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Jamestown, NY
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716-483-2344Jamestown, NY
Six area residents have become the first graduates of a program aimed at helping people analyze the impacts of poverty on their lives and develop strategies to build their resources for more prosperous lives and to improve our community.
The six – Jamestown residents Verna Dickinson, Ashley Martin, Raymond L. Pryce, and Joseph Tucker; Dawn Jennings of Mayville; and Marangelly Perez, Fredonia – were honored during a ceremony held at Northwest Arena in Jamestown. They were recognized as the first local graduates of the “Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World” curriculum, a 16-week workshop series that supports people with low incomes to build resources and achieve goals on the path to stability.
Getting Ahead participants are called investigators. The course calls on them to explore how poverty affects them, then identify and develop resources that will enable them to get ahead in their lives. The local workshop is called Invest U because, by participating in the curriculum, investigators were investing in a better future for themselves and their families.
Their efforts also will improve their communities. This is because, as part of their coursework, investigators examined how community institutions measure in areas such as the economy, housing, health care, employment, education, and banking. Those stark assessments revealed where our community did not perform well, providing an opportunity for local leaders to address the gaps.
Terri Johnson, The Resource Center’s Director of Employment and Community-Based Services, was one of the people who helped bring the Getting Ahead curriculum to Chautauqua County. Johnson, who also served as a Getting Ahead Facilitator, welcomed people to the graduation ceremony and shared a bit about the hard work the graduates put in.
“Each of the investigators have gone through a step-by-step discovery of themselves, how they got where they are and what it takes to build the life they want,” she said. “They each have also investigated their own world and have identified societal barriers that could be keeping them in poverty. They have investigated the realities of conditions in their community and its impact, the hidden rules of the economic classes, how to build resources and make connections, and ways to deal with change and create stability in their lives. They have learned about debt-to-income ratios, building social capital, established smart goals, and so much more.”
The United Way of Southern Chautauqua County provided a grant that made it possible for Getting Ahead to be offered locally. The United Way’s Executive Director, Amy Rohler, was the keynote speaker at the graduation. She praised the graduates’ commitment to the program and acknowledged that community institutions and traditions can keep people mired in poverty.
“You have confronted the cold, hard reality of not only your own, personal situation but of this community, too,” Rohler said. “There’s a reality to why people are in poverty and what systems exist that keep them there, and it’s messy and it’s hard and it’s not always pretty. But I suspect that in spite of that investigation, you emerged out of this experience with a gritty faith in the possibility of what you can do and what this community cam accomplish.”
Johnson, Rohler and Assemblyman Andy Goodell noted that local leaders decided to bring the Getting Ahead program to Jamestown after hearing a firsthand account of the program’s effectiveness during a 2019 Assembly hearing in Buffalo that addressed poverty. One of the speakers at that hearing discussed the positive impacts the Getting Ahead program had on his life and, later, on his home community of Watertown as a result of his community involvement. After hearing the man’s testimony, Rohler and Johnson were determined to bring Getting Ahead to Chautauqua County.
Goodell cited this unexpected positive outcome of that Assembly hearing on his remarks to graduates.
“So often, life gives you opportunities that you weren’t expecting; information that you weren’t expecting; or an ability to help somebody else or move yourself ahead, that you may not be expecting,” he said. “As you move forward, as you get ahead in life, keep your eyes and ears open. Listen for opportunities to improve yourself and move forward. And know that you are on the right path today, and we are so proud of what you’ve accomplished.”
Jacqueline Phelps, Deputy District Director for Congressman Tom Reed, also had words for the graduates.
“Each and every one of us has talents. Each and every one of us can be amazing. And as each and every one of us does that, and allows ourselves to be amazing, we give back to our community,” Phelps said. “God bless you for the work that you’ve done. Thank you for your commitment. Congratulations on the impact that you’re going to make on our community and for graduating.”
Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist called the work they’ve done invaluable. “These folks are trailblazers. They’re the first ones in our community to not only graduate from this program, but these are the ones that you are going to see making big changes here in the community.”
