hires

People First of California Hires First Paid Executive Director (who is a Self-Advocate)

On Friday, September 22, 2006 the Executive Committee of People First of California, Inc. interviewed 3 candidates for Executive Director and two candidates for Executive Support Staff (both half-time positions). PFCA is proud to announce that they hired the following people:

Michael can be considered one of the founding member of People First in California. He is hero to many self-advocates and it is an honor to have him starting with us as the first Executive Director of People First of California. Michael's heart and soul of People First will usher in a great new era where People First will be at and heard at the table at the State Level. This is an historic event in California (and possibly the nation) with Michael being the first person with a developmental disability becoming the Executive Director to an organization run by and for people with developmental disability.

Robin has been a backbone volunteer for over 15 years with PFCA. She applied for this position so as to help bring the new Executive Director and the Board into this new era with her history of helping People First and work experience of being the Executive Director of Southside Art Center in Sacramento. Her Board has given her permission to drop down to part time at Southside so that she can continue to realize her dream of helping PFCA become a stable and active force in California.

Michael Cooke, PFCA's President, is excited by the new staff hired and believes that having Executive Staff in the office in the Capitol and at statewide meetings will help to realize his dream of PFCA being "the voice of our people at the table." He also is excited that through the generous grant the State Council on Developmental Disabilities has given PFCA this year PFCA will be able to strengthen local chapters around the state, help develop a presence of People First in Southern California, and strengthen statewide self-advocacy throughout all of California. He is hopeful that in the next few years PFCA will find continued base funding to make this dream stable for years to come.

The Executive Team will begin work with us October 16th and will be able to be reached through PFCA's office (thanks to in-kind space for the last 18 years from our partners at Arc-California) at 916-552-6625 or mlong@peoplefirstca.org or robin@peoplefirstca.org (these will be effective Oct. 16). Mike Everson, PFCA's first hired staff since 1996 will have a slight change in his role from State Advisor to becoming the PFCA Administrator to continue handling HR and Board meeting facilitations. He can be reached at mike@peoplefirstca.org.

It is an exciting time for PFCA. PFCA encourages people to keep an eye on our websites as new developments in People First arise (www.peoplefirstca.org).