Over the past 42 years, The People’s Emergency Center has served the West Powelton, Mantua, Belmont, Mill Creek and Saunders Park neighborhoods to provide comprehensive support services to homeless women and their children with temporary and permanent housing and services. The non-profit organization has invested over $57 million in quality-of-life improvements for West Philadelphia residents.

Kathy Desmond

The PEC board of directors appointed Kathy Desmond as the new president of the organization effective July 1. Desmond has been with People’s Emergency Center for two years but has previously served families in the area as CEO of BestNest for 14 years. She holds a Master of Social Work from Temple University. Desmond’s first order of business will include an analysis of where the organization stands and refining PEC’s strategic plan, to better serve the neighborhoods in the area.

We had the opportunity to speak with Desmond who shed light on what she intends to do in her new role.

– Do you have any ties to the areas that PEC serves?

I have worked for PEC for two years in several capacities in the social services department, focusing on serving mothers and children experiencing homelessness. In my previous role as CEO of Best Nest, a foster care support services agency, I did work with families in the neighborhoods served by PEC. I am excited to be in this new capacity at PEC, where I can impact all of PEC’s programs so that we can continue to nurture families, strengthen neighborhoods and drive change.

– How do you plan to improve services to the communities you serve?

PEC’s role in the community is to be an amplifier to the strengths and voices already present in Belmont, Mantua, Mill Creek, Saunders Park and West Powelton. PEC’s activities are currently guided by the resident-driven “Make Your Mark” neighborhood plan. We are particularly pleased that the planning process engaged and brought together the very diverse communities we serve, which we couldn’t have achieved with the leadership of the civic groups and residents in each of our neighborhoods, the creative implementation from Interface Studios, and financial support from Wells Fargo Regional Community Foundation.

Going forward, we are pledged to continue to work with our neighbors to build on the community’s assets and to amplify their voices to the institutions, agencies and market forces that impact where they live. As we develop PEC’s next strategic plan, our community development work will continue to respond to the issues raised in the “Make Your Mark” neighborhood plan, such as quality of life, education and increasing affordable housing stock. PEC’s work in these areas so far include the Bigham Leatherberry Wise Place development, the LISC-supported Financial Opportunities Center, and working with the Philadelphia Promise Zone collaborative.

– What are your goals or what do you plan to accomplish in your new role?

Right now our immediate goal is to take stock of where we are and where we want to be through a strategic planning process. PEC has been using strategic plans to guide our work since the 1990’s. Strategic plans are now considered critical to non-profit management. The process will help us develop activities to implement over the next three years. The “Make Your Mark” plan will be incorporated in the formation of our community development goals. And, even while we take stock of our position, all of our work continues. Empowering communities and families never stops.

– Have you been involved with any of the communities mentioned in a different capacity in a previous role?

I’ve worked in child welfare for 20 years, with children with special needs and foster care families. Some of those individual families were located in PEC’s neighborhoods. So, I have been connected to these communities on a micro level. I’m looking forward to transfer my knowledge and experiences to this more overarching capacity.

– How do the changes in the neighborhood affect what PEC does and its mission statement (“PEC nurtures families, strengthens neighborhoods, and drives change. We are committed to increasing equity and opportunity throughout our entire community. We provide comprehensive support services to homeless women and their children, revitalize our West Philadelphia neighborhood, and advocate for social justice.”)?

Changes in the neighborhood don’t affect our mission statement, but the changes certainly affirm the need for an agency like ours; to make sure our community’s concerns are being heard. There are a lot of opportunities for communities to get displaced, so it’s really important for them to be able to sit at the table and voice their needs. There are a lot of institutions that are in this part of the city… and while growth brings resources, jobs and opportunities, it can also lead to displacement of communities. It’s really important that their voices are heard in the process of change. This part of the city has great civic engagement and involved civic leaders. We’re glad to be able to continue to support them.

– Anything else you would like to mention?

Yes! Our 9th annual Lancaster Avenue Jazz and Arts Festival is coming up on Saturday, July 18, from noon to 7 p.m. in Saunders Park (39th and Powelton Avenue). This year’s headliner is Philly-born Sonny Fortune! More information can be found at www.lancasteravejazzfest.com. We’ll see you there!