Trumbull Co. OBB Event Aug. 5, 2010

The following is a brief summary of AmeriCorps*VISTA Jessica J. Burchard's experience at Thursday, Aug. 5, 2010's  Capacity Building breakfast meeting for The Ohio Benefit Bank at the Hippodrome Banquet Center in Warren, Ohio.

The intimate breakfast gathering went exceptionally well. Myself and the other OASHF staff member were able to interact and have in-depth conversations with those in attendance at the free informational meeting.

Among the attendees were two Trumbull County Department of Job and Family Services staffers -- Director Kim Barrell and caseworker Gladys Velez--  the United Way of Trumbull County United Way President Tom Krysiek, the McDonald Village Mayor Glenn Holmes, Kent State University Trumbull Campus Dean Jim Ritter, among others.

Seated at one table at the Hippodrome Banquet Center in Warren, Ohio were the two representatives

from the Trumbull County Department of Job and Family Services, the dean of the Kent State University Trumbull County branch, the President of the United Way of Trumbull County and two volunteers at existing OBB sites. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard.

I was particularly pleased to see Charles Barber, communications manager for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks who gave the presentation, engaged in coversation with  Mayor Holmes after the meeting. The two discussed the possibility of having an OBB Community Trainer address a group of 40-50 people at one of the village's monthly organizational meetings.

Charles Barber, communications manager for OASHF, and McDonald Village Mayor Glenn Holmes spend a few minutes exchanging information after the OBB/HealthPath breakfast meeting on Thursday, Aug. 5. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard

"Thanks for inviting me. I got a lot of valuable information," Holmes said to me on his way out of the meeting.

Some other points brought up at the meeting were questions about the relationship between Job and Family Services and The Ohio Benefit Bank counselor. These were quickly and thoroughly answered with comments from both Barber and Barrell.

In fact, the conversations about The Ohio Benefit Bank and the local department of job and family services went so well that many people lingered after the meeting ended to continue their discussions.

Trumbull County Department of Job and Family Services employees stay after the OBB/HealthPath meeting to further discuss the relationship between OBB counselors and JFS. Photo Credit: Jessica J. Burchard