By Rachel Dutil • Photos by Jessica McCafferty
Incredibly rewarding and emotionally exhausting. That is often the dual reality for employees at a nonprofit like the Joint Council for Economic Opportunity of Clinton and Franklin Counties (JCEO). Recognizing the challenges her team faces, CEO Nicole Laurin is committed to supporting not only the communities it serves, but also the dedicated staff who make its mission possible.
JCEO is a private Community Action Agency that has been serving upstate New York for more than 58 years. The agency is dedicated to addressing the root causes of poverty through a wide range of services, including emergency assistance, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, weatherization services, medical transportation, community outreach, and food aid in the two counties.
Additionally, each county has its own unique offerings. In Clinton County, for example, JCEO assists home daycare providers to attain state registration, staff training and technical assistance, and administers a food program for healthy snacks and meals. Senior Outreach in Clinton County helps residents over 60 maintain their homes and access necessary resources. In Franklin County, JCEO grows fresh produce for food pantries in its own greenhouses and runs a mobile farmers market.
Last year, JCEO served 7,407 households. The organization facilitated more than 12,000 medical appointments through volunteer drivers, ensured 738 children received daycare services, distributed more than 770,000 pounds of food through more than a dozen food pantries, and ensured that 3,177 children received holiday gifts.
Mission Driven
Laurin has always been passionate about volunteering. Through her involvement with local organizations serving the community, she sought a career that aligned with her desire to make a positive impact. “I wanted to do something that made me feel good about what I was doing every day,” she said. She came to JCEO five years ago and has held her current position as CEO for three years.
JCEO currently has just over 100 employees between Clinton and Franklin Counties, though Laurin admits that if they were fully staffed, they would have 125. Most of JCEO staff, including teachers, family advocates, outreach workers, and energy technicians, are directly engaged with the community. Outreach workers visit seniors in their homes. Energy Technicians perform in-home weatherization services. Family Advocates go into homes and help families navigate how to access needed resources. Volunteers provide rides to medical appointments or help in the food pantries.
The nature of the work often means that working from home is not an option. Laurin recognizes the challenge this presents, especially in a job market that increasingly values remote work flexibility. “It makes it hard to compete,” she shared. “We’re asking people to do some really hard things and see and hear difficult things. We’re trying to find those mission-driven people, but it’s hard.”
In promoting itself to potential employees, Laurin explained that JCEO focuses on its mission, but also on its family-friendly culture. “We do everything we can to help our employees support their families,” she said. Employees benefit from generous time off, including personal days, sick leave, vacation time, and 13 paid holidays. Additionally, there’s a sick leave bank where employees can donate their unused time to colleagues in need.
“We encourage people to take their time off and get the rest they need. We understand that everyone has a life outside of work,” Laurin said. “We look for people who want to support the people in our community and help them get the aid they need. It’s finding people who are motivated by that and can afford to work for a nonprofit.”
Very Heavy
Providing the type of services and support in the community that JCEO does can be stressful and even overwhelming. “It is hard to understand fully the weight it will carry until you are doing it,” Laurin noted. “We try to be very transparent up front. Potential hires are told that they will hear and see things that are upsetting. We have staff going into homes who see a whole range of lifestyles. That is part of the job.”
To help staff manage stress, JCEO provides extensive training that includes topics like adverse childhood experiences and trauma-informed care. Mental health and stress management resources are integrated into staff meetings, and various activities are offered throughout the year to help employees unwind. Laurin acknowledges that what works for one person may not work for another, so JCEO offers a range of options.
“We try to encourage staff as much as possible if they are feeling stressed to say something before it gets too far.” JCEO staff members are empathetic and motivated by wanting to help others, but it’s also important to recognize when it is too much. “Some people feel confident in their ability to do the work until they find themselves in a situation where they have to tell someone who is emotional and overwhelmed by their situation that they aren’t able to help them,” Laurin noted. “We’re looking for people who have a big heart but are able to communicate when they have reached their limit.”
Community Partnerships
Strong community partnerships amplify JCEO’s impact. “We always try our very best to figure out what can we do, and if we can’t help, connect them with someone who can,” Laurin said, adding that every day is different and presents new challenges.
JCEO partners with numerous organizations in the North Country, and they are a partner agency with the United Way of the Adirondack Region.
Sometimes, figuring out the solution comes down to knowing what else is available in the community. “We can’t do it all, and no other organization can do it all,” Laurin said. Each community partner fills a role in getting the right services to those who need them and helps JCEO broaden its reach. “How can we leverage what other organizations are able to provide? That helps us to stretch our resources,” Laurin explained.
At the end of the day, Laurin recognizes that JCEO’s work is demanding, but for people driven by a passion for helping others, it is also a deeply fulfilling place to work. Laurin and her team are dedicated to making a difference, both in the community and within their organization, ensuring that everyone — staff and clients alike — receives the support they need.
Joint Council of Economic Opportunity
54 Margaret St.
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518 561-6310
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