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Pittsburg Chamber Announces 2013 "Women of Distinction"

Becky Gray The chamber is proud to announce the honorees for the 2013 "Women of Distinction" calendar project. The calendar honors 12 area women who lead by example by donating their time and talents to benefit our community. These wonderful ladies are unsung heroines of the Pittsburg area, often working behind the scenes to make Southeast Kansas a better place to live, work and play. Our 2013 honorees are:

Amy Bartlow, George Nettles Elementary
Therese Benso, Mall Deli
Mary Kay Caldwell, Southeast Kansas Humane Society
Melinda Ewan, Via Christi Village
Rita Girth, Pittsburg State University Bryant Student Health Center
Becky Gray, SEK-CAP
Mendy Hulvey, Pittsburg Police Department
Andrea Linder, United Way of Southwest Missouri/Southeast Kansas
Kay Quick, Via Christi Hospital
Angela Radell, Pitsco
Joanna Rhodes, Live Well Crawford County
Jaime Vanderbeck, Pittsburg State University
Congratulations to the 2013 honorees!

FREE Home Weatherization

FREE Home Weatherization If you meet Income Guidelines

Family of one – annual income below $14,521
Family of two – annual income below $19,669
Family of three – annual income below $24,817
Family of four – annual income below $29,965

APPLY NOW and SAVE on future Electric and Gas bills

Rental and owner occupied units may be eligible
Home Weatherization May Include:

Attic and sidewall insulation
Air-sealing the foundation, attic and walls
Inspection of heating system and combustion appliances

SEK-CAP CAN HELP! For more information or to apply, please contact us at:

Southeast Kansas Community Action Program
P.O. Box 128, 401 N. Sinnet Girard, Kansas 66743
620-724-8204
Or download application on our website at www.sek-cap.com

SEK-CAP Receives Grant to Expand Early Head Start

50 Home Based slots to be filled by May, 2010

Girard - Thanks to a grant from the Department of Health & Human Services/Office of Head Start (OHS) in the amount of $623,560, the Southeast Kansas Community Action Program (SEK-CAP) will soon be able to extend Early Head Start participation to 50 additional families. Applications for participation will be sought and accepted from families in Chautauqua, Elk, Woodson, Allen, Wilson, and Linn counties.

Home Based Early Head Start is a program that teaches expecting mothers and/or families of children 0 to 3 years old how to engage with, develop, and encourage their child's growth and education in a healthy and positive way. Families that participate in the program learn how to identify and track changes and needs throughout a child's developmental years. The funding from OHS is made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a two-year grant. SEK-CAP is anticipating an additional $560,412 that will allow for the continuation of this Home Based Early Head Start program through 2011. The grant will allow SEK-CAP to create seven jobs, including five new Home Based Family Educators.

SEK-CAP currently administers Early Head Start services in Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette, Montgomery, and Neosho counties, assisting 202 families. Ten families are served through another initiative in Allen County. For more information about SEK-CAP Early Childhood Services, contact Linda Broyles or Joanie Burke at the SEK-CAP administrative offices in Girard.

May is National Community Action Month

May is National Community Action Month (NCAM) in May and SEK-CAP’s annual Day of Caring celebration is scheduled for May 4^th. This kick-off event is for ALL SEK-CAP EMPLOYEES and Board Members.

A part of our celebration, we will recognize some of our important relationships, honor some of our customer’s achievements, and recognize an outstanding volunteer and organization. It is fitting during NCAM that we also take the time to celebrate the dedication and commitment of all SEK-CAP employees as we name our Spirit of SEK-CAP Award winner.

Leading up to our event, we will need to identify some of our award recipients. We are now asking for nominations for the agency awards that I will briefly describe below. Board members and staff are encouraged to submit nominations for each of the following awards:

Personal Responsibility & Achievement

This award recognizes an individual who strives to make a better life for themselves, their family, and their community. They will have worked closely with SEK-CAP and overcome obstacles on their road to economic security.

Award for Collaborative Excellence (ACE)

The ACE goes to a business or agency that has demonstrated outstanding initiative in creating and participating in community collaborations that have significantly contributed to the success of SEK-CAP and our customers.

Caring Service

This award honors an individual who has committed extraordinary volunteer time and energy in supporting the efforts of SEK-CAP. The recipient exemplifies the spirit of community and individual partnerships and will have made a significant contribution of volunteer service to our organization and others.

Nominations are due prior to April 13^th

Becky Gray Joins SEK-CAP Management Team

Becky-Gray Becky Gray has joined SEK-CAP as the Director of Research, Planning, and Grants Development. Her work is a critical component of administrative services and we welcome the considerable expertise and enthusiasm that she brings to the position.

Becky is a graduate of Rogers State University and is nearing completion of her MA in English, Professional Writing, and Rhetoric at Pittsburg State University. She also served as an instructor and graduate assistant at PSU. Her advanced writing abilities and exceptional organizational skills will be a great addition to the Management Team. Becky's office extension number is 1026 and her email address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Becky lives in Pittsburg, and has a daughter Elizabeth (6) and a son Oakley (15). Let's all welcome her to SEK-CAP and wish her every success as she begins a new career journey in service to individuals, families, and children in southeast Kansas.