Who We Are

mission and goals

To Enhance the Quality of Life for County Residents by Impacting the Causes of Poverty and Empowering Individuals to Achieve, Sustain, and Advocate Self-Sufficiency.

We aim to help Butler County, OH residents:

Move beyond crisis situations toward improved financial stability and general well-being.
Retain the skills and attitudes necessary for sustained employment and self-sufficiency.
Build and maintain assets to disrupt the cycle of poverty.

vision

We’re proud of the progress we’ve made together with our community. While there’s more to do, we’re committed to continuing this collaborative effort to keep building a better future.

Individuals and families have the opportunity, resources, and tools to make decisions which lead to self-sufficiency and the development of their full potential.
The community is inspired to actively contribute to the goal of self-sufficiency and personal development.
The community is inspired to actively contribute to the goal of self-sufficiency and personal development.
Policy makers are advocates for the needs of all within the community.
A cycle of self-sufficiency is perpetuated, which raises the quality of life in the community.
a utility meter

Meet Our Team

Our dedicated board members and staff bring a wide variety of skills and experiences to our work. By combining creative ideas with strategic planning, we work together to make a real difference and reach our goals.

Board of Directors

SELF has a tripartite board with representatives from the client sector (our clients or people who work with low-income people), the private sector and the public sector.

Client Sector

Nancy Braun – Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio

Nancy Harris – Getting Ahead and Microenterprise Graduate

Karri Owens – Butler County Department of Job and Family Services

Aaron Simpson – Freedom House

Public Sector

Adam Kraft – Fairfield City Council

Amber Franklin – Oxford City Council

Jennifer Carter – Middletown City Council

Eric Pohlman – Hamilton City Council

James Sherron – Middletown Municipal Court

Private Sector

Dienna Becraft – First Financial Bank

Patricia Dawson – Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities

Brian Pendergest – Badin High School

Shelley Spillane – US Bank

David Stitsinger  – LCNB National Bank

Board Officers

President: Karri Owens – Client Sector

Vice President: David Stitsinger – Private Sector

Treasurer: Dienna Becraft – Private Sector

Secretary: Nancy Harris – Client Sector

SELF Staff

Our staff work hard and stay dedicated. Their commitment drives our mission forward. Every day, they make a real difference and positively impact our community.

Course Facilitators

Jerry

Jerry Brown – IDA Asset Building

Sharon Carr – Money Management

Jilson Daniels

Jilson Daniels – Microenterprise

Jan Davis – JOBS NOW!

wathenia

Wathenia Guinn – Getting Ahead at Sojourner

Darren Mabrey – Getting Ahead

Senior Leadership

Jeffrey Diver – Executive Director

Trish

Patricia (Trish) Thigpen – Fiscal Director

Gayle

Gayle Drexler – Program Director

Carie Schultz – Community Relations

Bob Didion– Housing Programs

Sarah Starr – Executive Assistant, Community Events

Nicci Haney – Home Energy Assistance Programs

Annette Landesman – Special Programs Manager

History

The nationwide Community Action Network was created with the passage of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 as a part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s historic “War on Poverty” initiative. The act established a federal Office of Economic Opportunity, and created organizations called Community Action Agencies that would develop strategies to solve issues of poverty with an emphasis on local input.

The War on Poverty began with President Lyndon Johnson’s visit to Tom Fletcher’s front porch in Martin County, Kentucky, in April 1964. Photograph. Courtesy of UCLA, Special Collections, Young (Charles E.) Research Library.
Founded by Clemmons

In Butler County

SELF was established in 1995 with key leadership from the late Janet Clemmons, Butler County Commissioner, and was designated by the Ohio Department of Development on April 1, 1996. Mrs. Clemmons’ vision was to create a community action agency that would serve all of Butler County and would be accountable both programmatically and fiscally. The agency began client services before the federal welfare reform changes and before other nonprofits began emphasizing self-sufficiency.