Randall Holcomb, who works in Senator George Borrello’s Jamestown office, passed along the senator’s congratulation s to the graduates. Holcomb, noting that the Getting Ahead curriculum is used in five countries and has seen 80,000 people successfully complete the program, told the six local graduates, “We are the lucky county to welcome all of you to that group.”
Pictured are, from left, the investigators and facilitators from the first Invest U class: Joseph Tucker, Ashley Martin, Terri Johnson, Beth Jermain, Dawn Jennings, CodyAnne Chambers, Marangelly Perez, Verna Dickinson, and Raymond Pryce.
Most of the graduates also spoke. “In the Getting Ahead class, we learned to build relationships that help us succeed and recognize that money is not the only resource that keeps people stuck in poverty,” Jennings said. Reflecting on what she has had to do in order to survive, Jennings said that by participating in the Getting Ahead curriculum, “Today I can say I’m no longer a survivor, but a warrior.”
She added that the graduates are ready to use their experience and education to improve the community.
“The investigating class of 2021 are all workers,” she said. “We also have a personal experience to know the impact of poverty on our community. We also have ideas that can change the impact of poverty in Chautauqua County. Our research is phenomenal.”
Pryce shared about some of his personal struggles and relayed how his life’s journey led him to pursue his education to become a teacher. Addressing his Invest U classmates, Pryce said, “This journey with you all has made me realize that there’s so many other things that we can do to build up our community.”
Perez noted that she grew up in poverty and said she believes she and her classmates will use what they learned in Invest U to improve their own lives and the lives of others.
“I’m hoping that from these classes people realize how important being educated in the knowledge that are as simple as, `Don’t buy into poverty’ can help. And it definitely helped me,” she said.
Tucker said that since he has children and grandchildren, he’s invested in community’s future. He said he already is active in the community and believes that if area residents work together, issues such as poverty, food insecurity and education can be improved.
Addressing the audience as he stood with his fellow graduates, Tucker said, “I am proud to be here, and I’m proud that all you guys are here to share with all of us.”
Martin said she also grew up in poverty and while a teen-ager promised herself she wouldn’t stay in poverty. She tried a couple of career paths that didn’t pan out. The birth of her daughter caused Martin to focus on improving her life for her daughter’s sake.
“I promised that, no matter what it took, no matter how long it took, no matter how I had to do it, no matter how many tears I had to shed or how many times I needed to scream into a pillow, no matter how many toxic relationships I had to let go of, that she was my number one,” Martin said.
Despite that commitment, she encountered a number of challenges as a single parent. Martin said she learned from the Getting Ahead class that the local community is rich in resources, but not everyone knows about them. She said spreading the word about those resources is an important step in helping people in poverty overcome barriers.
“Education is power,” she said.
Martin plans to return to college to study human resources and psychology in order to work with people in poverty and assist them in improving their lives. “I want to show people that if I can do it, you can do it,” she said.
Johnson noted that one of the goals of Getting Ahead is to make community leaders recognize the program’s benefits and appreciate the work the graduates have put in. Toward that end John Felton, the Chief Executive Officer of the Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, told the graduates that while some lenders won’t loan money to people with a low credit score or poor debt ratio, that his office will provide them with a personal banker to try to help them financially. He added that a low credit score reflects decisions people have made in the past, but that a credit report doesn’t take into account a person’s character.
Favorably impressed by the graduates, Felton said, “This is a cool group of people. This is an amazing group of people.”
In addition to Johnson, two other Resource Center employees – Beth Jermain, Support Option Administrator, and CodyAnne Chambers, Employment Facilitator – served as Getting Ahead Facilitators for the inaugural class. Both had praise for the graduates.
“I can’t remember ever being so impressed by a group of people before,” said Jermain. She added that the graduates will continue to meet regularly to support one another.
Chambers, who facilitates curricula for various populations, was overwhelmed by what the six graduates accomplished.
“These folks have made the most significant changes that I’ve ever seen in any facilitated class,” Chambers said. “To say that we taught you anything is so not true. You all took the lead and you taught yourselves.”
Wrapping up the event, she told the graduates what others in the room likely were thinking:
“I can’t wait to see what happens in each of your futures.”
