John Booker
The Direct Care Alliance is a young organization, so many of our founders are still part of our board of directors. I see it as a sign of organizational success when one of our key founders moves from that role, in which they supply ideas and strategy to help shape our work, to helping to implement those plans.
I am pleased to announce that John Booker, a direct care worker with over 20 years of experience, is stepping down from the board to become our newest direct care worker specialist. John will work with me and other DCA staff to develop our state partnerships, build coalitions with other organizations across the country, and conduct outreach to individual direct care workers.
John has been part of the brain trust that has guided and developed the DCA since its inception. As a member of the board of directors, he helped develop the organization from an idea to a reality. Last April, he became the first elected chair of the board of directors and the first direct care worker to lead the board.
John served as chair during our most active period to date. During his tenure, we launched our Voices Institute, on which John assisted with program design and served as a faculty member. He also led the board as we planned and executed our first trip to Washington D.C. to make sure direct care worker issues were included in the health care debate and considered by the Department of Labor.
Leonila Vega, Esq.
Executive Director
Direct Care Alliance
It has been the most educational experience I could’ve ever recieved. Starting out as a wide-eyed direct care worker just trying to fit in, being African American and a male ,the fitting in part was a little intimidating at first.However the board members of the Direct Care Alliance,old and new were absolutely exceptional and accomodating, they took me under their wings ,tutored and trained me as well as any University.There are so many people to thank….I’ll start with the Ex.Director, Ms. Leonila Vega, who some where in her past life must have been a direct care worker,she is well aware of the issues and how to solve them…thank you. The Direct Care workers who sat on the board along with me….and you know who you are…gave me comfort and the kind of support that only direct care workers can give….thank all of you.Now its off to the next phase of my work….building new leaders and supporting them through my work for the DCA and others. Thank you Direct Care Alliance.