by peaceinc | Mar 31, 2022 | News and Information
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’d like to shine a light on the directors who are women here at PEACE, Inc.
Today’s featured director is Mary Beth Welch who has been with PEACE, Inc. for 8 years and currently serves as the Director of the Family Resource Centers.
Working at PEACE Inc. has given Mary Beth a “sense of purpose”. This was especially true during the early stages of the pandemic, when the County was virtually shut down, each of the Family Resources Centers remained opened giving food away to clients. “We made a difference” says Mary Beth.
After spending many years working in a corporate role, Mary Beth found herself searching for a job that was rewarding. She found that at PEACE, Inc… While interviewing she asked the search committee why they enjoyed at PEACE, Inc… Their heartfelt answers sealed the deal!
She has served as the Director of the Family Resources Centers for seven years, “I never had a day that I didn’t want to go to work.” You can truly tell that May Beth enjoys her job and serving our community. She administers 28 staff members, all her direct staff are women. Mary Beth said the best part about working at PEACE, Inc.-“no two days are the same.” And, “I get to work with an awesome team everyday”!
To learn more about the Family Resource Centers, please visit our website, by clicking the link below: https://www.peace-caa.org/programs/frc/
by peaceinc | Mar 31, 2022 | News and Information
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’d like to shine a spotlight on the Women program directors of PEACE Inc.
Our Community Engagement team had the opportunity to ask Beth O’Hara a few questions about her role as the director of the Foster Grandparent Program.
What does your job mean to you?
-Independence and freedom
-Structure and stability
-Creativity and opportunity (to use my talents and skills)
-Connections and relationships (outside my home/family life)
“Entering my 25th year with PEACE, Inc., I feel extremely fortunate to have landed in a wonderful work environment that has allowed me the opportunity to grow personally and professionally. PEACE lives up to its mission statement by also allowing employees to realize their potential. The agency’s family-friendly culture allowed me to be a successful working mother; able to manage a successful program while maintaining a balanced family life”.
What’s the best part of your job?
“The best part of my job is being able to use my management skills and my people skills. One day I might be writing a funder’s report; the next day I might be leading training with our seniors. In human services, you need to be able to pivot on turn on a dime! This keeps the job exciting and challenging. While I prefer the administrative duties, I’m capable of providing direct services when necessary”.
by peaceinc | Mar 31, 2022 | News and Information
Rebeccah Heberle’s journey with Peace Inc., started 23 years ago when she applied for a Home Visitor Position. Over the years her roles in the agency have included: a role as an Early Intervention worker and Child Development/ Health Services Manager. She has been a director for over 10 years.
Our Community Engagement team had the opportunity to ask Rebeccah a few questions about her role as the director of the Head Start & Early Head Start program.
- What’s does your job mean to you?
My job is everything I would want to do every day! Each day can be very different for me, and most days have some rewarding factors within them. I enjoy being able to help people, whether that be staff or families. Much of my work may be indirectly helping people but overall it is working to help improve the programming we offer for children and families. I appreciate the relationships that I make with members of the PEACE Head Start community. Those relationships really make me appreciate my job!
- What’s the best part of your job?
I would have to say hands down the best part of my job is the children! The days when I get to interact with children are the absolute best!
by peaceinc | Mar 31, 2022 | News and Information
Sally Ward has been with PEACE, Inc. for 25 years and currently serves as the Director of Energy and Housing Services.
Working at PEACE, Inc. has given Sally “the opportunity to impact the lives of the people in the community.” She has a passion for “advocacy and energy conservation”. Both mean a great deal to the work being pursued within her department and in the broader community.
Sally’s journey with PEACE Inc. started with an application for a different position within the agency. However, her application landed in the Department of Energy & Housing Services (DEHS). Once hired, she became an Office Manager and later the Assistant to the Director. For the past 10 years. Sally has served as the DEHS Director.
Sally appreciates that her Department has great staff. The team has the chance to take part in different projects has allowed it to collaborate with other community-based agencies/organizations for the betterment of DEHS clients.
Ultimately, Sally says the best part of her job is when she receives written thank notes from clients that mention the names of employees who have completed energy improvements on their homes. She’ll make copies of the notes, highlight the staff members’ name mentioned in the note, and give it to them!
by peaceinc | Mar 10, 2022 | News and Information
Onondaga County awards funds to PEACE, Inc. so that Seniors who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic can Age-in-Place.
Syracuse, New York – PEACE, Inc. and its Department of Energy and Housing Services (DEHS) recently received a $100,000 grant to run an Aging-in-Place, Senior Home Modification Program. The grant is one of 10 awarded by Onondaga County to provide American Rescue Plan COVID-19 Response Services for the Onondaga County Department of Child and Family Services. The funds are to “address the human services needs and improved quality of life for the populations in Onondaga County disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Housed within the agency’s DEHS, the program provides a minimum of 25 HEAP-eligible Senior and Disabled Senior Households with home modifications that will improve mobility and safety, reduce anxiety, and allow Seniors to age-in-place safely and with dignity. Repairs can range from ramp installation and doorway widening to handlebar and lightbulb fittings. On average, roughly $3600 will be allocated per project. The Program will “focus on geographies with more than 20% of the population living in poverty.”
With 76% of surveyed Americans -Age 50 and Above- preferring to remain in their current residents (AARP, 2018), proper modifications are necessary to ensure that homes are conducive for Aging-in-Place. Additionally, research shows correlations between home modifications and reductions in likelihood of fall/injury, increased physical function and personal independence, and improved mental health and confidence among seniors. Successful modifications can also yield potential cost savings for Seniors, families, and health systems such as Medicaid.
According to Carolyn D. Brown, Executive Director of PEACE, Inc., “Seniors have suffered tremendously during COVID, particularly as a result of the isolation. This funding will allow PEACE, Inc. to make repairs and improve the safety of residences so seniors can age in the homes they love and in the neighborhoods they cherish. We want to help keep seniors well in our communities so they can return to their churches, temples, mosques, volunteer roles, community centers, and the other places that support their quality of life.”
For more about PEACE, Inc.’s DEHS department, visit https://www.peace-caa.org/programs/energyhousing/.
About PEACE, Inc., PEACE, Inc.’s Department of Energy and Housing Services (DEHS)
Incorporated in 1968, PEACE, Inc. is a federal designated Community Action Agency (CAA) that serves nearly 12,000 clients in Syracuse, Onondaga County, and portions of Oswego County. Through its New York State Weatherization Assistance and Energy Smart Programs, PEACE, Inc.’s DEHS provides energy conservation measures for income-eligible homeowners and renters in Onondaga and Oswego Counties. DEHS is one of 9 antipoverty programs offered by the agency, including Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), Family Services (FRCs) Head Start and Early Head Start (HS, EHS), Foster Grandparents, Free Tax Preparation (EITC), Eastwood Community Center, Senior Nutrition, and Senior Support Services. For more information, visit www.peace-caa.org.
Media Contact
Sally Ward, Director
PEACE, Inc.’s Department of Energy and Housing Services
Email: sally.ward@peace-caa.org
Phone: (315) 470-3315