Organizers plan to hold the next Getting Ahead class in the fall. For more information, contact Jermain at 483-2344.
Dan and Beth Hocking, Owners of ACME The Appliance Store, recently donated a 55 inch Samsung television that will be used for a drawing to support the 25th Anniversary TRC Golf Classic.
The TRC Golf Classic is the major annual fund-raising event for Filling the Gap, Inc., a Jamestown-based non-profit organization that works with The Resource Center to support people with disabilities and other socioeconomic challenges in Chautauqua County.
“We are very thankful for The Resource Center and the positive impact they have on our community,” said Dan Hocking. “ACME The Appliance Store is pleased to help in a small way with this 55-inch, high-definition TV donation to help raise money for the TRC Golf Classic. We are strong believers in giving back to the community. The Resource Center makes a difference in people’s lives on a daily basis, and we are happy to continue to support their efforts.”
The drawing for the TV will take place at the end of the TRC Golf Classic on July 26 at Moon Brook Country Club. For information on how to enter the drawing and purchase tickets, phone 661-1477.
The 2021 TRC Golf Classic is scheduled for July 26 at Moon Brook Country Club in Jamestown. For more information or to sponsor, please visit www.trcgolfclassic.com.
Picture: l to r – Lily Constantino, Community Coach; Abby Adam, Special Olympics Athlete; and Dan Hocking, Co-Owner, ACME The Appliance Store
Pictured: l to r – Daniel Reininga, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lake Shore Savings Bank; Gregg Bender, TRC Golf Classic Chair Emeritus; Chris Anderson, TRC Golf Classic Chair; Kelly Dimitri, The Resource Center Chief Financial Officer; Adam Dimitri, Vice President, Regional Sales Officer, Lake Shore Savings Bank
Lake Shore Bancorp, Inc., the holding company of Lake Shore Savings Bank, announced that its Board of Directors has renewed an agreement to have Lake Shore Savings serve as the presenting sponsor of the TRC Golf Classic for three years.
The TRC Golf Classic is the major annual fund-raising event for Filling the Gap, Inc., a Jamestown-based non-profit organization that works with The Resource Center to support people with disabilities and other socioeconomic challenges in Chautauqua County.
Lake Shore Savings has sponsored the TRC Golf Classic every year since the tournament began in 1997, and since 2012 has been the event’s presenting sponsor. One of the most successful one-day charity golf tournaments in Southwestern New York, the TRC Golf Classic has netted more than $1.6 million since it began in 1997.
“Lake Shore Savings Bank has been a proud supporter of The Resource Center for the past 25 years,” said Daniel P. Reininga, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Their individualized support services, including residential services, educational and training opportunities, clinical services including primary care, dental, podiatry, physical, speech and occupational therapy, school-based clinic, mental health services, employment services and community habilitation services benefit over 8,000 individuals throughout Chautauqua County and make an impactful difference in the lives of those with disabilities and other challenges. The valuable work of The Resource Center helps to ensure these individuals receive the support they need to achieve maximum independence while contributing to their community and experiencing lifelong growth and quality of life. We are proud to continue to support the ongoing efforts of such a vital organization in our community.”
“Everyone at The Resource Center and Filling the Gap are grateful to Lake Shore Savings for its commitment to continue as the presenting sponsor of the TRC Golf Classic,” said Denise Jones, The Resource Center’s Chief Executive Officer. “We rely on the generosity of our local business community to make our events successful. Lake Shore Savings has been one of our most generous corporate partners over the last quarter century. Their support allows us to fulfill our mission of helping people with disabilities to enjoy meaningful lives.
“On behalf of The Resource Center and the TRC Golf Classic Steering Committee, we applaud Lake Shore Savings Bank for once again agreeing to be the presenting sponsor for the next three TRC Golf Classics. Lake Shore Savings has been a major sponsor of our event for 25 years. And, for the last ten years, as presenting sponsor, they have contributed $150,000. Lake Shore’s motto is ‘Putting People First’ and they have once again lived their mission as a wonderful community partner. We thank Dan Reininga and the Board at Lake Shore Savings Bank for their generous commitment to the Resource Center and the people we serve,” said Chris Anderson, Chair, and Gregg Bender, Chair Emeritus, TRC Golf Classic.
