have such a great impact on young people through Head Start and JAG. To learn more about these programs, check out our web site, www.canihelp.org.

Opportunity is the Key at Any Age

Yesterday, I turned 40 years old. My family, friends, and coworkers have made it a wonderful week of celebration for me. Aside from the many comments about me now being “over the hill,” I have also had several people ask me: “Are you where you expected to be at 40?”

As a teenager and young adult, I had no desire whatsoever to work at a social-service organization. I certainly knew about poverty, but it was not one of “my causes.”

I came to work at CANI thirteen years ago because I couldn’t find employment in the field I thought I wanted to work in. I needed a job, so I took one here. I continued to look for a position elsewhere over my first several months at CANI. But what I know now that I didn't know then is that I got exactly the job I was meant to have. Life is funny that way, isn't it?

CANI has provided me with more than I could ever have imagined. I found a career at CANI, for sure. I also met my wife at CANI, and I would not trade our relationship, or our children, for anything else in the world.

But what I have really found at CANI is a cause that I believe in. I have never lived in poverty myself, but I was fortunate to have worked as a case manager in my first nine months at CANI. I worked with families very closely and I saw the issues they faced and how hard they worked to improve their lives and their children’s lives. Their stories, as well as the stories of the thousands of families we have served since then, continue to fuel me today.

When I think about where I am today, I think about the opportunities that have been provided to me that have helped me get here. Two incredible parents who provided for me at great sacrifice to themselves, and who shaped me into the adult I am today. A wife who has supported me every single step of the way and is my most important partner in life. An excellent education, from pre-school all the way through graduate school. Military service that truly changed me from a boy into a man. Friends and coworkers who have supported me throughout my life.

How we take advantage of opportunities is what defines us as individuals. But you have to have opportunities first. That's what we are providing here at CANI: Opportunities for communities, families, and individuals to build brighter futures. And I couldn't be prouder than to work for an organization that does that.