Voice of the younger generation sought for new Catholic Community Services board

Friday, Dec. 02, 2016

SALT LAKE CITY — Since 1945 Catholic Community Services has provided a variety of services for their clients, from their Refugee Resettlement department, which assists people with immigration issues, to their Homeless Services, which provides aid to the less fortunate. However, there is one group of people that Catholic Community Services hasn’t been able to reach out to yet, said Bradford Drake, executive director of CCS: the younger generation.

“We’re always looking for what we can do better and what (our clients’) needs are and how to meet those needs,” said Drake, who feels that CCS needs to better influence and inspire the younger generation, to encourage them to get involved with helping those in need. 

Thus, CCS created the Future Leaders Board.

“The idea is to get a younger generation involved in the work we do, to give their voice to our cause,” said Danielle Stamos, CCS director of public relations and marketing.

This board will be comprised of people in their 20s and 30s who can advise CCS on how to reach out to a younger audience. Drake believes that this board will be helpful to his organization. A new and different perspective on the many aspects of CCS could be a way to help the organization improve even more, said Drake.

Dejan Eskic has been named the president of the Future Leaders Board. Eskic, 28, is a former Bosnian refugee who emigrated from his native country in the 1990s and now has a master’s degree in real estate development, Stamos said.

“He brings a really great perspective to the board,” Stamos said.

The Future Leaders Board will hopefully build upon itself quickly, lending aid to CCS programs across the board, said Drake. “We want to get younger thinkers, younger people. This gives young people a chance to make a difference.”

The purpose of the Future Leaders Board is to get people of all ages to undertake an active role in helping out their community, providing much needed service to the poor and homeless, Stamos said. “We’re always in need of volunteers across our programs,” she said. “Anyone can help someone in need. It truly makes a difference in people’s lives.”

The Future Leaders Board program is expected to begin operating in January.