Last week, Saline Area Social Service (SASS) Executive Director Jamail Aikens began more publicly sharing news of his planned March 22 departure from this position that he has held since September of 2014. [1]
For those who are relatively new to this community, it may come as a surprise to read that Mr Aikens has not always been at the helm here. Though characteristicly soft spoken and often hard to distinguish from the working weaves of his own fundraising initiatives, he is also the force largely to be credited with transforming SASS at a time when its very survival depended upon just that. [2]
When he stepped into the position in September of 2014, the large and centralized benefactor support that had been relied upon to meet needs for local food and emergency assistance had evaporated. On top of that, Saline Area Social Service needed to hire a full time professional capable of replacing singular sourcing with multiples — but could only afford to pay a part time salary.
Moreover, their new Executive Director would have to solicit contributors without benefit of documentation that could be presented in support of any case being made to give.
“I could tell you how much food we were taking in,” he explained to Saline Journal earlier this week. “I could tell you how much food was going out, to how many families, what days of the week. But you had to take it on faith that that was making a difference, that it was improving their lives.”
Again, those who know him, who have dealt with him, are likely to think that Mr Aikens simply changed the rules. That, by littles at first, he began to turn the ship by dogged persistence. He is nothing it not tenacious. And, though always pleasant, never without optimism, telling him “no” when he makes an ask of you on behalf of Saline Area Social Service guarantees only one thing.
He’ll be back.
Replacing the original whole with a sum of equal or better sized pieces involved two things. The first was a forward-thinking strategy where need would be met well in advance of actual need. The second was in a disciplined consistency of compelling communications that built his case incrementally and reinforced it through repetition. Think of it as non-reactive urgency. [3]
Of course there were the deeply personal collaborations with people on behalf of their larger networks, such as Elke VanDyke of Reinhart and the Reinhart Charitable Foundation or Mary Lindquist and The Quilting Season. In addition to that, when needed there is the just-in-time labor resource of Oakwood Church. [4-9]
“We’re behind Jamail a hundred percent,” Pastor Frank Radcliff told Saline Journal. “Saline Area Social Service is doing what needs to be done and we need to do whatever we can to help them do it.”
Having stabilized SACC in terms of food, finances, and volunteers, Jamail Aikens then turned his attention to increasing impact.
“We started a food delivery to senior citizens who are home bound at Mill Pond Manor,” he shared by way of example. “We’ve arranged for kids to be sponsored for after school programs. We have a partnership with Saline Area Schools that provides a discreet way to get food to students who need it.” [10-12]
Looking forward, long-time Saline Area Social Service marketing lead Anne Cummings is already in the process of participating in a smooth transition into the Executive Director position. Mr Aikens has generously credited her with being his “right hand” on many of the accomplishments above.
And yet there was one message to which he continually returned during this exit interview of sorts with Saline Journal. A “stable” organization requires dedicated tending in order to remain so. At many points, Ms Cummings herself echoed that point and affirmed her commitment to continuing this thrust.
“I don’t think this community will take that stability for granted,” Jamail Aikens assured us. “But it’s important to be reminded.”
References
- Saline Area Social Service (home page).
- “Saline Street Machines Helped Put Shoes On Children In Need By Attracting Enthusiasts To Annual Downtown Car Show” Dell Deaton (August 13, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “If You’re A Business Or Individual Doing Better Than ‘Making Ends Meet,’ Consider Adding A Calendar Entry For November 27” Dell Deaton (November 15, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “Reminder: Here’s How To Double The Impact Of Your Donation To Saline Area Social Service On November 27, ‘Giving Tuesday’” Dell Deaton (November 26, 2018) Saline Journal.
- “Elke VanDyke” Reinhart.
- Reinhart Charitable Foundation (Facebook Page).
- “Where ‘Should’ The Boundaries Of Saline End When It Comes To Serving Those In Need? (No Cartography Needed)” Dell Deaton (August 15, 2018) Saline Journal.
- The Quilting Season (home page).
- Oakwood Church (home page).
- “Mill Pond Manor” EHM Senior Solutions.
- “Participation in student activities linked to academic success” Annemarie Mannion (March 18, 2016) Chicago Tribune.
- Saline Area Schools (home page).
