Greater Lewes Community Village names Jackie Sullivan director

The Greater Lewes Community Village, an organization seeking to help people live active lives in their own homes as they grow older, signed up its first members in November 2013. In less than two years, the village has exceeded its membership and volunteer goals. The village recently hired Jacqueline Sullivan as director.

Sullivan, known as “Jackie,” is the first paid employee for the village, which has been led by dedicated volunteers since its inception.

The local organization is a member of the Village to Village Network of more than 200 similar groups throughout the United States. Members pay a yearly fee that gives them access to various forms of volunteer assistance and referrals to approved local vendors. Reduced-price memberships are available to those who qualify.

“The founders put down very important roots,” said Sullivan, noting the local village had reached 70 members and 80 volunteers in a shorter period of time than most community villages have done. “Now I want to take that to the next level.”

The new director’s employment experience is not in the nonprofit world. Born in Philadelphia and educated at Penn State and Temple, she spent her business career working in human resources, information technology, and project management. When she retired in October 2014, she was vice president of Global IT Demand Management for Siemens Healthcare.

Over the years, she has volunteered for the Red Cross, Philabundance and the Special Olympics, but working long hours coupled with frequent travel meant that time spent on community activities was limited. “I always wanted to do more,” Sullivan said.

So it’s not surprising that after relocating to her vacation home in Lewes, Sullivan knew she wouldn’t be inactive for long. “I thought I’d like to do something completely different,” she said.

“And when I was talking about what I wanted to do with my future, my father said, 'You need to help people like me.'” Sullivan’s father, who is in his 80s, has experienced some challenges in his attempts to remain independent in his own home.

A Lewes neighbor showed her the job description for village director. Sullivan said she was still thinking about applying for the position when at a charity event she was introduced to Jackie Finer, the person who first conceived of a village for Lewes and spearheaded the formation of the local organization. “I felt her passion,” Sullivan said of her conversation with Finer. “I thought, ‘I need to pursue this.’ When I talked to the board, all the stars aligned. I believe I was meant to be here.”

Finer remembers meeting Sullivan and encouraging her to apply for the position. “It was obvious to me, even with such a short encounter, she would bring to the village a world view and a mature view based on her business experience,” Finer said. “Yes, she had the smarts, but more importantly, she had grace and a great sense of people.”

On the job since July 6, Sullivan is spending time talking to members and volunteers, learning all she can about what is needed. She is excited by the challenges of her new job and what she calls the “spirit of Lewes - people really care.”

“Everyone talks about ‘aging in place,'” she said. “What differentiates us from everyone else? People are drawn to us because they want to help, and they see themselves as members in the future.”

Her goals include increasing funding and enhancing communication with supporters and potential members. “We need to ask people to help us with fundraising and education,” she said. By education, Sullivan means not just explaining the community village concept but developing programs to help people live independently and make their own decisions about when to give up driving or seek assisted care.

In summer 2014, the Lewes village extended its original boundaries south to Postal Road, west to Belltown and Jimtown, north to Red Mill Pond and east to the Delaware Bay. More recently, the northern boundary was extended to the Paynter’s Mill development off Cave Neck Road. “I want us to widen our area of coverage - we need to be where we are not,” said Sullivan.

Community Village board members are “incredibly pleased and proud” that Sullivan has taken on the director’s role, said Marty D’Erasmo, co-president. “She brings extraordinary management and program development skills, and is already making her mark as a leader and innovator. She is exactly who we need at this time of transition and growth.”

“I’ve always been an advocate for the senior community being treated with respect - I’m passionate about it,” says Sullivan. “This is a legacy I want to protect.”

For more information on the Greater Lewes Community Village, go to www.greaterlewescommunityvillage.org or call 302-703-2568.