The 2021 TRC Golf Classic is scheduled for July 26 at Moon Brook Country Club in Jamestown. For more information or to sponsor, please visit www.trcgolfclassic.com.
The current staffing crisis affecting The Resource Center and other disability service providers across New York State will be the main topic of discussion when The Resource Center holds its annual General Membership Meeting on Monday, June 7.
The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. Due to safety COVID-19, the meeting will be held via telephone and videoconference.
The main presentation will involve the current direct support staffing crisis. The Resource Center and other service providers across the state are experiencing a severe number of vacancies for Direct Support Professional positions in homes and day programs. These vacancies are negatively affecting people with disabilities, whose lifestyle options have been curtailed due to lack of staff, as well as the existing Direct Support staff, who are having to work long hours in order to ensure the health and safety of the people with disabilities they are entrusted to care for.
At the Annual Meeting, families will learn how TRC and other providers are addressing the situation. Families will also learn how they can advocate – via social media, phone calls, letters, or in-person visits – to demand New York State leaders fix the problem. Click here to read about a recent rally held in Buffalo regarding this issue, as well as comments from Denise Jones, The Resource Center’s Executive Director.
All Active Members of The Resource Center who are in good standing also are invited to participate in the meeting, and to vote in the election and on any business items that may arise. To be considered in good standing, one must have made a contribution of $10 or more to The Resource Center or Filling the Gap, Inc., since May 8, 2020.
If interested in attending the meeting, click here to register or contact Selina Phillips at 716-661-1412 to obtain the access information for the meeting. All Active Members in good standing who are unable to attend the meeting are encouraged to vote in the election online. Click here to cast your vote.
The meeting agenda is as follows:
The Nominating Committee — composed of Wayne Hotelling, Chair; June Jacobson; and Julie McCarthy — has proposed the following candidates for Officers and Directors of the Board of The Resource Center, as well as candidates to serve on the Nominating Committee for the 2022 Election:
Officers (one-year term)
President — Patricia Perlee
Vice President — Richard Erickson
Secretary — Dawn Columbare, DNP
Treasurer — Todd Jacobson, MD
Directors (two-year term)
Marie Carrubba, Esq.
R. Michael Goldman, Esq.
Lisa Goodell
Marlene Sirianno, Esq.
Nominating Committee
Wayne Hotelling
June Jacobson
Jennifer Liuzzo
Julie McCarthy
For more information or to indicate you plan to attend the meeting, phone 716-661-1412.
If you have not yet paid your 2021 TRC Membership dues, click here to make a secure, online payment. Your membership demonstrates your commitment to The Resource Center’s mission. In these challenging times, your support of TRC is extremely important.
The Resource Center has a 60-year tradition of supporting people with disabilities to enjoy great lives. We invite you to help us ensure the continued success of our organization, as well as the people and families we support, by becoming a Member of The Resource Center during our 2021 Membership Drive.
The Resource Center is the Chautauqua County chapter of The Arc New York, a family-led organization that advocates and provides support and services to people with disabilities. Like all other chapters of The Arc New York, The Resource Center is a membership organization. And membership is open to anyone who believes in our mission of supporting people with disabilities to have meaningful lives as valued members of their community.
Membership is important! The more members The Resource Center has, the more powerful our collective voice becomes when we advocate alongside people with disabilities and their families, as well as other chapters of The Arc New York. Those advocacy efforts were extremely critical this past winter and spring as New York State was drafting its 2021-22 budget. Members of The Arc NY family state-wide made more than 18,000 connections with legislative leaders, and we persuaded them not to enact proposed funding cuts affecting services for people with disabilities.
For everyone who took part in those advocacy efforts, THANK YOU!
But while we’re grateful for the success of that advocacy campaign, other funding cuts have been proposed by New York State government officials. Continued advocacy will be needed to make lawmakers aware of the devastating impacts the proposed cuts would have. As a Member of The Resource Center, you’ll receive regular updates from The Arc New York regarding initiatives requiring advocacy.
