New economic empowerment office outlines first-year work: data, partners and a shift to person-centered services

Deanna Valentine, director of the Office of Economic Empowerment and Family Resilience, briefed council on the first 12–14 months of the office’s work and said the office has moved from a resource-to-resource model to a person-centered, front-facing human services model.

Valentine described the office mission — advancing economic mobility and dismantling systemic barriers — and listed guiding principles including equity, person-centered approaches and community collaboration. She described participation in a data track through the Harvard Senior Leadership Initiative to strengthen program design and said staff plan to adopt a case-management system in the spring to improve follow-up. "We became a person centered human service, front facing human service organization," Valentine said, explaining the pivot in approach.

Valentine cited early engagement metrics: 28 tabling events, more than 200 job seekers contacted, 28 employer relationships and 112 unduplicated workforce clients who received services such as resume help and interview preparation. She said the office has begun targeted programs such as a phlebotomy class — 12 attendees completed the class and six had taken the national test as of the briefing — and that staff are pursuing partnerships with Virginia Peninsula Community College and local universities to expand training and internships. Valentine also mentioned a ribbon-cutting scheduled for Jan. 21 and encouraged continued council input and assistance with staffing and partnerships.