We are pleased to announce that the Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties and the Board of Directors has hired Sonia E. Gass to serve as Executive Director of the Agency. Board Chair, Commissioner Nicole Frethem, said “we are thrilled to have found a leader that is empathetic, experienced, and collaborative and capable of leading our organization’s efforts to better support the whole family of the people in poverty that CAPRW serves.”
The mission of Community Action seeks to eliminate poverty, offer support and deconstruct the systems that cause and perpetuate economic disparities for people in our community.
Community Action conducted a nationwide search with the understanding of the unique needs of our community in mind, as well as the importance of finding a strong, ethical leader, who is committed to uplifting families and building deep relationships across Ramsey and Washington Counties.
Ms. Gass has more than 25 years of executive management experience, having previously worked as the State Director for Save the Children South Carolina, Vice President of Institutional Advancement for both Voorhees College and Saint Augustine’s University, the Executive Director for Orangeburg County First Steps and the Director of Planned Giving for Claflin University. As an experienced fundraiser she was instrumental in securing recurring funds for Save the Children annual funds, planned gifts, scholarship funds as well as implementing several signature galas that raised more than $350,000. She also wrote more than $2 million in grants. Sonia is experienced in adaptive leadership, project management, collective impact, results-based accountability, and community engagement.
We are confident that Ms. Gass will be the spirited, empathetic, healing leader that we have been looking for over the past ten months. “I am excited to be a part of this rich tradition of preparing the next generation of leaders,” said Ms. Gass. “CAPRW works tirelessly to ensure that the needs of children, caregivers and the communities we serve are met, increasing the opportunity for success and I am proud to join the team.”
