AIDS Housing President Retiring

PRESS RELEASE

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6/29/12

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STEPHEN WILLIAMS

314-535-1919 x 3052

SWILLIAMS@DOORWAYSHOUSING.ORG

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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AIDS HOUSING PRESIDENT RETIRING

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Doorways Interfaith AIDS Housing today announced that Lynne M. Cooper, D.Min, one of its founders and its long-time President, will step down effective September 30, 2012.? She will continue to be available to the board of directors and management to help Doorways carry out its mission.? Dr. Cooper, a nationally recognized advocate for housing and supportive services for men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, has served as Doorways? chief executive officer since 1989.

The Doorways Board of Directors is soliciting applications and hopes to fill the position this year.? Joe Noelker will continue as executive vice president and, effective October 1, will be appointed acting president.?

In a statement posted on the Doorways website, Dr. Cooper said, ?Being a part of Doorways, really BEING Doorways, as so many of you say to me, has been the most satisfying, challenging and growth full professional experience of my life. For almost twenty five years, the clients, staff, partners and board members who have so graciously welcomed me into their presence have become my teachers, trusted colleagues, mentors and friends. I am grateful for every minute of it and equally enthusiastic about Doorways' future! I really look forward to helping when asked and staying out of the way when appropriate! Thank you for including me in this wonderful new chapter!?

In a statement issued on behalf of the clients, staff and board members of Doorways, Board Chair Chuck Miller said:

?In her nearly 25 years of service, Lynne has built Doorways into a national model of compassionate care for men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Lynne?s passion and vision have been the heart of Doorways.? She is a shining inspiration to generations of clients, volunteers and funders here in St. Louis and across the country.? We stand on her shoulders.

During Lynne?s leadership, Doorways has brought over $100 million of competitive housing dollars to Missouri.? Doorways? housing and related service programs have benefitted more than 6,000 men, women and children for whom safe and secure housing represents health care, prevention and hope.? That?s 6,000 of our brothers and sisters who were empowered to feel safe

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and secure at home where they could dare to claim, and begin to build, stable lives of fulfillment for themselves and their families.? That is the Doorways promise, and that is the fact of Lynne?s legacy.

We?re grateful Lynne will be available to assist in this transition, and we look forward to additional announcements soon about opportunities to honor Lynne and thank her for her service. We owe an incredible debt of gratitude to the extraordinary service of our Executive Vice President, Joe Noelker.? He has provided strong and consistent leadership for our staff and clients during this period of transition.??

The Doorways Board of Directors is soliciting applications for the position in consultation with Collaborative Strategies, Inc.? John Russell, vice-chair of the board and chair of its transition and search committee, said, ?We value the firm foundation Lynne has constructed at Doorways.? We have no illusion that we will find another Lynne.? Our goal is to identify an outstanding individual who can help us build on Lynne?s work and take Doorways to a new level.?

Joe Noelker, an attorney, has been in corporate and private practice in St. Louis for more than 33 years.? He joined the Board of Directors?of Doorways two years ago and has been serving as Doorways' general counsel.??Joe was named executive vice-president last year. ?

Collaborative Strategies, Inc. (?CSI?) is a St. Louis-based management consultancy and executive search firm founded in 1983.? CSI specializes in helping the region?s entrepreneurial for-profit and not-for-profit organizations develop the right plans and the right leadership to reach the next level of achievement.? CSI will manage Doorways? executive search and assist its board in surfacing and evaluating prospective candidates.

Doorways is an interfaith non-profit organization that provides housing and related supportive services to improve quality of life and health outcomes for people affected by HIV/AIDS.? Through direct service delivery and the efforts of identified program partners, Doorways? programs and services annually benefit 1,000 households living with HIV/AIDS in the 15-county St. Louis metropolitan area, 62 under-served counties in outstate Missouri, and another 56 under-served counties in outstate Illinois.

For further information contact:? Stephen Williams 314-535-1919, ext. 3052.

Attached:? Lynne Cooper bio and picture.

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Lynne M. Cooper, D.Min.

Lynne Cooper?s interest in HIV/AIDS began during her pastoral care residency at Southern Baptist Hospital in New Orleans in 1985.? In 1988, she and others founded DOORWAYS, an Interfaith AIDS Residence Program to address the housing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS.? She became Executive Director in 1989 and President 1996.? DOORWAYS provides housing and care for 1000 households living with HIV/AIDS each year, has an annual operating budget of $6 million, and has brought over $100 million of competitive housing dollars to Missouri.

DOORWAYS has been recognized with numerous housing, historic preservation and best practice awards, including, HUD?s Gold Star for Community Partners and the Met Life Foundation?s Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing.

Dr. Cooper has served on numerous state and national boards including President Clinton?s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, the National AIDS Housing Coalition and the Missouri Children?s Trust Fund.? She has volunteered at The Women?s Safe House and assisted in the startup of The Community Wellness Project.? Dr. Cooper?s humanitarian work has reached many corners of the U.S. and several countries in Africa. She is currently spearheading the development of a birthing center in Gulu, Uganda.

Cooper is a member of the St. Louis Women?s Forum and Woman of Achievement. She was recognized as a Woman of Worth by the Older Women?s League, with the Administrator?s Citation from the Health Care Financing Administration, the Founders? Award from her Alma Mater, Fontbonne University, the Initiative Award from Africans United Against AIDS Globally, the Sandra T. Spiritas Red Ribbon Lifetime Achievement Award from the AIDS Foundation of St. Louis and the Distinguished Fair Housing Service Award from the St. Louis Civil Rights Enforcement Agency.

Dr. Cooper holds a Master?s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Eden Seminary.

Source: http://interact.stltoday.com/pr/releases/PR06291203009553

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