The American Academy of Pediatrics considers experiencing poverty to be an Adverse Childhood Experience. One in three children lives in poverty. With this comes limited access to needed resources, stigma and unearned shame. Poverty is not a personal failing, it a result of inequality, oppression and policy choices. Worcester Community Action Council is here to help people move to economic self-sufficiency through programs, partnerships, and advocacy. Maydee and Terra will share some innovative strategies that are seeing promising results!
Terra Oliveira is the Director of Financial Empowerment. Her work experience includes various roles in different organizations such as the Henry Lee Willis Community Center, where she raised $100,000. At Habitat for Humanity-MetroWest/Greater Worcester, she lead a campaign to increase affiliate revenue through vehicle donations. At the Regional Environmental Council, they managed fundraising, communications, and volunteer strategies. Since 2013, Terra has been working at the Worcester Community Action Council, Inc., first as the Director of Administration, supervising financial empowerment programs, and later in this role, overseeing daily operations and staff in financial counseling and coaching.
Maydee Morales is the Director of the Resiliency Center and a 2024 Erskine award winner. She is well known in Worcester and beyond for calling out injustice and serving the needs of underserved and underrepresented individuals and families. Prior to her role at WCAC, she was the Director of social services at Catholic Charities of Worcester County. She has been at the forefront of addressing critical needs- helping establish a women’s shelter during the pandemic, responding to Hurricane Maria and assisting new immigrants and refugees in recovering from the trauma they have endured. She is committed to social change in favor of a more connected and equitable world. To know her is to love her!