Patricia Beier takes the lead as WAGES director
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on July 12, 2016 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Patricia Beier, the new executive director of WAGES, brings a unique perspective to the role, having spent the bulk of her childhood as a recipient of some of its services, including Head Start.
Patricia Beier knows firsthand how community action agencies like WAGES help people in poverty -- she is a product of its services.
Born and raised in Wayne County, she takes over the role of WAGES executive director on Friday, in many ways a full circle moment for the former client who has worked there for the past 18 years as director for children and families.
"I feel like I've grown up at WAGES -- from 4 years old all the way until now," she said with a laugh. "Of course, my early education was here, but even as a young professional, you know, the fact that this has been my training ground, literally, but I've been able to be exposed to so many things, locally, regionally, nationally, because of my affiliation with WAGES.
"That makes the story more special and meaningful."
Encouraged to apply for the leadership role, she said she also has a deep-seated loyalty and commitment to the mission of WAGES, or Wayne Action Group for Economic Solvency.
"I believe that I was just predestined to help people in some form or fashion," she said. "I believe in everything that WAGES does to improve the quality of life -- trying to reduce poverty, trying to make sure there's educational opportunities for children because we know that education and employment, education particularly, is the key to eliminating poverty or for families to improve their situation who are in poverty situations.
"I always say that I believe in the premise and the promise of community action for a lot of reasons but one is because I'm a direct beneficiary of it so I know it works."
She pursued her own advanced education at N.C. Wesleyan, where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in justice and public policy. She received a master's in administration from Central Michigan University with a concentration in business administration.
Mrs. Beier holds additional certifications, including one in non-profit management from Duke University. She is also one of the few certified community action professionals in the state of North Carolina, a national designation.
Spending the bulk of her life, both personally and professionally, connected to the community action agency developed in the 1960s, she knows well the value of its programs, which range from Head Start to Senior Companions, from weatherizing homes to Meals on Wheels.
"There's a lot we see every day," she said. "With the economic downturn a few years ago, there were families who never thought they would need any support from WAGES and really were not familiar because they lived middle class existences. But then the economic downturn and they needed things like support with child care, they needed things like support with employment and job training or other things. This is not something that was familiar to them.
"So poverty can be generational but it can also be situational."
Moving from being director of children and families, the largest division of WAGES, to its executive director, will allow her to broaden what she gets to do, she says.
"I want to continue the legacy of WAGES and being at the forefront for advocating for people in poverty, for helping to address the issues related to poverty and to eventually reduce and eliminate poverty," she said.
It helps, she adds, that she also has a rich history working there.
"I felt like because I had a knowledge of WAGES and have been intimately involved with all these things, it was a great fit, not just for myself personally but the staff, the community and the people that we serve," she said. "I think sometimes when you have a transition, there is a comfort. Even though there's a change, there's comfort in having a knowledge and a familiarity with the person who's going to be in leadership."
The things she most looks forward to, she said, is working with the "very active" and involved board of directors, as well as the community and its many partnerships.