Lenora has been a force in the Rochester community and within CCSI for more than 30 years. A native of Jamaica, Lenora began her career in Rochester working for Integrated Mental Health (a local demonstration program that gave rise to CCSI in 1992) as an accountant. However, in the late 1990s, she saw a growing need to improve the degree to which our community understood and incorporated the principles of cultural competence into how we think and work – and for organizations of all types to cultivate environments that foster diversity and inclusion.
Driven by her belief that these elements were critical to organizations wishing to engage their clients, customers, and employees in the most meaningful way, Lenora has championed a comprehensive effort to educate, support, and inspire organizations locally and across the state through training, organizational self-assessment, and by providing hands-on coaching and implementation support. In addition to her strong local presence, Lenora is recognized at the state and national levels for her formative work in this area, having served on myriad task forces and advisory committees.
In addition to her work to advance culturally competent practices and eliminate disparities in health outcomes, Lenora was instrumental in founding the Prevention, Access, Self-Empowerment, and Support (PASS) program, an innovative program designed specifically for adolescents experiencing challenges in their daily lives, or whose parents are seriously and persistently mentally ill.
Lenora is also an active community volunteer, serving as Vice President of the Rochester Jamaican Organization and active with several other community organizations.