Greater Erie Community Action Committee
Barbara Brown

Barbara Brown was 24 years old, the mother of one, pregnant with another and receiving assistance from the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) when she and her husband, Keith, were referred to Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC) in the fall of 1999.

Barb was experiencing a difficult second pregnancy and was often alone while her husband worked shifts at various local manufacturing companies. Her three-year-old son was experiencing speech and language problems and needed help that DPW couldn’t provide. And, Barb was taking several courses at a local university in an effort to get a better education and make life better for her growing family. Soon, the juggling act became too much for Barb. She needed help and she needed it quickly.

Hitting the Ground Running
When she came to GECAC, Barb hit the ground running. She and her case manager, Virginia, set initial goals that would move her toward economic self-sufficiency. “I remember the first goals”, says Barb. “Virginia was going to help me find a job with good benefits, better housing, and by all means, continue on with my education.”

Barb was teamed with the GECAC Head Start program, where she found systems in place to address her and her son’s needs. She not only accepted the support Head Start offered, but also became fully involved in her son’s progress by volunteering in the classroom. She also took an interest, and became involved, in a leadership role on Head Start’s policy council.

On the Right Path
Within the next three years, Barb showed remarkable progress toward achieving her goals. In addition to helping her husband, Keith, with bills and volunteering for Head Start, Barb sought and received several financial assistance awards that allowed her to continue with her education. She triple majored in Early Childhood, Elementary and Special Education and was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in 2002.

Standing on Solid Ground
At about the same time Barb received her degree, a teaching position opened at GECAC Head Start. Barb applied, and was selected, for the position.

According to Peter Russo, Deputy Director, GECAC Head Start, “The remarkable accomplishment of Barb Brown is that she became self-sufficient in the best possible way – by collecting accomplishments that will make it unlikely for her to realize anything other than success.”

Today, Barb, now 29, and her family live north of Harrisburg. She and her husband have three children. Barb is currently employed as an educator for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

The Greater Erie Community Action Committee works to eliminate the causes of poverty throughout Erie County with a variety of programs designed to promote self-sufficiency.