That’s because when you become a Member of The Resource Center, you actually become a Member of three organizations – TRC, The Arc NY and The Arc, which advocates at the national level.
Membership in The Resource Center is just $10 per year. As a thank-you for becoming a Member, you’ll receive a Membership Card that entitles you to discounts at dozens of local businesses. Click here to see the list of current discounts.
Last year, The Resource Center had 1,762 members. This year, we have set a goal of reaching 2,500 members. Though that may seem like a big number, we could easily get there if the family members of every TRC service recipient with a disability decided to become a member.
Click here to pay your Membership Dues online. (On that donation page, you also can sign up adult members of your household as Members of TRC.) Or, you can send a check to The Resource Center, 200 Dunham Avenue, Jamestown, NY, 14701, and write “membership” on the memo line.
For more information (including learning how your business can become part of TRC’s discount program), or to have a membership form sent to you, phone Steve Waterson, Community Relations Director, at 716-661-4735.
Support. Advocacy. Education. Membership Matters!
The mother-daughter team of Debbie and Courtney Rapp are committed to donating blood at The Resource Center as a gesture of love for a family member.
Several years ago Louise Young, who was Deb’s mom and Courtney’s grandmother, developed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The illness required Louise to undergo blood transfusions every few weeks. Deb, who is the Supervisor at our Senior Adult Day Habilitation Program, said her mother maintained a positive outlook about the treatments and would joke that she was “going in for a refill” when it was time for a transfusion.
“I’d ask if she needed anything, and she’d say, `I have a good book to read, so I’ll be OK. I’ll call you when I’m done.’ Then she’d send me happy emojis on my cell phone while she received her transfusion and shared how thankful she was that this would make her feel better,” Deb said. “She knew once she received this gift that she could breathe better and continue living.”
Louise lost her battle with CLL last September. Following Louise’s death Deb and Courtney, a Licensed Practical Nurse at our Edgewater Day Program, pledged to each other they would donate blood in Louise’s honor every time The Resource Center hosts an American Red Cross blood drive. As part of its commitment to give back to the community, TRC hosts several Red Cross blood drives each year.
For Deb and Courtney, supporting the Red Cross is a tangible way they can express appreciation for the transfusions that extended Louise’s life.
“My mom was the center of our family, and she is missed every day,” Deb said. “My family was blessed that she had this option to receive transfusions to keep her well enough to spend a little more time with her family. Without these transfusions, we would not have had her on this earth with us as long as we did. My family was blessed by this gift of giving blood that helped my mom. ”
Deb and Courtney donated blood at TRC’s most recent blood drive April 23. Those drives are coordinated by the Red Cross and by members of The Resource Center’s award-winning STARS employee wellness program. Deb appreciates that TRC undertakes the effort to hold these events.
“The Resource Center STARS program does a fantastic job hosting the Red Cross blood drive. This event helps our local community and Chautauqua County,” said Deb, who has donated more than a gallon of blood over the years . “The TRC blood drive is a perfect example on how we try to support our community. Not only do TRC employees donate blood, but they open this up to our community to come to our main office on Dunham Avenue to donate, too. Supporting people is really what The Resource Center is all about, and this includes the Red Cross.”
The April 23 event collected 34 units of blood, enough to potentially save the lives of 100 people. The next blood drive at The Resource Center will take place in the fall, and you can be sure Deb and Courtney will be there, rolling up their sleeves to give the gift of life in honor of Louise.
Deb is grateful to all who donate blood, as she knows from personal experience that blood donations make a positive impact.
“I would like to give a heartfelt thank-you to each person that donates their blood,” she said. “You really do touch so many lives that we all cherish.”
Two Resource Center employees have been recognized for their efforts in supporting people with disabilities to enjoy self-directed lives.
Beth Jermain, Support Option Administrator, and Jessica Smith, Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement Systems Coordinator, were among those honored when Buffalo Business First magazine presented its second annual IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Awareness) Awards last Thursday. They were among 19 individuals and seven businesses to receive an IDEA Award this year. Beth and Jessica were honored in the category of “Champion of People with Disabilities.”
