Shine the Light Campaign
As part of Community Action Month, NYSCAA created the "Shine the Light" campaign, to highlight the fantastic CAA staff from all over New York and their stories about the work they do in Community Action! We are honored to be able to share these amazing stories with you!
Congratulations to our 2024 Shine the Light Campaign winners:
Becky Bennett-Tears, Pro Action of Steuben and Yates, Inc.
Hear from Becky:
 I started working with Pro Action of Steuben and Yates, Inc. in June 2015. I came from a human service background working with individuals with DD/ID for over 20 years. It was a smooth transition from that work into the Pro Action environment as both offer support and services to individuals. I currently work in the Yates Office for the Aging and absolutely love my job! Pro Action’s services and programs are beneficial and have a significant impact on an individual’s quality of life. My favorite part is that I feel working in a community action agency helps make a difference every single day. Some days make big differences, other days make small differences. Overall, you know the work you do is changing people’s lives for the better. Also, I feel that Pro Action is an ever-evolving agency that challenges itself to improve and enhance services. It is well-respected within the community and seen as a resource for a wide array of needs. I enjoy being part of an agency that is known for this. Pro Action has a set of values that I fully believe in and support: Hope & Resilience, Innovation, Excellence, & Accountability, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging. These values are embedded in all the work we do and all the interactions we have. I am proud to say I am part of the Pro Action family, and that we are helping people, changing lives!
Timothy Birdsall, Cortland County Community Action Program, Inc.
Hear from Timothy:
 I came to the Cortland County Community Action Program, Inc. (CAPCO) looking for a job to support my two small children in 1987. I was hired as a crew worker in the Weatherization Department and over the last 37 years, I have been a Crew Foreman, Sr. Building Technician, Auditor, and holding BPI Certifications. My favorite part is seeing the elderly people wearing their coats during the audit because of how cold their home is but knowing that we make a difference after weatherization and seeing them comfortable and without coats when we are done.
Jane Folts, Connecting Communities in Action
Hear from Jane:
 In 1988, I was a young stay at home mom of two children. Most of my friends were just getting out of college and starting careers; I found myself isolated and lonely. I had never heard of Head Start. Someone suggested I enroll my son into the home-based program. Our weekly visits became something we both looked forward to and the group activities with other parents gave me the connection I was longing for. Fast forward to 1992, I just graduated from a business college with a degree in accounting. I was perusing the want ads when a position caught my attention; Head Start was hiring a Financial Assistant. I applied and got the job. I was thrilled for the opportunity to give back to something that gave me so much. During my seven years at Head Start I became the Program Operations Manager for two of the Head Start sites. I oversaw the transportation, facilities, and daycare license compliance. My time there saw changes: Head Start separated from Community Action, my position was uncertain due to funding, and I was starting a new chapter in my life marrying my best friend. I left my position, but not my desire to help people.
In 2006, my baby was starting kindergarten, and it was time to go back to the workforce full-time. Again, perusing the employment section, I came across an ad for a position with Community Action, I applied but did not get that position. A few days later the HR person, who knew me from my time at Head Start, reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in interviewing for a Homeless Intervention Specialist. I was hired, and all I can say is it felt right; it felt like coming home. I guess the rest you can say is history, as I have been here 18 years. I am currently the Homeless Services Program Manager, and my favorite part of my position is supervising staff. The human service field takes a special dedication, and Community Action staff are an exceptional breed. Every day I am amazed at the challenges they face. Their dedication to helping people, working through countless barriers and their commitment to each other, makes me strive to be someone they can always count on to be there.
Julie Hinkle, Cortland County Community Action Program, Inc.
Hear from Julie:
 My name is Julie Hinkle. I have worked for CAPCO Head Start and Early Head Start for a total of 32 years. I started with the Program as a Substitute Teacher. Over time I moved to a Teacher’s Assistant, and my role now is a Teacher in Early Head Start.
My involvement began because of my three children and my involvement as an active parent. My daughter was in the Home-based program at first, but then she was accepted into the center-based program. My oldest son followed the same path, but my youngest just entered into a center-based program. All of my children received much needed therapy, which was offered by the program, and this ability for program services proved beneficial when they entered the school environment. For myself I needed some encouragement for growth.
I remember having a parent-teacher conference with Verna Tinker. I told her I needed to start working, but I didn’t know what to do. Verna told me to apply for the Substitute Teacher’s position, but I told her I didn’t think I qualified for the position. Through encouragement Verna convinced me that the position was similar to what I was doing around the home. I did apply and obtained employment as a Sub. After a year or so later Sharon Johnson told me I should apply for the Teacher’s Assistant position, which I did, but instead I was offered a long-term sub position. The next time the Teacher’s Assistant position opened up, I applied and got the position.
Through the Teacher’s Assistant position, I was able to obtain my Preschool CDA and later as a Teacher for Early Head Start when the program came. I got my Infant/Toddler CDA. The more I worked for the Organization, the more I grew in self-esteem and parenting skills. I worked really hard at trying to build strong relationships with families and children in my classroom.
One of my favorite parts of my career with the Community Agency Program is working with the children and families and seeing them become successful and reaching goals that didn’t seem possible. I love that CAPCO, as a whole, works to improve parts of families lives that are broken by having and utilizing resources the program offers. The Organization is growing by adding and/or changing programs to meet the needs of the community. As employees, we are offered trainings to help us grow and succeed. I know I wouldn’t be where I am at without the encouragement of staff and trainings offered.
Chari Jones, Schenectady Community Action Program
Hear from Chari:
 I got my start in Community Action by accident, literally. I was working as a Residence Counselor with adults living with chronic mental illness when I was injured on the job. Newly graduated from college and in pain, I needed a change and saw an ad for an Employment Case Manager position at SCCAP (Schoharie). I had never heard of Community Action before but was curious. I got an interview with the Director of Employment and the Commissioner of DSS. The interview went really well… so well, I thought I had the job. I really wanted the job. The more I learned about CA and what it stood for, the more badass CA became! I knew I had to be a part of this revolution! My punk rocker self had found her people (yes, I interviewed with my mohawk, down but still obvious)! And… I did not get the job. Disappointed, I continued on with my job search. About two weeks later, my parents house phone rang. It was SCCAP! The person they originally hired did not work out and they asked if I was still interested in the job. Yes! So began my 25 year+ commitment to CA. There was an in-between period where I finished Grad school and became a practicing licensed therapist. I took that experience and returned to CA. I have been with SCAP (Schenectady) for 20 years now, as a Director. How time flies! I can see myself retiring from CA down the road, way down the road.
One of the many things I love about CA is our ability to adapt, to truly work with the community and affect systemic change, creating meaningful and lasting change in the lives of all by:
- Challenging the status quo
- Shining light on injustices of all kinds for all people
- Working with other change agents to influence and form policy and laws
- Elevating voices and rattling cages
- Listening from our "Huggy Hearts"
- Making a safe space for all
Thank you to all of the CAA staff who took the time to submit your story!
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