Erica is Now a Board Member at the Durham Literacy Center

I want to offer a quick, public congratulations to my wife for being invited to join the Durham Literacy Center's Board of Directors. Her name is not on the organization's website yet, but here's the link to where it will appear. Given her expertise, Erica will serve on the public relations committee.

The DLC's mission is "to empower Durham County residents who want to enrich their lives by improving their literacy skills." I have seen that mission in action through Erica's volunteer efforts during the past several months. I would argue that she is not just enriching her student's life; rather, she is changing it.

In addition to instilling a deserved sense of dignity to an adult who wants to learn to read before his young son realizes that he can't do so, Erica has spent added time working on her student's resume and helping him to conduct a job search. She brings the same concern to this process that she would if she were helping a family member. As a result, she is opening up opportunities for this man that previously were not there.

I have been known to complain about volunteering with or donating to causes where you don't see the direct impact of your efforts. Having worked in the non-profit and development worlds, I know this is a concern on the other side of the fence as well; organizations want to demonstrate a tangible return on investment to their donors. Erica's work is a clear example of directly affecting a person's life and providing a significant return on his investment of time and dedication.

Beyond her tutoring efforts, Erica has spent many hours advising the Literacy Center on its public relations and marketing strategies. Just last weekend I watched as she juggled a demanding workload from her full-time job with a volunteer project for the DLC. Sitting poolside, she balanced (volunteer) work and leisure as she considered various messaging strategies for an upcoming fundraising effort.

It sounds like I'm nominating Erica for an award. In truth, I just want to share my considerable pride and admiration for all that she has done. Many of us (myself included) fail to make an impact on a community where we've lived for a considerable length of time. Erica has made an impact on the Durham community in a period of just months living here.

She won't brag about it, but I will.