Community Partnership executive director no longer with agency
Sandra Curry, the former executive director of Community Partnership Inc., announced she is no longer with the nonprofit agency through social media Wednesday, July 29.
“I’ve known for a few weeks now that because of difficult decisions that had to be made that it was a good possibility that there might no longer be a role there for me to fill … and today that question was answered for me, but sometimes answered prayers arrive in unexpected vehicles,” she wrote in her post.
A sign in front of Community Partnership’s building at 781 New Castle Road in Butler Township Thursday read “temporarily closed for repairs.”
Other individuals with the organization are facing immediate layoffs or uncertainty as to whether their positions will continue beyond the coming weeks.
“I can confirm that, as of July 29, I am no longer serving as the executive director of Community Partnership,” Curry told the Eagle on Thursday night. “I was provided with a notice of separation by representatives of Westmoreland County Community Action on behalf of CP's board of directors on July 29. The letter stated that Westmoreland County Community Action would be overseeing a transitional period for the organization.”
Details on what that transition consists of, the impetus behind it or the choice to break ties with Curry were scarce Thursday. A number of individuals, including Community Partnership board President Robert Shook, declined to comment. Shook described the issue as a “private matter.”
The Community Action Association of Pennsylvania, the statewide network of community action organizations which Community Partnership is a member of, was unavailable for comment Thursday evening.
“Unfortunately I can provide no further details or context. I legitimately don't know much more,” Curry said. “Although serving as CP’s executive director was at times extremely challenging, I met many wonderful people in my time with the organization. It was a time of great personal and professional growth and I wish the organization well in the future.”
Curry noted in her Facebook post serving others, food security and agriculture remain central passions for her.
According to the Community Partnership website, the organization’s mission is “to connect Community Action across the state of Pennsylvania and we here at Community Partnership Inc. value the community and support.”
Last year, elected representatives asked the state auditor general for a state audit of Community Partnership. Later discussions between the state, local elected officials and the organization ended with an agreement for Community Partnership to provide more transparency, including public access to its independent audits.
