The message below was sent to JCCA staff for International Women’s Day on March 8, 2018.
Dear JCCA Colleagues:
Today is International Women’s Day. The celebration, adopted in 1975 by the United Nations, has special significance this year, in particular because of the #MeToo effort.
Since the founding of our agency in 1822, women have been an integral part of the historical accomplishments of our great organization. I am humbled every day by the tremendous work, dedication, leadership, and intelligence of the women at JCCA. I am proud that we have a leadership and executive team that are more inclusive than they have been at any other moment in JCCA’s history. Our Board President is a woman, and our Board’s executive committee is 50% women. We still have work to do—in this and other areas—but JCCA has made progress in becoming an inclusive organization whose leadership is starting to reflect our staff and clients.
One of these leaders is Keturah Pierre, Senior Vice President of Community Services, who will be honored in Albany on Tuesday, March 13. This year marks Keturah’s 25th at JCCA and it is therefore quite fitting to have her celebrated in our state capitol, as a member of the New York State Women in Human Services Hall of Fame. It would be difficult to find a better example of leadership, dedication, and generosity than Keturah, whose dedication to JCCA is echoed in her service to her community. In her “spare time,” Keturah is a member of Community Board 18 and deeply involved in her church. In her 25 years at JCCA, she has led the expansion of the agency’s Foster Home Services division, tripling its caseload and creating specialized programs as well as new models of care. She is currently leading the integration of foster care and prevention services. She has been a mentor to many staff members and managers and was instrumental in the rollout of JCCA’s Race Consciousness initiative. Keturah’s unflagging energy, expertise, and calm determination have had an immeasurable impact on her colleagues, our clients, and the communities JCCA is proud to serve.
Thank you for joining me in congratulating Keturah. And today, as on every day, I am grateful for the contributions of all the women at JCCA. Happy International Women’s Day. Be sure to honor the women in your life.
Warmly,
Ron