Uncrowned Community Builders

From the earliest years of her professional career, Catherine M. Roberts has always been a champion of the disadvantaged and the dis-empowered. Today, as Senior Vice President and Vice President for Program Administration of the Community Action Organization of Erie County, Inc. since 2008, she oversees the day-to-day operations and program management functions of the ninth largest non-profit and the largest social service agency in all of WNY, serving 27,000 individuals and 11,000 families annually.

The Community Action Organization of Erie County, Inc. is one of 1000 community action agencies across the nation and the federally designated, anti-poverty agency that serves low-income communities throughout Buffalo and Erie County. Its primary programs and services include Head Start/Early Head Start, Youth and Family Development, Employment and Training, Center Services, Emergency Services, the Drug Abuse, Research and Treatment (DART) methadone clinic, the CAO Masten Resource Center, Green Entrepreneurial Center, Sports PLUS (Partners in Learning and Urban Sports) program and New Venture Housing. The agency also operates over forty locations across Erie County including five community centers in Buffalo and Angola.

Ms. Roberts is also responsible for identifying and cultivating strategic partnership initiatives and resource development by broadening the growth of the organization's grant funding and non-traditional revenue opportunities that align with the agency's mission to promote self-sufficiency. Additionally, she directs all external communications, media relations strategies and the agency's overall message to the community, as showcased on five weekly, public affairs radio and television programs, hosted by L. Nathan Hare.

In 2012, Ms. Roberts was appointed as a "Pathways to Excellence" and "Award for Excellence in Community Action" Peer-Expert Reviewer for community action agencies across the country and proudly earned her certification as a National Results-Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA) Trainer. She is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School of Buffalo Not-for-Profit Management Program.

Presently, Catherine serves on the NFTA Community Advisory Council, WNED-TV Community Advisory Council and Say Yes After School Advisory Committee. She is also a member of Buffalo Niagara Partnership 360, the Public Relations Society of America, the National Association of Black Journalists and National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment.

She is most known for her former role as Director of Promotions and Public Affairs at urban contemporary station, 93.7 WBLK-FM for nearly 15 years from 1992 to 2006.

Catherine has received numerous awards and acknowledgements over the years for her work in media, performance management and community service and has been continuously recognized for her passion, dedication and penchant that goes far beyond the call of duty. A lifelong learner and alum of D'Youville College, she currently attends SUNY Empire State College and is most grateful for the opportunity to build upon a legacy of service, social justice and philanthropy for over 22 years. Driven to make a difference in the lives of others, she is determined to communicate the message that "poor quality of life" should not be the expectation.

Catherine places God first in everything, because to live a life aligned with God's purpose is the true definition of her passion - to help others reach their fullest potential and become the best version of themselves.