By Lisa Carolin and Doug Marrin
A change in leadership is in the works at Faith in Action thanks to the retirement of long-time Executive Director Nancy Paul.
She plans to step down on May 1, and the Faith in Action board has begun its search for a replacement for Paul, with plans to make the transition effective April 1.
Paul says she has chosen this time to retire due to multiple family responsibilities ranging from health issues with parents to activities with children and grandchildren. She hopes to stay engaged at FIA at a less demanding level.
She took on the role of executive director Jan. 1, 2004 after working as director for the Dexter Senior Center and for the Washtenaw County Senior Nutrition Program.
One of the first big challenges during Paul’s tenure at FIA was the recession in 2009.
“It was a big deal because a lot of people needed help in a short period of time,” said Paul.
In 2012, the tornado that ripped through Dexter damaged more than 100 homes. With the help of Chelsea State Bank and LaFontaine Chevrolet, Faith in Action created a community fund to help victims of the tornado. People donated close to $330,000.
Grant applications and funding are two of the biggest challenges that come with Paul’s job.
“Being able to access funding has gotten more complex,” she said. “We used to just get money for doing good deeds. Now funders want you to meet a specific need.”
Examples of funding needs include food and utilities. There has also been an ongoing need for affordable housing, something that came to fruition in 2018 in Chelsea thanks to Avalon housing, which remodeled the Sharon Ann Apartments on Main Street with ongoing support services provided by FIA.
Discussions are underway in Dexter with Avalon to build an affordable housing complex within city limits along with a Dexter location for FIA that will serve as a food pantry and community room for activities and ongoing education.
One of the biggest changes Paul has seen during her 15 years at FIA, is what she refers to as, “a whole new generation of support.”
“We have seen new supporters and volunteers,” she said. “We have seen people understand and work for the mission in a really generous way, which has allowed Faith in Action to mature.”
“It’s a more egalitarian atmosphere between volunteers and clients at Faith in Action now, which helps to put people at ease. Everybody views each other as equals,” she said.
FIA Board President Lori Minnick says, “It is incredible to see the number of volunteers who are engaged every day, the increased amount of services and programs that are offered to so many households in the Dexter and Chelsea Communities and the partnerships that have been established like Avalon Housing that is in large part due to Nancy’s vision and leadership.”
As a fitting part of her farewell, it was recently announced by the FIA Board that Paul was chosen the 2019 Humanitarian of the Year.
“I really want this award to be kind of a look out into the community and shine light on stuff that’s already happening out there,” said Paul. “But I guess I understand.”
According to Minnick, “The recipients of the services of FIA, the staff, the volunteers, the generous donors, the board members and the numerous partners have been very blessed to work with Nancy in ‘providing essential supports to alleviate the effects of hunger and poverty for those in the Dexter and Chelsea Communities’.”
As far as her hopes for the future, Paul says, “My vision is that there be a place in every community where someone can drop off things they don’t need, and someone else can come and get it.”
“It is a rare privilege to take people’s generosity and find it a home,” said Paul. “I sort of figured God put me here because He knew I needed to be here.”
