Photo by Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph
EAST TEXAS HUMAN NEEDS NETWORK CEO ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
Tyler, Texas. July 20, 2021 - The founder and chief executive officer of the East Texas Human Needs Network has announced her intent to retire from her position at the end of 2021. The position of chief executive officer will be posted to online employment search engines and the ETHNN website later today.
Christina (Fulsom) Taliaferro began the network in 2012 to help connect typically isolated cross-sector entities – public, private, and civic, along with community members, to form working relationships. The work of ETHHN is guided by a strategic framework to engage the community, research needs, coordinate plans, and measure impact. The network’s purpose is to accomplish strengthened programs, connection, and improved awareness of services that meet essential human needs.
Called Collective Impact, the idea is simple: by working together toward shared goals, a coordinated plan of action can solve complex community challenges. For the past nine years, area citizens with an interest in identifying and addressing human needs have attended open meetings, served on councils and subcommittees, volunteered their time to assess the region’s social services and the needs of the under resourced, and attended summits and community events aimed at improving opportunities and striving for equity. The Network has grown to over 100 organizations.
“It has been an honor to work with CEO Taliaferro and the ETHNN Board through collective impact and collective action work, focused on access and equity to much needed services, leading to improved regional prosperity,” shared Juan E. Mejia, President & CEO of Tyler Junior College, and past ETHNN Board member. “Christina has provided wonderful leadership because of her highly specialized skill set, love for our communities, and collaborative approach,” he added.
Taliaferro established the ETHNN triennial Comprehensive Community Needs Assessment, which drives the work of the organization’s six councils. With her guidance, ETHNN plays a crucial role in the annual Point in Time Homeless Survey and Count, One Night Without A Home event, Poverty Simulations and implementing the Bridges Out of Poverty framework. She also began the network’s annual summit in 2014.
Taliaferro said she will remain active in the work of the network and will serve as an advisor after retirement.
“Christina has been a catalyst for progress in our community for many years. She took on a challenge that had no owner, and by bringing together individuals, agencies and initiatives established what is truly a model for achievement in collective impact,” said ETHNN Board President Lisa Lujan. “She first described her role as that of a network weaver. In the East Texas Human Needs Network she has woven dozens of service entities into a healthier, more informed and invigorated collection of agents for change and growth. We will continue this progress and nurture the network to the benefit of all citizens in East Texas.”
ETHNN is a Public Charity, exempt under IRS Code 501 (c) 3. ETHNN is led by a Board of Directors and the CEO. There are six standing Councils, each Council has a Chair and collectively the Chairs make up the Steering Council and serve on the Board of Directors. ETHNN is guided by collaborative governance and controlled by consensus. ETHNN leads three major efforts: Collective Action, Understanding Poverty and an Online Social Services Directory.
Utilizing collective action, the network conducts research and coordinates plans that address the education, employment, health, behavioral health, housing and transportation needs of under resourced individuals and families.
The network provides poverty education, embedding the Bridges Out of Poverty constructs at all levels of the community to address all causes of poverty and create a sustainable community that fosters human potential through trusting relationships, empowerment and education. Services are provided to school districts, congregations, universities, government entities, and the community.
Through www.903HELP.org, an online social services directory, ETHNN ensures people in the community can find help in times of need. 903HELP.ORG is known by thousands of East Texans as the local online social services directory where emergency resources and day-to-day help “is just a click away."
Before establishing the East Texas Human Needs Network, Taliaferro served as executive director of People Attempting to Help (PATH), 2004-2012. Before PATH, she served as planner for the Monticello Area Community Action Agency, as an editorial director at Lexis Nexis, and as a Judiciary Interpreter in Virginia and Texas.
Taliaferro serves on the Smith County Behavioral Health Leadership Team, East Texas Workforce Development Board, Smith County Food Security Council, NETHealth CommUNITY Cares Advisory Board, and the Community-Academic Partnership for Substance Abuse in East Texas. Past service includes Goodwill Industries of East Texas Board, Lighthouse for the Blind Board, Tyler Area Partnership for Education, Texas Homeless Network Board, and the Balance of State Continuum of Care Board.
She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Spanish Literature, holds a Nonprofit Leadership Certificate from SMU and the Center for Nonprofit Management, and is a graduate of Leadership Tyler, Class 22.
