We were lucky to catch up with Joseph Cinney recently and have shared our conversation below.
Joseph, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I was the fortunate youngest of a large family. My parents always encouraged every child to have and express an opinion on various topics, usually while having dinner together. We were always urged to express ourselves, feel comfortable with our opinions, and learn from each other. My education and my teachers at all levels also instilled a sense of confidence and self-esteem while in class or in extra-curricular activities. Ultimately, I went to law school at the University of Miami and practiced law for twenty years before my current position with Learn to Read. Those experiences were a significant factor in developing my confidence and self-esteem.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I have been the Executive Director of Learn to Read of St. Johns County, Inc. (LTR), a non-profit organization based in St. Augustine, Florida, for the past three years. LTR offers a variety of free tutorial services to over 250 students through the efforts of over 40 tutors that I supervise and assist. Our services include Basic Literacy, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) – group and individual classes, preparation for GED testing for those who did not finish high school, as well as test and interview preparation for U.S. Citizenship examinations,
Our organization is funded entirely from donations, grants, corporate and individual sponsorships, fundraising events, and the support of our friends and longtime supporters.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
There are so many qualities and skills required to successfully lead a non-profit organization such as LTR. I think that the qualities of patience, empathy, and hard work are essential for this position. LTR helps students from different countries, varying socio-economic backgrounds, and education levels. In order to successfully meet the needs of these students, it is crucial to have patience in developing strategies that work for each individual. Similarly, having the quality of being empathetic to each student’s experience and past helps to establish the rapport necessary to create and sustain a meaningful tutorial plan for them, tailored specifically to their needs.
Finally, managing over forty tutors, 250 students and staff, as well as maintaining productive relationships with donors, supporters, the Board of Directors, and various other individuals requires some plain, old fashioned hard work.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
At LTR we are always looking for new tutors to join our team and help our students achieve their goals. Our student population continues to grow and we have added two other locations at which we can assist our students. However, the needs and the number of students continues to expand. Of course, with expansion of locations and numbers of people comes the inevitable increased cost of operations. LTR always welcomes financial support from our friends, established and new, to help defray the ever increasing costs of providing tutorial services to such a diverse student population.
Contact Info:
- Website: Learntoreadstjohns.org
- Instagram: @learn.toreadstjohns
- Facebook: learn.toreadstjohns
- Other: email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Camila Gonzalez Photography
