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The
Thomas' are working to build a stronger community
Jay
and Cornelia Thomas are setting an example for their daughter
Jai'el and their community by dedicating their lives and their
work towards building a stronger and more vibrant Pierce County.
A native of Tacoma, Jay has been involved with the non-profit
sector at various levels for eight years and is currently
the Director of Development for the Tacoma Urban League. He
has worked with youth, seniors, students, and disadvantaged
individuals and families through organizations such as Big
Brothers Big Sisters, Family Counseling Services, Bates Technical
College Foundation, and United Way of Pierce County.
Cornelia
on the other hand is currently a pediatric social worker and
legal advocate with Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and has
been working with abused children within the legal system
for more than 10 years. Her background includes work with
the Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Franciscan Health, Echo
Glen, and Youth Eastside Services.
Together
the couple leads a group doing outreach to incarcerated youth
throughout the state of Washington. The program was born after
members realized that youth who were locked up weren't getting
the tools they needed to stay out of the juvenile justice
system once their time had been served. Since 1993, their
group "Deliverance Time" actively writes and visits
youth at institutions throughout the state to help them grow
as responsible citizens. The group is currently working to
expand its focus by providing transitional services for youth
once they are released from detention.
Both
Jay and Cornelia believe that involvement is the key factor
in establishing solutions to critical community issues, which
is why they lend the community their time, talents, and treasures.
"It is important to us to teach our daughter Jai'el both
by precept and example the significance of community involvement,"
the Thomas' said. " We plan to show her early that giving
is the right thing to do." Thanks to the help and hard
work of community leaders like Jay and Cornelia, United Way
is able to continue to build relationships throughout Pierce
County.
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