PJ profiles Tharesa Chadwick Lee
Nonprofit coordinator
City of New Bern, New Bern, N.C.
Neuse River Community Development Corporation, Inc. (NRCDC)
NRCDC is a 501(c )3 community development organization. Our primary mission is to expand affordable homeownership through rehabilitation, budget and credit counseling and facilitation. Our secondary mission is to encourage affordable rentals in the local community and economic opportunities.
What do you do in the nonprofit sector?
My job classification is ‘Nonprofit Coordinator” for the City of New Bern. I am passionate about my job because it involves two distinct areas -- the administrator for Neuse River Community Development Corporation and the city’s nonprofit coordinator, which acts as an advocate and liaison for nonprofits with local government. It allows me use creativity, take initiative in many areas and meet great people on a daily basis.
What is a cause that you’re passionate about?
One of my greatest passions lately is Nonprofit Awareness Month (NAM). I am sold that North Carolina’s nonprofit community is one of the best in the nation.The diversity, strength and unity are remarkable.
Here in Craven County/New Bern area, we have over 500 nonprofits. including faith-based, and it is still remarkable to watch the professionalism, strength, unity and diversity that exist.
Thirteen of us from North Carolina were chosen as delegates for the first National Nonprofit Congress held in Washington, D.C. in 2006. I have not been the same since that time.
Coming together with over 500 other nonprofit professionals from across the country and internationally to come up with three national priorities that would set the tone for the 2008 National Nonprofit Congress was beyond excitement.
North Carolina was a leader in the priority it chose -- raising public awareness and support for the sector. This included a “Virtual Shutdown” held here in Craven County/New Bern with over 100 nonprofits participating through our Chamber of Commerce, which is an advocate and great supporter of the nonprofit community.
I am looking forward to going to New Orleans in May for the next Nationa1 Nonprofit Congress, where they will also do a day of service for persons still being affected by Katrina.
I’m in the process of raising funds because budgets are tight, but I believe this is a beam that needs to beam continuously, no matter where I find myself. The more you learn about the nonprofit community in North Carolina, the more you will be amazed.
What is the biggest thing you hope to accomplish in 2009?
I hope to follow my destiny, which I believe is to become an elected official in some capacity.
If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be?
One of my greatest desires, dreams and hopes is to visit Israel. With all that is surrounding this holy place, I am still filled with that desire, dream and hope.
How do you deal with stress?
I never claim to get stressed, but I’m sure I do every now and then. I rather look at it as a challenge to my goals for that day, week or month.
Not always simple, but I try to adhere to excellence in all that I do, whether it be simple or profound. Here are some of the things that help me carry out that goal: A deep abiding and living faith; I always carry pencil and paper to journal, reflect and meditate; I carry something to read on my person everywhere I go; I walk, listen to music; do only healthy confrontation; stay connected to family, friends, colleagues; siss my two-year-old grandsons as much as possible, and use the challenges of negative and critical persons as a character building mechanisms.
If you are interested in being profiled or know someone who would like to be profiled and who is a PJ reader, contact Cathy Harms at 919.573.4646 or charms@ajf.org