For information about ETHNN and the role of Chief Executive Officer, visit Work With Us!
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Tyler, Texas. July 20, 2021 - The founder and chief executive officer of the East Texas Human Needs Network has announced her intent to retire from her position at the end of 2021. The position of chief executive officer will be posted to online employment search engines and the ETHNN website later today.
Christina (Fulsom) Taliaferro began the network in 2012 to help connect typically isolated cross-sector entities – public, private, and civic, along with community members, to form working relationships. The work of ETHHN is guided by a strategic framework to engage the community, research needs, coordinate plans, and measure impact. The network’s purpose is to accomplish strengthened programs, connection, and improved awareness of services that meet essential human needs.
Called Collective Impact, the idea is simple: by working together toward shared goals, a coordinated plan of action can solve complex community challenges. For the past nine years, area citizens with an interest in identifying and addressing human needs have attended open meetings, served on councils and subcommittees, volunteered their time to assess the region’s social services and the needs of the under resourced, and attended summits and community events aimed at improving opportunities and striving for equity. The Network has grown to over 100 organizations.
“It has been an honor to work with CEO Taliaferro and the ETHNN Board through collective impact and collective action work, focused on access and equity to much needed services, leading to improved regional prosperity,” shared Juan E. Mejia, President & CEO of Tyler Junior College, and past ETHNN Board member. “Christina has provided wonderful leadership because of her highly specialized skill set, love for our communities, and collaborative approach,” he added.
Taliaferro established the ETHNN triennial Comprehensive Community Needs Assessment, which drives the work of the organization’s six councils. With her guidance, ETHNN plays a crucial role in the annual Point in Time Homeless Survey and Count, One Night Without A Home event, Poverty Simulations and implementing the Bridges Out of Poverty framework. She also began the network’s annual summit in 2014.
Taliaferro said she will remain active in the work of the network and will serve as an advisor after retirement.
“Christina has been a catalyst for progress in our community for many years. She took on a challenge that had no owner, and by bringing together individuals, agencies and initiatives established what is truly a model for achievement in collective impact,” said ETHNN Board President Lisa Lujan. “She first described her role as that of a network weaver. In the East Texas Human Needs Network she has woven dozens of service entities into a healthier, more informed and invigorated collection of agents for change and growth. We will continue this progress and nurture the network to the benefit of all citizens in East Texas.”
ETHNN is a Public Charity, exempt under IRS Code 501 (c) 3. ETHNN is led by a Board of Directors and the CEO. There are six standing Councils, each Council has a Chair and collectively the Chairs make up the Steering Council and serve on the Board of Directors. ETHNN is guided by collaborative governance and controlled by consensus. ETHNN leads three major efforts: Collective Action, Understanding Poverty and an Online Social Services Directory.
Utilizing collective action, the network conducts research and coordinates plans that address the education, employment, health, behavioral health, housing and transportation needs of under resourced individuals and families.
The network provides poverty education, embedding the Bridges Out of Poverty constructs at all levels of the community to address all causes of poverty and create a sustainable community that fosters human potential through trusting relationships, empowerment and education. Services are provided to school districts, congregations, universities, government entities, and the community.
Through www.903HELP.org, an online social services directory, ETHNN ensures people in the community can find help in times of need. 903HELP.ORG is known by thousands of East Texans as the local online social services directory where emergency resources and day-to-day help “is just a click away."
Before establishing the East Texas Human Needs Network, Taliaferro served as executive director of People Attempting to Help (PATH), 2004-2012. Before PATH, she served as planner for the Monticello Area Community Action Agency, as an editorial director at Lexis Nexis, and as a Judiciary Interpreter in Virginia and Texas.
Taliaferro serves on the Smith County Behavioral Health Leadership Team, East Texas Workforce Development Board, Smith County Food Security Council, NETHealth CommUNITY Cares Advisory Board, and the Community-Academic Partnership for Substance Abuse in East Texas. Past service includes Goodwill Industries of East Texas Board, Lighthouse for the Blind Board, Tyler Area Partnership for Education, Texas Homeless Network Board, and the Balance of State Continuum of Care Board.
She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Spanish Literature, holds a Nonprofit Leadership Certificate from SMU and the Center for Nonprofit Management, and is a graduate of Leadership Tyler, Class 22.
For information about ETHNN and the role of Chief Executive Officer, visit Work With Us!
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