Feb 1, 2013
Dear Sojourner House Supporter:
It has been a very busy and fulfilling past few months for the Sojourner House, in no small part due to the enthusiastic efforts of executive director, Beth MacAller. Beth has settled in to her new position as Executive Director, becoming totally immersed in the whirlwind of planned events as well as the daily operations of Sojourner programs. After a successful holiday season, planning is now underway for the Donor/Community Partner Recognition lunch in March and a Casino Night Celebration in May. June is the month to look for the children’s Dreamseeds performance at the Memorial Art Gallery. July is graduation month for the women who have lived at the house during the year and the granting of the year’s Epiphany Award to the year’s extra special graduate. In August, come participate in the Back-to-School picnic where Sojourner Families come to socialize and pick-up backpacks for the school year for their children. (Clowns, pony rides and bubble machines are often seen at this event!)
Sojourner House at PathStone programming includes providing transitional, supportive and emergency housing services, in eight different properties in Rochester, with a current total of 163 rooms for women and families. At these properties, case workers coordinate classes and volunteer efforts, and provide social service support. Classes include basic financial information, nutrition, home repair skills, quilting, and writing, and are taught by local college and community groups and select individuals. Children’s programs include tutoring, the Dreamseeds (performing arts) program – with an annual performance at the Memorial Art Gallery, in-house activities, family series to Broadway Theatre League shows, a back-to-school backpack picnic and other special events. The case workers activities include running AA classes and helping residents navigate the social service system. They help residents achieve their various goals, which often include maintaining sobriety, job retention, and family reunification.
For the first time ever, Sojourner House at PathStone has been retained to provide social services at a residential property owned by a third party (not a Sojourner/PathStone property). This recognition of Sojourner’s ability to provide social services in a residential setting to the benefit of the clientele and property owner is very exciting and sets the stage for further recognition of Sojourner’s expertise in the field and expansion of our services.
We are thankful that in these difficult times Sojourner House at PathStone is able to continue to assist women and families in need in Rochester.
As always, we thank our wonderful friends for your continued interest and support.
Best regards,
Susan
Don’t forget to: Save the date – Friday, May 3, 2013 – Celebrate 30 years of Sojourner House at the Casino Night Sojourner Celebration!
November 1, 2012
Dear Supporter of Sojourner:
There is much good news to share at Sojourner House!
First, please join us in welcoming Beth MacAller as our new Executive Director.
Beth comes to us from the YMCA of Greater Rochester where she most recently served as the Director of Community Partnerships and Foundation Relations. Beth has the experience, energy and personality to ensure Sojourner House maintains it’s well deserved reputation of providing life-changing services to women, children and families in our community. Please read more about Beth’s background and accomplishments under the announcements tab on our website. Beth becomes Sojourner House’s fourth Executive Director since its founding in 1982.
Beth joins Sojourner at an exciting time. 2012 marks 30 years of Sojourner House operations. From 1982 when the doors opened at a facility on East Main Street with room for five women, to present day residential and social support services in multiple locations, Sojourner House programs have touched the lives of over 3,000 women and their families in the Rochester area. Please join the excitement as we celebrate these 30 remarkable years with special events in 2013. Check the web-site for updates and thank you for making 30 years possible!
We are pleased to report that the Sojourner House is positioned to expand its services to reach more families in the Rochester area. Current Sojourner House transitional and supportive housing units are full. In addition, the Sojourner House affiliation with PathStone has provided a channel for expansion of Sojourner House provided social services to other residential properties in the community. Most recently, 41 supportive housing units at Eastman Commons on Dewey Ave. are able to provide the support of Sojourner House case managers. In addition, in a one year pilot program with Pathstone, social support services will be made available in other PathStone owned city properties.
Just as Sojourner House provides community members assistance in transitioning to a more secure way of life, we want to acknowledge Kathryn Bryan, Senior Vice President of Property Management and Resident Services at PathStone Corporation, who served so ably as our interim executive director, during Sojourner House’s past year of transition. Her leadership has Sojourner House on firm footing as she turns the reins over to Beth. Thank you, Kathie.
So our sincere gratitude, one and all, for your past and ongoing support of Sojourner House, as together we work to ensure and enrich Sojourner House’s next 30 years of service to the Rochester community.
Warm Regards,
Susan