They both had had long careers at The Resource Center (Beth joined TRC in 1989, Jessica in 1998) when the organization made the decision several years ago to seek accreditation from The Council on Quality and Leadership. CQL works with human service providers and governmental agencies to support their efforts to improve the quality of life for people with intellectual, developmental and psychiatric disabilities. The Resource Center received CQL accreditation in 2016.
“That accreditation basically means that The Resource Center is meeting the criteria for providing person-centered services to people, and in a robust way,” Beth said.
Once TRC became accredited by CQL, Beth and Jessica assumed responsibility for making sure we guarantee people’s health and well-being in everything we do while supporting people to have the lives they want. They recruit, train and support a team of TRC employees who conduct initial Personal Outcomes Measures (POMs) interviews to determine what people with disabilities want, then perform annual follow-ups to check on progress, identify barriers and chart new directions.
Thanks to the efforts of Beth and Jessica, the POMs interviewers and people with disabilities and their families, individuals have been able to live the lives they want. Some people who spent years living in group homes have fulfilled their desires to live independently in the community.
Beth and Jessica ensure TRC doesn’t become complacent. They lead by example, reminding all employees of the importance of taking time to truly listen to what a person is saying, because the desires of the people supported by TRC come first.
“Through our work with the Personal Outcomes Measures, we’re really trying to change the culture at The Resource Center so that we can have people with disabilities have their voice heard, as having them be a part of the community and in control of their lives,” Jessica said. “That’s really what the Personal Outcomes Measures do. It’s really a tool for us to be able to ask questions of the people we support and listen to what’s important to them.”
“It’s all about `person first’ and trying to ensure that when we’re providing services to people that we’re being impactful so that people can live their best lives and their fullest lives, and as service providers we’re doing our best to ensure that,” Beth said.
“Continuous quality improvement is what we’re looking for,” Jessica said, “so a lot of work, a lot of effort has been put into the last few years, and it felt very fulfilling to be recognized” with the IDEA Award.
Click here to listen to a radio interview with Beth and Jessica.
The Resource Center recently said farewell to longtime employees Mary Jo Hamilton and Joyce Peterson, who combined had almost 70 years of service with TRC.
Mary Jo joined The Resource Center in March 1982, not long after graduating from Brockport State with a degree in recreation and leisure, with specialization in therapeutic recreation. She also minored in special needs for people with intellectual disabilities.
Mary Jo came on board about three weeks before the opening of our Intermediate Care Facility on Foote Avenue in Jamestown, and that is where she spent most of the first 20 years of her TRC career. In that time she steadily moved up the ladder, starting out as a Recreation Therapist and then becoming a Direct Care Supervisor, Residential Coordinator, Assistant Program Administrator, and Program Administrator for Adult Developmental Services.
From 2004 to 2008, Mary Jo’s career took a slightly different turn as she served as Quality Assurance and Verification Coordinator. In 2008 she became Associate Director of Residential Services, and she remained in that role until 2015, when she was promoted to Director of Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services.
Mary Jo had good relationships with the people living in TRC’s homes, and their families. Our staff also valued her – Direct Support Professionals appreciated the fact Mary Jo spent her early years of her TRC career in the direct support realm, so she understood the challenges faced by DSPs. Her peers depended on her knowledge to help guide the agency in areas of policies, procedures and regulatory compliance.
During a virtual retirement celebration attended by dozens of TRC employees and some of her family members, Mary Jo shared some reflections on her time at The Resource Center.
“Working here gave me many opportunities to make a difference, grow, learn from my mistakes, and, most importantly, assist and get to know the people we support,” she said. “I thank all of you who have made my job easier because you worked so hard.”
She praised those who provide direct support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“A special `thank you’ to all DSPs, but no words can thank you enough, as you make it happen – you are the nuts and bolts of TRC.
“And of course, why we are all here – for the people we support. This is what drives all of us, makes us laugh, love, and want to do our best to ensure they are living the life they want to live.”
Mary Jo’s last day as a TRC employee was March 4. Since then, she has moved south to enjoy the next phase of her life and her new full-time role — that of a doting grandmother.
