Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Cathy Benda, In Brief:
- Executive director of the Keweenaw Family Reousrce Center since 2005.
- Born in Detroit.
- Came to Copper Country more than 30 years ago
- Former assistant director of Dial Help.
- Started at KFRC 12 years ago.
Q: Where are you from?
A: I grew up in the city of Detroit. I'm an eastsider, but I've been in the Copper Country for 30 years. It was the 1970s and my husband and I decided we wanted to move up here and uby property.
Q: What is your family situation?
A: I'm married with two children. My husband, Michael, is a teacher at Jeffers High School. My daughter Julie is 23, and my son, Andrew, is 19 and a student at Michigan Tech. My daughter is following in her parents footsteps and uilding a cabin on our property.
Q: What is your work history?
A: My who work career in the Copper Country has been in human services. ONe of my first jobs was assistant director of Dial Help. From there, I went to Copper Country Mental Health and worked in prevention services.
Q: When did you start working at the Keweenaw Family Resource Center?
A: I started about 12 years ago. It was a small organization then. We were working off a dining table in a home planning programs and writing grant proposals.
Q: When did you become executive director of the KFRC?
A: Margaret Sottile retired as executive director in 2005. Then the KFRC board of directors appointed me.
Q: What is the function of the KFRC?
A: We provide programs or families with children from birth to 5years old. One of the hallmarks of our agency is to collaborate with other agencies to create a seamless system of service.
Q: What other agencies do you work with?
A: We partner with the BHK Child Development Board, the Copper Country Intermediate School District, and we're a member of the Copper Country Great Start Collaborative.
Q: What are some of the challenges facing the KFRC now?
A: The challenge always is funding. The current Michigan financial situation is a challenge for funding sources, as well as the impact it has on families.
Q: What are some of your funding sources?
A: We receive funding from the Michigan Children's Trust Fund, the Superior Child Abuse Prevention Fund, the Michigan Department of Education, and United Way. Donations and contributions are an important part of our budget. Local dollars help us leverage state and federal money.
Q: What is the progress it the KFRC Tree House indoor playground project?
A: It's moving along. Renovation has started (at the site in Red Ridge Plaza on Sharon Avenue in Houghton). We just held our silent auction, and that raised us over $4,000 for the project. We have an important campaign called Pickets for the Playground. It's an opportunity for people to purchase a picket and have the name of a family member or friend inscribed on it.
Q: When will the Tree House open?
A: We're hoping to be open by mid January. There's a lot of pieces still that have to fall into place.
Q: Why was the Tree House project started?
A: This is an important project for the Copper Country. We don't have a central location for children from birth tofive to play and receive community resources. Most winter cities, such as Marquette and Duluth, have either a cihldren's museum or a childen's indoor playspace. These have been lacking in our area.
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