Jericho Road Worcester

History

Jericho Road Worcester (JRW) was launched in June 2009 as a cooperative venture spearheaded by the First Baptist and First Unitarian Churches in Worcester. Social action leaders of both churches created a joint Steering Committee which worked for over a year to set the stage for launching. They surveyed their congregations regarding parishioner interest and capacity to provide expertise to nonprofits and received close to 150 positive responses. Consequently, the Steering Committee conducted a focus group with 15 leaders from the Worcester nonprofit sector to determine their interest in JRW's offerings and model. A vast majority of nonprofit directors essentially replied, "How soon can you start?"

Staff

In June JRW hired Deborah Wild as a part-time Program Director. Deb has 30 years of nonprofit leadership experience and a lifetime commitment to volunteerism. Deb has been a Peace Corps Volunteer and an Associate Peace Corps Director. She has consulted with several national volunteer organizations including Youth Service America, Americorps, and Oxfam America. Deb brings to JRW a passion for raising nonprofit capacity in tangible and measurable ways.

Status: Winter 2009/2010

Since JRW's launch in June, 2009, over 30 volunteers have been recruited and 20 nonprofits have expressed active interest in working with JRW volunteers. Current matches include:

--Kim Stone is coaching Mass. Audubon to increase the impact of their fundraising program
--Kathryn Converse is preparing financial statements for Dress For Success
--Brandt Ricker and Jean Theurkauf are co-managing a work flow process and database upgrade for Pernet Family Service
--Richard Wolf is helping the Boys and Girls Club design a facilities maintenance plan

Early indications are that demand for JRW volunteers will steadily increase as word gets out about the value our volunteers bring to the greater Worcester area nonprofit sector.

Contact
Deborah Wild, JRW Program Director at dwild@jerichoroadproject.org, 978-595-8245.

JRW Steering Committee
Edla Ann Bloom
Mary Frandsen
Dan Holin
Tom McKibbens
Richard McNally
Barbara Merritt
Jean Perkins
Alison Barrows Ronn
Joan Russo
David Rynick
Philip vanderWilden

Advisory Committee
John Budd
William Densmore
Harry Dewey
Steve Loring
Mary Melville
Dusty Miller
Lisa Piehler