Our other retiree, Joyce, joined TRC in October 1990 as a Habilitation Skills Technician in the Day Habilitation Program at the Michael J. Raymond Center on Jones & Gifford Avenue in Jamestown. The following year she became Manager of our home on Chandler Street in Jamestown and spent two years in that role before becoming Treatment Coordinator for some of our Intermediate Care Facilities.
Joyce spent many years with our Article 16 Clinic as Treatment Coordinator and Assistant Administrator of the Clinical Team. In 2015 she became a Rehabilitation Case Manager in the Supported Employment Program before becoming a Vocational Evaluator two years ago.
Joyce was a leader in developing TRC’s Pathway to Employment program. She also has been a member of the Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement Incident Management Team and a Personal Outcomes Interviewer. This past year, she also covered a Habilitation Specialist position that was vacant due to the pandemic.
Her co-workers noted Joyce is extremely caring and genuinely wants to see people supported by TRC to succeed in all aspects of their lives.
“I have had many wonderful experiences in my 30 years at The Resource Center and have worked with and for many great people,” Joyce said. “I look forward to enjoying my retirement and will miss each and very person I have had the opportunity to work with and for.”
Joyce’s last day at TRC was March 11. She now plans to spend a lot of time on the golf course and at her camp.
We thank Mary Jo and Joyce for their decades of dedicated service in support of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We wish them a long, happy and healthy retirement!
Buffalo Business First magazine has released its annual ranking of the most influential people in Western New York, and once again Denise Jones has placed highly on the list.
Denise, The Resource Center’s Chief Executive Officer, is ranked No. 62 on this year’s “Power 250” list. The list reflects those who, in Business First’s opinion, are the 250 most influential people in the eight-county region. This is the sixth straight year Denise has been included on the Power 250 list since she became TRC’s Executive Director in 2015, and it represents her highest ranking.
Business First’s ninth annual Power 250 list and rankings were determined from a consensus of the members of its newsroom. The magazine realizes some people may question its selections.
“We concede that this is objective and for that reason alone will generate discussion. Influence and power mean different things to different people, but we can all agree that we know power and influence when we see it,” said Donna Collins, Business First’s Editor. “Factors we consider include length of time in an executive position, companies with sizeable employment and payrolls, and non-profits making an im0act on community welfare.”
Denise, a certified public accountant, joined The Resource Center in 1990 as the agency’s first Internal Auditor. In 1997 she was named finance director, and she worked in that capacity until becoming chief financial officer and assistant executive director for administrative services in 2004. In 2008, she was promoted to chief operating officer and associate executive director.
TRC officials were pleased Denise has again been recognized as one of the region’s premier business leaders.
“We were delighted to learn that Denise has been included in the Business First listing of the 250 most powerful business leaders in Western New York,” said Patricia Perlee, President of the Board of Directors. “Denise is dynamic, knowledgeable and well respected within the community. She believes every individual is unique and valued and should be respected. We are extremely proud of Denise and feel very fortunate to have an Executive Director of Denise’s caliber leading our organization.”
The Resource Center has been supporting people with disabilities and their families since 1958. The Resource Center also provides a variety of health-related services that can be utilized by anyone, regardless of whether they have a disability. TRC also performs subcontracting work for the federal government and local businesses at manufacturing facilities in Jamestown and Dunkirk. To learn more, phone 483-2344 or visit www.resourcecenter.org.
Other people from Chautauqua County or the disabilities field who appeared on this year’s Power 250 list included:
In addition, Business First created a separate “Power Politicians” list, which included Assemblyman Andy Goodell at No. 18, Senator George Borrello at No. 22 and Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel at No. 24.
Pictured in TRC’s current art room are, from left, Kyle Morgan, Vice President and Wealth Advisor with KeyBank; Susan Gutierrez, Art Instructor; Glenn Miller, artist; Courtney Sinatra, KeyBank Relationship Manager; John Vogan, Supervisor for Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services; Jessica Harley, Direct Support Professional; and Denise Jones, Executive Director.
People with disabilities will have the opportunity to express themselves through art thanks to KeyBank and the First Niagara Foundation.
Officials at The Resource Center recently announced they have received a $200,000 commitment from KeyBank in partnership with First Niagara. The money will be used to create the Edgewater Art House, which will be the new home of The Resource Center’s award-winning art program for people with disabilities.
