Today we’d like to introduce you to Patricia Barger
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
ay. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.
I have worked in the community providing services to families throughout Maryland since 1978. Although, my primary focus has been Baltimore City. I have been fortunate to learn and to serve diverse communities. I am dedicated to supporting individuals and families in reaching their goals and creating a successful and safe lifestyle. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Mental Health, a Master’s degree in business and currently completing a doctorate in business administration/social impact.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
This has been a smooth transition for me. I begin my position in January 2024. I am the first person, woman and person of color to hold this position. Being the first is always a challenge. Functioning in a leadership capacity is equally challenging. Leadership requires a unique skill set that allows you to: set the direction, influence change-makers, enhance and create opportunities to improve service delivery, engage individuals and families and develop a culture of growth and sustainability. In addition, I have been able to serve as Executive Director because of the infrastructure that has been developed and functioning since the inception of BC.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The things that make me happy or satisfied is being with family and being of service supporting other families. I try to create a culture of inclusion and acceptance. I consider my specialization to be a person that has a “little bit of knowledge and exposure about a lot of things” In hopes that I can be helpful to a lot of people; identifying
and bridging service gaps.
I appreciate the opportunity and respect the positions that I have been honored
to hold. I respect responsibility and accountability for my community and for the future.
I asked my friends what was I most known for and the said; “compassion, resourcefulness and dedication to my purpose”. However, to add to that I would include that I loved having fun, dancing, being with family and traveling.
In conclusion, I understand that I can only do what GOD gives me strength and the resources to. My faith is first, my purpose and my family.When I work with people I treat them just as I wanted to be treated!!
I often say to my staff my measure stick is as follows “ if after all you have done and know one is any better off
Then what have you done”
Respectfully
Patricia Barger BA,MBA
Executive Director, Baltimore CONNECT, inc
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There are several people who I want to acknowledge for my personal, spiritual and professional growth. My family(parents, 8 siblings, aunts & uncles, cousins, friends and neighbours) instilled core values: love, kindness, honesty, a responsibility of family and community responsibility, and independence. My career has been shaped by the many job experiences I had. This includes working with adults with mental retardation as a housing counselor to developing and implementing city-wide collaboratives such as Baltimore CONNECT. In addition, I managed a state-wide parenting helpline and participated in a national movement with the National Institute of Health (NIH )and Morgan State University(MSU)identifying and addressing social and health determinants in Baltimore city. Over the years I have been able to align myself with like-minded collaborators assessing the needs and service gaps that create barriers to appropriate, equitable and accessible service delivery. However, one of the most valuable influencers of my career is the process of community engagement.
I have been equally inspired and encouraged by the desires and motivation of the many families, children and individuals who trusted me to provide resources and support to them. This is the most important piece of the work that I do. Community engagement requires that those who are recipients of the service have a critical/lead role in the development of service delivery and continue to stay involved in defining the needs of their community. My involvement with The Maryland Parent Leadership team of The Family Tree
practice core values of a mutually -shared leadership model that exercises the practice of parity and equity when working with families. This model reflects the values and beliefs instilled in me by my family and community.
I have received guidance and professional support from many of my colleagues and mentors along the way both professional and academic.
The founders and developers of Baltimore CONNECT: Ms. Janice Gentry, vice president, Mr. Leon Purnell, treasurer , Lindsay Hebert Secretary and Dr Albert Wu. president. These folks were the individuals with the vision who spear-headed, developed and implemented Baltimore CONNECT. Furthermore, I like to acknowledge my fantastic team who are responsible for providing the supportive skills and resources needed to manage a body of over thirty volunteer community-based organizations: Chevelle Bash, Emily Kumpf, Veena Thamilselvan, Minli Guo Ethan Wang and Katherine Kim.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bmoreconnect.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baltimoreconnectorg/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baltimoreconnect
