Uncrowned Community Builders

Ida Parker is best described as a person who has a passion to help others and a desire to provide the tools necessary to educate and empower others to be the best person they can be. She was born in Cleveland County, North Carolina. Ida moved to Buffalo, New York to pursue her bachelor degree at the University at Buffalo.

Her love and compassion for people inspired her to fulfill her academic requirements and achieve her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Sciences concentrating in Community Mental Health. Ida has over 15 years experience in health and human services. In 2006 Ida graduated from Canisius College where she received her Masterââ?¬â?¢s Degree in Counseling and Education.

She is employed with Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network where she is a Program Manager for the CAPC (Community Action for Prenatal Care) project. The Buffalo Prenatal CAPC project is dedicated to eliminating the transmission of HIV from mothers to babies. This is accomplished by finding women who are pregnant and not receiving prenatal care or other services, and getting them into care. As Program Manager for the CAPC Project Ida's primary responsibility is to organize, supervise, and continually develop community collaboration designed to reach the high-risk pregnant women.

Ida admits it is truly a privilege to collaborate with various agencies to plan and implement events that provide street outreach, educational and empowerment workshops throughout the community to high-risk pregnancy women. Workshops ranging from HIV Prevention to ââ?¬Å?Loving Yourself Before, During and After the Pregnancyââ?¬ are offered. Ida is a member of the AIDS Leadership Coalition, AIDS Network Minority Concerns Committee, AIDS Network Women Children and Young People Committee, Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers Community Council, WNY Homeless Coalition and Western New York National HIV Planning Day Committee.
Ida's desire to help others is not limited to the job responsibilities required by her employer, she is also a mentor for students who are seeking information about higher education and or guidance regarding career choices and life decisions. She is a 2008 recipient of AIDS Network Red Ribbon Excellence in Community Service Award, True Bethel's 2005 Invisible Soldier Award, and 2004 Recipient of AIDS Leadership Coalition Community Service Award and in 2003 was chosen to be a Kellogg Fellow in Kelloggââ?¬â?¢s Leadership for Community Change.

Ida acknowledges that it is her faith in God along with her familyââ?¬â?¢s love and encouragement that gives her the ability to remain focused on the important things in life. She is the proud mother of one son, Johnathan and the youngest of six siblings.