Learn about the living legacy of women making an impact in our community

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we are excited to acknowledge local female leaders who are shaping our community through their compassionate hearts and are living examples of community transformation through their work. Their work is helping United Way make Broome County into a place where everyone can reach their full potential.

Check out the incredible impact Maria Dibble, Alison Handy-Twang, Judy Hess, and Nichole Post are making below.

MARIA DIBBLE, Executive Director – Southern Tier Independence Center

Maria Dibble is one of the co-founders of Southern Tier Independence Center, and has been its Executive Director for the last 40 years. STIC, an Independent Living Center serving children and adults with all types of disabilities, promotes the independence, integration and inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life including: employment, recreation, housing, education, volunteering, civil responsibilities, etc. We also provide support, consultation, training and services to families, businesses, agencies and others in our community.

Totally blind from birth, she has experienced the discrimination and false assumptions that people make when meeting a person with a disability, underestimating what they can do, or even completely dismissing it. Nevertheless, she was integrated into regular schools as a child, and is a graduate of Binghamton University, and she understands the issues faced by children and their families. She vowed as a teen to somehow have an impact on the lives of people with disabilities, by changing attitudes, and working to remove barriers to inclusion and acceptance.

STIC has helped her to achieve these goals. Growing from a grant of $100,000 and 4 staff, STIC has a budget of $17 million and about 750 employees, all dedicated to the independence of people with disabilities, and advocating for their civil and economic rights. STIC is respected statewide for its advocacy work, and Maria was inducted into the NYS Disability Rights Hall of Fame in 2019.

 

ALISON HANDY-TWANG, PhD, Director – Center for Civic Engagement at Binghamton University

Alison Handy Twang, PhD is the director of the Center for Civic Engagement at Binghamton University. In this role Alison develops connections between Binghamton University and the local community and supports students in developing the knowledge and skills to participate in civic life. The CCE’s mission is to cultivate partnerships that strengthen communities and develop active and engaged citizens. To meet this mission, the CCE coordinates student volunteer programs in partnership with local nonprofits and school districts, connecting close to 500 students a year to impactful service opportunities in the local community. Thousands more students volunteer through their student organizations, classes and as individuals. The CCE also provides support to faculty members to integrate community service into their classes, and serves as a resource to community organizations who are interested in connecting with the University. The CCE also leads a nationally recognized nonpartisan student voting program that has significantly increased student voter registration and turnout rates. As director, Alison is focused on growing and strengthening this culture of civic and community engagement.

Alison has been proud to volunteer with the United Way of Broome County as a Community Impact Council member and member of the Strategic Volunteer Engagement Committee. Alison also serves on the board of directors of the League of Women Voters of Broome & Tioga Counties and the Rural Health Network of South Central New York, and is Vice President for Volunteer Administrators of the Southern Tier.

Alison has a bachelors in political science, masters in public administration and PhD in community and public affairs, all from Binghamton University. Before joining the CCE, Alison worked in the nonprofit sector, focusing on philanthropy and youth and young adult civic engagement. Alison lives in Binghamton with her husband, Dylan, and is expecting their first child this spring. In her free time, Alison enjoys reading, practicing yoga and spending time with her chocolate lab, Keene.

JUDI HESS, Director – Visit Binghamton! | Senior VP for Tourism – Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce

How do we celebrate all the wonderful things we have to offer in our community?

That is the question constantly on Judi Hess’s mind through her work as the Director of Visit Binghamton! and the Senior Vice President for Tourism at the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce.  Hess understands that tourism positively contributes to the economic well-being of Broome County, but it also helps to tell the story of our community.  Through her work, she gets to share the unique activities that make a visit here like no other. In telling that story, Hess gets to work with people who share a passion for Broome County and open their doors to let the world in.

Visit Binghamton! use the tagline of “Be Part of Our Story” because we want people to picture themselves here and to truly write their own adventure. We have built up our video content and our social media to help personalize the experience. Using our Facebook live platform, Visit Binghamton gets to demonstrate experiences, whether its feeding Lorikeets, making a pie, or watching our downtown buildings come to life during LUMA.

“Our visitors get to picture themselves in my shoes while following our social media channels to encourage them to come here themselves. I am so proud of the work that we do at Visit Binghamton! We are always reinventing ourselves and finding new ways to make sure that EVERYONE feels welcomed. From creating a world-class website including information on our accessibility, to telling our stories in videos and publications, I feel like a steward for my community. I love sharing my pride for my home and helping others see it through my eyes. As a woman in a leadership role, I believe that it is our responsibility to mentor others and guide the next generation of change makers!”

 

NICHOLE POST – Director – Southern Tier Community Center

As a child growing up in Schenectady, NY, Nichole “Nikki” Post would have never thought her path would lead her where she is today. Her grandmother had a big impact on her life, she taught her how to cook, and she learned about all different backgrounds and cultures, she taught Nikki that getting an education was VERY important and when you see a goal go after it and grab it. Post’s parents taught her to have a sense of community, to care for others and to go after her goals with integrity and tenacity. They also taught Nikki to always be kind because you never know what someone is struggling with. Both parents and grandmother exposed Nikki to diverse cultures, ethnic traditions and people from all backgrounds and walks of life. This foundation began her passion for community work and love for people. Nikki came to Children’s Home in May 2018 because she had a passion for community work. She wanted to help people and also wanted to get to know the community better, so, she figured what better place to be to develop this work than at Children’s Home! Nikki began as a Health Homes Care Manager, and within the same year she had an opportunity to be a part of a new program called Sunrise Center for Girls. Serving as the Aftercare Worker, Nikki worked with juvenile delinquent females ages 16 -17. A year and a half later, she applied for the Director position for the Southern Tier Community Center. “What an amazing experience it has been! To be seen as a mentor, a leader in the Agency and the community, and a champion for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, is truly an honor!”

Southern Tier Community Center was established in May 2020. From day one, Children’s Home took on the task of rebranding, revitalizing, and renovating the building. Many hands at the Center cleaned and painted and prepared our path to start School Age Child Care summer programming June 2020. You may be reading this and think…”Why in the world did Children’s Home buy a building in the middle of a pandemic?!” They wanted to answer the call of this need in the community and also saw a chance to expand their Mission and Vision. Children’s Home wanted to provide child care, programming and services to seniors, youth, and families of all backgrounds and ages, 0-100, a safe, fun, enjoyable space, where all are welcome. They also wanted to aid in providing hope, building relationships, as well as collaborating with area businesses, organizations, and school districts.

“I am proud to say that we have done just that! By no means are we done yet; We still have a lot more that we want to do!! It is my honor and privilege to be a part of a journey such as this. I am humbled by the fact that the community has greeted and welcomed us with open arms. You have all been AMAZING! You have given donations, volunteered, spread the word about the Center on social media and with your neighbors. If you are interested in how you can partner with us visit thestcc.org or come over and see us at 1 Club House Rd. Endicott, NY.”

“The great responsibility I feel is to get people to put that power and that hope in themselves.”   – Amanda Gorman