“We are thrilled that KeyBank and First Niagara Foundation have provided this generous funding to move us closer to our dream of creating the Edgewater Art House,” said Denise Jones, TRC’s Executive Director. “We are grateful that KeyBank and First Niagara recognize the important role the arts play not only in providing fulfilling lives to people with disabilities, but also in expanding our community’s cultural vibrancy.”
“We at KeyBank are very proud to support the work being done at The Resource Center to provide individuals with disabilities access to multiple art forms that will help foster vital social and emotional skills,” said Elizabeth Gurney, Executive Director of the KeyBank and First Niagara Foundations. “The new Edgewater Art House will fill an important need in the Jamestown community for those with diverse skills and abilities by creating opportunities for self-expression and inclusion that will help lead to long-term success in school, work and life.”
The Edgewater Art House will be developed on property The Resource Center owns on Eighth Street in Jamestown, adjacent to TRC’s Edgewater Day Habilitation Program that opened last year. An existing structure will be renovated to create the Edgewater Art House. The facility will offer many opportunities for art classes including painting, drawing, mixed media, and ceramics. A gallery space will allow those participating in the art classes to showcase their art.
Art has been a hobby and passion of people with disabilities for as long as The Resource Center has existed. When TRC’s first educational classes began in 1959, arts and crafts were key components of daily lesson plans. Art has remained an important facet of The Resource Center over the years, providing people with disabilities the opportunity to express themselves in ways they might not be able to convey with words.
To give more people the opportunity to experience the arts, in 2007 The Resource Center collaborated with area arts organizations and independent artists to offer classes in painting, mixed media, dance/movement, drama, music, and song writing. The results were tremendous and convinced TRC to add a full-time art instructor to its staff. In the ensuing years, works created by people with intellectual disabilities at TRC have been featured exhibits locally and across New York State, and some of the artists have won awards.
The success of its art program led The Resource Center to want to expand the program. But because the program is currently housed within a state-certified facility at 75 Jones & Gifford Avenue, only people enrolled in TRC’s Day Habilitation Program can participate. Since the Edgewater Art House will be a non-certified site, it can be used by people with intellectual disabilities who do not attend TRC’s Day Habilitation Program, as well as by people who participate in TRC’s behavioral health programs.
The Resource Center set a goal of raising $315,000 in order to begin construction of the Edgewater Art House. The commitment from KeyBank and First Niagara, combined with contributions from The Lenna Foundation, Filling the Gap, Inc., and many private donors from among The Resource Center’s staff and the community, have enabled the capital campaign to reach its target. The Resource Center is working with architects to finalize design plans before seeking bids for the project. Renovation and construction work is expected to begin in late spring.
Besides giving more people with disabilities the opportunity to create art, the Edgewater Art House will benefit the greater Jamestown community. The Edgewater Art House, which will be located along the Chadakoin River across from McCrea Point Park, will aesthetically complement the city’s ongoing waterfront revitalization efforts.
For more information or to make a donation in support of the project, visit www.edgewaterarthouse.com or phone The Resource Center at (716) 483-2344. Donations also may be mailed to The Resource Center, 200 Dunham Avenue, Jamestown, NY, 14701.
ABOUT KEYBANK
KeyBank’s roots trace back 190 years to Albany, NY. Headquartered in Cleveland, OH, KeyCorp is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $170.3 billion at December 31, 2020. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of over 1,000 branches and more than 41,000 KeyBank ATMs and Allpoint surcharge-free ATMs for many customers when using a KeyBank debit card nationwide. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications, and derivatives to middle-market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.
ABOUT THE FIRST NIAGARA FOUDATION
Founded in 1998, the First Niagara Foundation will carry out the philanthropic legacy of First Niagara Bank, which was acquired by KeyBank in 2016. The Foundation, in partnership with KeyBank, supports not-for-profit organizations dedicated to empowering individuals and neighborhoods primarily in Western New York. For more information, visit http://www.firstniagarafoundation.org
200 Dunham Avenue, Jamestown, NY, 14701