Eric Ehst, Executive Director
In April Neighbors Who Care kicked off a major new initiative to better connect, cooperate and collaborate with the communities we serve. The initial meeting of the Neighbors Who Care Advocates’ Circle brought together a group of civic, business and community leaders, along with current and former board members of NWC. The purpose of the committee is to provide guidance, expertise and community connections for Neighbors Who Care as we research neighborhood needs, find new resources (volunteers, partners and finances) and plan for the future. The first meeting was a great success. We shared details of the history and accomplishments of NWC; discussed how to create better connections and collaboration between all of our organizations; identified additional community leaders who should be invited to participate; and began a discussion of what unfulfilled needs there are in the community we all serve.
Over its more than 20 years of operation NWC has built excellent relationships throughout the community. Local congregations raise money for us, refer people who need assistance and help us recruit volunteers. Community managers help publicize our efforts and inform residents of our programs. Fire, police, and sheriff’s departments collaborate with us to help those in need of assistance. Medical offices help coordinate transportation and appointments. Civic organizations, clubs and businesses support us in many ways.
The Advocates’ Circle will help us to formalize and organize these relationships as we move forward. Better yet, it creates a forum, centered on Neighbors Who Care, where the diverse community representatives can communicate with and learn from each other. The world is changing rapidly and NWC will play a key role in determining how we are going to cope with the exploding population of seniors, with the rapidly increasing lifespan and with the changing expectations of retirement and independence. We have set an ambitious goal, to become a ‘transformative’ organization; a laboratory to create and implement revolutionary new ways to keep the exploding senior population independent and fulfilled; to meet both their physical and their social needs.
This improved cooperation and support network will play a vital role in giving NWC the resources and expertise to meet the changing and increasing community expectations. We express our profound appreciation to the founding members listed here and also to those community-minded organizations and individuals we have yet to recruit.
If you would like to become a part of our band of caring volunteers, or if you know of someone who could use our help, contact us at 480-895-7133; www.neighborswhocare.com.