Assembly Resolution No. 816

BY: M. of A. Barclay

CONGRATULATING Diane Cooper-Currier upon the
occasion of her retirement, as Executive Director,
after more than 40 years of distinguished service to
Oswego County Opportunities, Inc.

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body seeks to acknowledge those
individuals whose professional lives and civic endeavors serve to
enhance the stature of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, In 1984, Diane Cooper-Currier joined the staff of Oswego
County Opportunities (OCO), Inc., as Supervisor of the agency's Girls
Group Home; in this capacity, she supervised a group home for youths in
foster care; working directly with youths at the house, she helped the
young people see hope and let them know that they are resilient and able
to survive various situations; and

WHEREAS, With her passion for helping young adults, Diane
Cooper-Currier became a member of a group which focused on issues with
runaway and homeless youths in Oswego County, leading to several
volunteers in participation with OCO; and

WHEREAS, Under Diane Cooper-Currier's supervision, volunteers
conducted a research project to document incidents of runaway and
homeless youths in Oswego County; this led to her writing grants that
would help OCO receive its first funding for these young people; and

WHEREAS, With the expansion of youth programming, all services were
brought together under one umbrella, and OCO established the Youth
Services Division, naming Diane Cooper-Currier as Director; and

WHEREAS, In 1998, Diane Cooper-Currier took a leave of absence to
earn a master's degree in social work from Syracuse University in 2000;
upon returning to OCO, she served as Training and Development
Performance Coordinator for the agency; and

WHEREAS, As Training and Development Performance Coordinator, Diane
Cooper-Currier used similar adult learning principles to train staff and
improve the systems and procedures for OCO; and

WHEREAS, In 2002, Diane Cooper-Currier was appointed as OCO's Deputy
Executive Director, demonstrating her abilities as an inclusive and
supportive leader; she developed community partners and additional
potential partners to further OCO's mission to meet the needs of the
community; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, Diane Cooper-Currier was named Executive Director;
for the past 18 years, under her leadership, education services, which
were primarily Head Start and Day Care, now offer after-school
programming and adult learning; she also led the development of OCO's
Backstreet Bookstore and Coffee Shop, providing training for community
members to gain experience in retail services and other skills; and

WHEREAS, Under Diane Cooper-Currier's capable guidance, the homeless
services programs, which were primarily focused on youths, now serve
individuals, families, and young adults; OCO's residential services for
populations, such as adults with mental health issues, expanded, and the
agency moved into building and providing affordable and workforce
housing; and

WHEREAS, During Diane Cooper-Currier's tenure, OCO has built and
developed residential homes for its programs, providing services for
individuals who are developmentally disabled, dealing with substance
abuse disorder, or struggling with behavioral health issues; and

WHEREAS, Throughout her many years of dedication and service to OCO,
Diane Cooper-Currier has earned the admiration, esteem, and affection of
her colleagues; she has dedicated her life's work to improving the lives
of others by helping them succeed and see their full potential; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Diane Cooper-Currier upon the occasion of her retirement,
as Executive Director, after more than 40 years of distinguished service
to Oswego County Opportunities, Inc.; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Diane Cooper-Currier.