Message from the ED: Our Strategic Goals for 2024
In mid 2023, I had the great privilege of being named NorCal SCI’s first Executive Director. Since joining the Board of Directors in 2019, I’ve witnessed the great commitment and passion for helping the SCI community that our entire organization has exhibited, none more so than our late co-founder, Franklin Elieh, who embodied this passion and who sadly passed away in 2022.
I’m honored to carry on his legacy by trying to help NorCal SCI increase its scope, support more people, and to continue to make a significant impact on the lives of people living with SCI.
I’m proud that 2023 was our most impactful year to date and this happened with the success and expansion of our existing programs, as well as with the launch of new programs and initiatives focused on finding novel ways to help the SCI community. While I recognize and appreciate what our board and committed volunteers have accomplished so far, I’m eager and excited to find more ways for us to increase our impact and make 2024 our biggest year ever.
Here are our strategic goals for 2024:
Expand our Capability – Bring in additional board members who are committed and available to advance our initiatives and reflect the diversity of Northern California. Recruit volunteers and, where appropriate, compensated staff to drive our impact.
Hold quarterly In-Person Events – We want a better connected, thriving, and more engaged community of people with SCIs and plan to hold at least (but not limited to) one in-person event every quarter. These events will be focused not only on social engagement but also providing information and opportunities of interest to our community.
Open the Franklin Elieh Center – It continues to be our goal to provide extended rehabilitation for the newly-injured as well as support the physical and mental well-being of those with longer injuries. We will continue to look for opportunities to establish a space in the Bay Area which can provide outpatient rehab, exercise, resources, and community support either by ourselves or in the form of a partnership with another organization or facility.
Strengthen Partnerships – Northern California is home to many organizations that provide vital support to the SCI community. We believe in fruitful collaborations with like-minded organizations and will continue to strengthen existing relationships and develop new ones so that we can reach more people.
National Advocacy – Take a leadership role in establishing a nationwide forum to educate the SCI Community on the SCI Rehab Crisis and advocate for realistic achievable solutions in post hospital rehabilitation therapies at the state and federal level.
Increase Participants in Mental Health Initiative – In 2023, we added mental health services to our Road to Recovery program but participation was lower than expected. We plan to increase the number of participants and to continue finding ways to provide mental health help to the SCI community.
Wishing everyone a joyous, healthy, and successful start to 2024.
