CEO's Message
I remember it as if it was yesterday. My two brothers, Ronald and Donald, who are also my closest friends and biggest supporters, and I were sitting around complaining about the state of the community. “Our communities and the kids are out of control, Ronald said.” “Boy, only if these kids could have someone to show them,” Donald said. “I wish that more agencies in the community providing training and other services would do more,” I said. “So, let’s commit to do something.” That conversation took place over nine years ago.
The Nominal Group, Inc. has just completed the 10th year of its existence as a nonprofit organization. As I reflect upon how much has been accomplished during these nine years since the organization was launched in January, 1997, I want to express my appreciation to our Board of Directors, the community and our partners for the loyal and dedicated support to the organization.
This 10th year signals to me that we have indeed completed the cycle of beginnings; and now we are ready and equipped to more aggressively pursue the mission and vision which has consistently guided our administration since the organization was founded.
The Nominal Group’s efforts are and will continue to be directed toward building better lives for disadvantaged children, young adults, families and their communities by providing health awareness education and skills-building training services, and organizational technical assistance and support to the community organizations that serve them, which increases these organizations’ service delivery capacity.
We now began our 11th year with enthusiasm and determination, well aware that the challenges of this year are many, from many sources. We are determined that new guidelines and other stringent requirements imposed will not deter us. Neither will the magnitude of the dual epidemics of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases; crime and violence; teen-age pregnancy cause us to waver in the fight. Neither will we become discouraged by the pervasive continuation of multiple behavioral risk factors of early, unprotected, or multiple sexual activity; alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and abuse; juvenile and family violence affecting our youth.
We begin this new phase of the organization’s history with the determination best expressed by the words of Robert Frost in his poem, Stopping by a Wood on a Snowy Evening:
For, we have promises to keep,
And miles to go before we sleep,
And miles to go before we sleep.
I can say that we are no longer sitting around complaining. We made a commitment, and we are bound by that commitment… to make a difference.
Veronica Hartwell
Founder and Chief Executive Officer