|
 The
Charlotte White Center's source of inspiration is
Charlotte Hudson White, born in Guilford, Maine, January
19, 1905, the daughter of Supreme Court Justice James
Henry and Mary (McKown) Hudson. In 1927 she married
John Powers White of Bangor, and together they had
three children, Mary Loantha, James Hudson, and Betsey
Louise.
In 1962, she was elected to the Maine State House
of Representatives, where she served until 1973. Charlotte
had devoted much of her time in the Maine Legislature
to increasing services for people with disabilities.
In 1979, the Charlotte White Center was created by
a group of citizens who were concerned by the lack
of services in Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties
for people with mental retardation or mental illness.
To honor Charlotte for her selfless hours of work
on behalf of people with life challenges, the Charlotte
White Center was named after her. Charlotte White
died in December of 1997 having lived a full and active
life. At her funeral she was remembered in eulogy
by family and friends for all the good works she had
created during her life.
Her
modest remarks at our opening in 1979 remain a beacon
to inspire us today:
"I
just thought we ought to do something good up here
in Piscataquis for those people who are less fortunate
than others."
With
those very unassuming remarks by our founder, the
Charlotte White Center began its first steps on a
long and fruitful journey of service to others that
has spanned three decades into the new millennium.
It is noted that those who survive us get to write
the history. We are sure this will be the case with
the Charlotte White Center. As we complete our third
decade of service, there will be an ongoing history
written by others who will come along to pick up the
cause where we leave off. The history of this agency
is written now in the manifestation of its good works.
Thoughts,
that at one time were merely good ideas, were placed
in the common good of a volunteer board of directors
and skilled staff who translated these ideas into
the real "bricks and mortar" of the many buildings
we have purchased and programs we have built. Those
actions enabled the Charlotte White Center to create
a wide diversity of social service initiatives forming
a healthier, stronger and more vibrant community than
the one we inherited in 1979.
We
have truly "come of age." The hard work and effort
of so many caring, thoughtful, and concerned citizens
through this period has transformed the social services
landscape Charlotte White must have seen, in her vision
to bring forth something good up here in Piscataquis,
from one of bleakness to a very fruitful endeavor.
Every day hundreds of staff and thousands of consumers engage in a process of open
dialogue, thoughtful interactions, and support for
personal goals that enrich the lives of all parties.
We are, after all, about the "business" of building
relationships, positive, lasting, and meaningful ones.
For it is in this process of finding common value
in each other and offering unconditional positive
regard that healing, growth and sustained progress can occur.
|
