Construct Bids Executive Director Jane Ralph Farewell
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Jane Ralph received an emotional sendoff before she steps down as executive director of Construct at the end of the month.
There were some tears at the affordable housing nonprofit's main office on Tuesday as staff and board members reflected on Ralph's impact over the last nine years. In this time, Construct has seen projects like the Forest Springs in Great Barrington and The Windflower in Egremont come to fruition, and expanded its housing navigation services.
"I know that supporting safe and affordable housing is the cornerstone of what we do to support people's health and their lives, and that's Construct's mission," board President Betty Farbman said, raising a glass of coffee.
"In every way that she's been able to, Jane has supported the mission and staff that made everything happen."
Effective Aug. 29, Ralph will leave Construct with plans to move close to relatives in Madison, Wisc. The outgoing executive director has learned, especially at Construct, that hard things can be done, if they are done together, "And so it's because of that I can leave with confidence."
"If I was retiring, I would not have done it this way. I would not have left with only six weeks. We would have taken our time. We would have taken a breath. It still would have been hard, but it would have been different," Ralph explained.
"… Finding a job often takes a really long time, so it was like May 1 and I was like 'Well, I'll just start looking' and very quickly, two opportunities came forward, and one of them ended up working out."
This position is at a Reconstructionist Jewish synagogue.
"I really do mean it when I say you guys are the best staff I've ever worked with," Ralph said.
Because of the strong foundation established over the past nearly decade, the nonprofit is confident about its future.
"When Ralph became Construct's third executive director nine years ago, they were the only full-time staff member. This August, they'll leave behind a strong and committed team of 11 full-time and two part- time employees," a press release from Construct reads.
"Throughout their tenure, they have been a tireless advocate for fair wages and staff support, always focused on creating a work environment where people feel valued and can do their best work. They've also helped build a diverse, hands-on board of directors and a vibrant community of
volunteers who care deeply about Construct's mission."
Ralph is working closely with the Executive Committee to ensure a smooth transition of leadership, and the Board of Directors has formed a search committee for a new leader. Operations Director Hillary Howard, who has been at the nonprofit for five years, said Ralph believed in her the whole way and was an amazing mentor.
"She's been amazing. She knows so so much. The way she's managed us, too, has really let us grow in ways that we all wanted to grow, and needed to grow, and I think we're ready," she said.
"I have a lot of confidence in us. I'm just going to miss her."
Construct is the only affordable housing nonprofit in South County that supports people through every stage of housing, from homelessness to homeownership. It provides over 80 affordable housing units and 10 transitional rooms for individuals experiencing homelessness.
"I'm most proud that the secret sauce for Construct has always been relationships. Relationship with the people we serve, relationship with our community partners, whether that's nonprofits, financial institutions, the Chamber, Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, the restaurant owners, small businesses, the towns," Ralph said.
"I mean, the list goes on and on, and nothing we do happens in a vacuum, and it's all because of the relationships, and it's a caring community that understands that affordable housing is necessary and needed for a community to thrive."
Construct is implementing a strategic plan that was established early this year and, "in light of the uncertainty in the world and especially in this nation," realizes it is extremely important to maintain offered services.
These include rental and fuel assistance, emergency motel stays, microloans, and housing
navigation.
"We're really fortunate to have the donor base that we've got, so we're not very dependent on federal or state funding for most things. We do use that when we build new projects, but we need to make sure that the housing support we provide is still there so the people can stay housed where they are, until they get housing they can afford, or even more than what they've got," Ralph said.
"So right now, we're in a shoring-up and making sure what Construct is known for is still here."
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