Tuesday March 07, 2006

For the last 25 years, they watched the seeds they planted sprout, grow and flourish.

Now, Barbara Ferraro and Pat Hussey believe the time has come for new leadership to plant ideas and form visions for Covenant House.

"We feel assured the mission and the original vision can continue without us," Ferraro said. "We are leaving when things are in good shape. We feel good about leaving it in good hands. We need to look at emerging leadership. You have to know when it's time to let go."

The two will return to their native Massachusetts to be near their family members at the end of the year. A search committee is now looking for new leadership for Covenant House. Covenant House was opened in September 1981 in a 2,500-square-foot house on Quarrier Street by Ferraro and Hussey, both former nuns. In 2001, a new 13,000-square-foot facility opened on Shrewsbury Street as a collaborative effort of 35 congregations of various faiths. Programs help more than 30,000 people a year in 32 counties.

At Covenant House, people may drop in for a safe place to shower, do laundry, make a telephone call, receive mail, obtain counseling, or get emergency assistance with rent, utilities, travel or medicine. For further assistance, they are referred to a clothing closet at St. Marks United Methodist or a food pantry at First Presbyterian Church.

An AIDS Residential and Resource Program offers housing and support services.

Over the years, Covenant House has been an incubator for other agencies that later began to stand on their own, such as the YWCA Sojourner's Shelter, West Virginia Health Right, Kanawha Hospice, and nonprofit housing programs.

In recognition of Covenant House's 25th anniversary, a fundraising campaign called "Renewing the Commitment" is in the works to raise $2.5 million for an endowment fund. "This organization is grounded in this community, born here, and we hope it will continue," Ferraro said.

While they are leaving the area, they are not retiring.

Ferraro, 62, and Hussey, 57, say they will interview for jobs.

"We don't know what our future holds," Ferraro said. "We must work at least five more years. We haven't done interviews for jobs in 25 years."

There is a bit of excitement in that as well as a feeling of nostalgia in leaving Charleston where they feel they grew up along with Covenant House.

"For 25 years we have learned this is a community that supports this mission in spite of differences of opinion, socioeconomic classes and political beliefs," Hussey said. "The community has seen us try to make a difference in people's lives. They have respected us. This shows what a community can do by working together."

The most significant thing about Covenant House is it stands out.

"We are different from any nonprofit," said Ferraro, who added the board has always believed in direct services and social change. "The vision that all people should be treated fairly and equally has driven us."

They agree that their most difficult struggle over the last 25 years was with the Vatican.

They were Roman Catholic nuns for more than 20 years when an international controversy swirled around them regarding their support for a dialogue on reproductive rights.

In 1984, they were among those who signed a statement that ran as an ad in the New York Times and which stated there was a diversity of opinion in the church about abortion. Church officials threatened to dismiss them, but decided not to proceed. In 1988, they chose to resign from their religious order but to remain Catholic. The visibility of the controversy garnered many job offers, but they said Charleston felt like home.

"Thanks to Covenant House, we kept our feet on the ground and stayed rooted," Ferraro said. "We ask people to deal with their struggles. If we didn't do this with the Roman Catholic Church, we would have had to leave this job."

Hussey added, "We had to stay grounded. We would not sell ourselves short or sell out who we were as an organization because it may be easier to get support. In the long run, we gained support. People saw we were committed."

They have depended upon scripture to guide them through troubled times, give them strength and help them soar. They believe in justice, love, truth, humility and spirituality.

As they step out on faith, they are excited about the next phase of life.

"There is a future for Covenant House," Hussey said. "It is not ending with Pat and Barb. There may be new visions and new ideas, and we are OK with that."

Ferraro added, "We welcome creative ideas and new direction. Let it continue to grow and change with new leadership. I have always promised myself I would welcome new ideas and youth.

"People will remember that we were committed to social justice. We were fair and just to this community and the people we served. We gave our youth and energy."

And now they believe it is time to pass the torch.

FYI
Two public forums will be held March 22 in the conference room at Covenant House, 600 Shrewsbury St., so supporters may discuss what they envision for the future. The forums will be held noon to 1 p.m. and 5:30 to 7 p.m. Those who would like to attend are asked to make reservations by March 16 by calling 344-8053. Those who will not attend may e-mail phussey@wvcoveanthouse.org with any questions.