What’s going on Trainwrecks? It’s been quite a year and for better or for worse, I’m looking forward to what the rest of 2020 will bring us. As I think about who I am in this world I can’t help but ponder the fact I’m experiencing the world through my own eyes and not someone else’s. Because of that, I realize there are an infinite amount of perspectives and I will never be able to understand them all. But I can try to explore the lives of those I talk to. I’m doing this by interviewing others to find out what helps motivate them to execute.
Success comes from what we pursue, not from what we are given
What makes someone successful in their life? What are their regrets, their fears, and their hard-driven desires? I think one of the most important parts of trying to understand the world around us is to connect with others and take the opportunity to explore the lives of those who are willing to share with me. I want to know how others have not only identified their sticking points, but how they overcame them.
Walden University has become more than my university lately. Walden has become a catalyst for networking and sharing ideas. Recently, I was discussing some ideas with a fellow student, Marlo Greppone and we began brainstorming some ideas of how we can share our perspective and discuss some real-world issues in our own scholarly manner.
Marlo Greponne is a loving wife and mother of three Amanda (27) Julian (23) and Cocoa Puff (4). Marlo is a proud Puerto Rican born in the Bronx and raised on the island. HRA’s Director of Planning and Programs. She has over 23 years of experience in the field of community action. A passionate advocate for eliminating childhood poverty, she specializes in the design and implementation of comprehensive service models. Both the state of Connecticut Department of Social Services and the Connecticut Association for Community Action have recognized her leadership in this capacity as one of the best in the state.
Marlo is a Doctoral candidate in Human and Social Services at Walden University
At HRA Marlo works with the Board of Directors, the senior management and program staff to successfully implement Results Oriented Management Accountability (ROMA) principles and practices throughout all aspects of the agency including the development of the Community Action Plan and Strategic Plan. She also works with the team to develop and pilot new projects within all divisions of the agency.
One such project is the Foundation for Financial Independence Program which she launched in 2009 and which includes Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, Financial Literacy Education and Individuals Development Accounts (federal and state).
Walden University students seek to change the world around them
An active community collaborator, Marlo holds leadership roles in the New Britain Asset Building Coalition; the New Britain High School Academy of Finance; the New Britain Food Security Collaborative; the New Britain Mayor’s Plan to End Homelessness; the Connecticut Fatherhood Advisory Council; the Coalition for New Britain’s Youth; and the New Britain Working Cities Challenge.
Marlo is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), a Certified Peer Assessor by the Northeast Institute for Quality Community Action, and is a nationally certified Results Oriented Management Accountability (ROMA) trainer. She holds a Master’s Degree in Human Services from Springfield College and is a doctoral candidate in Human and Social Services at Walden University. She has also served as an adjunct faculty member at Springfield College.
Walden Students Connect
This hour-long interview with Marlo was a great opportunity not only to reach out to a fellow professional, but to get real-world experiences from my colleagues and peers. I think everyone deserves an opportunity to pass on their relevant experiences, their trials, successes and even their failures. More importantly, I think we can all learn a lot from others have taken away from those experiences. My next interview has been scheduled, so be looking for my next interview with fellow Walden Doctoral of Business student, Larry Silvert Richards.
This world is an amazing place when we share it with others.
