LIMA — Citing a different philosophy on future operations of the center and the need to have a paying job to make a living, Mizpah Community Center Director Vickie Shurelds announced her resignation Wednesday.
“We reached an impasse on which direction we should go,” Shurelds said. “Sometimes you’re not the right person to lead the charge in the right direction everyone else wants to go.”
Shurelds said she was operating with little funding and virtually no pay, always less than $100 a month. She said there were different opinions between herself and the board as to what needed to be done to help the children of primarily south Lima.
Mizpah board President Vickie Fowler declined comment on any different views the board had with Shurelds. She said the board will work toward finding a new director.
In the meantime, the board has to respond quickly to see if the center can remain open after Shurelds leaves at the end of the day Friday, Fowler said.
Shurelds said the decision to leave was a tough one. She has been the head of the center since December 2012 and enjoyed helping children.
But she said her ability to help children will not be taken away.
“What I had to really convince myself of it does not stop me from helping the children. There are other ways we can benefit the children especially the children of the south side,” she said.
Shurelds said she will actively pursue employment.
