BLI Graduation Year: 2019
Tell us briefly about yourself and please update your classmates on your personal/professional experiences since graduating from BLI:
I’ve been a member of our community all of my life. I’ve spent 29 of those years employed by United Methodist Homes, currently as our Director of Accounting. Of these years, my favorite professional/personal experience was participating in, and graduating from the BLI class of 2019. The various sessions were educational, eye opening and very fun. I met many new lifelong friends and also cultivated many new business relationships. Since graduating, I have volunteered for the Junior Achievement Program, sponsored by the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce (a program for volunteers to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy), teaching a mini course to 3rd graders at George F. Johnson Elementary School. The course titled “JA Our City”, taught the concepts of “Earning, Saving, Spending and Donating” in our community. (Prior to graduating from BLI, I would never have had the confidence to stand in front of a classroom and teach). I was recently invited to join the Board of Directors for VINES (Volunteers Improving Neighborhood Environments), an organization dedicated and committed to developing a sustainable and just community food system. VINES accomplishes this by bringing together diverse groups of people focused on youth development, urban agriculture, and community gardens. I am very excited for this opportunity that I wouldn’t have had without BLI.
Favorite books/movies:
I enjoy reading a great deal, and am happy that I instilled the love of reading in both my adult daughter and son. I read mostly for pleasure, with a few of my favorite authors being Elin Hildebrand, Sue Grafton, and Harlan Coban. Recent autobiographies that I have enjoyed are Michelle Obama’s Becoming, and Pete Buttigieg’s Shortest Way Home.
Current and Past Notable Civic Activities:
I’ve been very involved in the Endicott Performing Arts Center as a parent volunteer, backstage crew member, and as Treasurer on their Board of Directors. I also currently volunteer for Hilltop Retirement Center, The Highlands Community, and the Southern Tier Aids Program for various events and activities.
Interests/Hobbies:
I enjoy working out at Synergy Athletics, gardening, kayaking and camping. I also enjoy traveling to Charlotte, NC to visit my daughter and Manhattan, NY to visit my son.
How did your BLI experience change your perception of the community, and motivate you to become more involved in your community?
There is so much to be celebrated and enjoyed in our community, and when groups of individuals work together for common causes, the rewards are many.
What was your most memorable BLI activity/moment?
BLI provided me with a myriad of memorable moments. The most profound experience was Human Services and Diversity day. We were exposed to, and learned so much about, the cycle of poverty and food insecurity in our own community. Education day at BOCES was another one of my favorite days. I was very impressed with the instructors, leaders and student chefs at BOCES.
What was the most valuable benefit to you from your BLI experience?
To me, the most valuable benefit from my experience was learning how important it is to be a contributing part of our community, and how the actions of people working together can make such a positive impact in so many ways.
What “nugget of wisdom” do you have for your fellow BLI alum?
Enjoy every session, every experience, and all of the wonderful people you’ll meet along the way.